ACC ~ Matthew 23 v2

DISTINGUISHING PRIESTS AND SCRIBES

ORIGEN: Therefore when he speaks “to the crowds and his disciples” he talks about “the scribes and Pharisees who sit upon the throne of Moses.” I judge these statements to be referring to the following groups. Those who profess that they interpret the law of Moses and glory in this, or who know the law well and seek to profit by this knowledge—these sit upon the throne of Moses. Those who do not depart from the letter of the law are called scribes. Then there are those who profess to know even more, setting themselves apart because they think they are better than the masses. That is why they are called Pharisees, which interpreted means “to divide or segregate” (for Phares translated means “division”). [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 9. [2]

[1] For a further explanation of the term Pharisee, see Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 2nd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1958), p. 853.

[2] GCS 38.2:16.

PRIESTS BY NAME

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: What does he say concerning these priests? “The scribes and Pharisees sit upon the seat of Moses.”… There are many priests by name but few by works. See therefore how you may sit upon it. The chair does not make the priest, but the priest, the chair. The place does not sanctify the man, but the man, the place. Not every priest is holy, but all the holy are priests. Whoever sits well on that throne will receive honor on its account. Whoever sits on it badly causes injury to the throne. And for this reason, the evil priest is convicted by his priesthood and not honored by it. HOMILY 43. [1]

[1] PG 56:876.

Mt