Matthew 23:3

3 Therefore do whatever they tell you and observe [it]. But don't do what they do, ^[a] because they don't practice what they teach.

Matthew 23:3 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:3

All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe
This must be restrained to things that were agreeable to the chair of Moses, in which they sat, to the law of Moses, which they read and explained, to other parts of Scripture and truth in general; for otherwise many of their glosses and traditions were repugnant to the law, and ought not to be observed, as appears from ( Matthew 5:1-48 ) ( 15:6 ) . The word "observe", in this clause, is omitted by the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and in Munster's Hebrew Gospel; and Beza says, it is wanting in one ancient copy, but is in others; and is retained in the Syriac and Persic versions

that observe and do;
hearken to what they say, give diligent heed unto it, take notice of it, and act according to it:

but do not ye after their works;
let their doctrine be the rule of your lives, so far as it agrees with the law of Moses; but let not their actions be drawn into an example by you; conform to their instructions, but do not imitate their practices:

for they say, and do not;
they talk of good works, but do none; they bid others do them, but do not practise them themselves; they very strictly and severely enjoin them on others, but are very careless themselves to observe them; and of this the Jews are so conscious, that they suggest the same doctrine ^F14.

``The daughter of Ahar (a wicked man) came before Rabbi; she said to him, Rabbi, supply me with the necessaries of life: he replied to her, daughter, who art thou? she answered him, the daughter of Ahar: he said to her, is there any of his seed in the world? for lo! it is written, ( Job 18:19 ) . "He shall neither have son, nor nephew, among his people, nor any remaining, in his dwellings": she replied to him, (wyvem rwkzt law wtrwtl rwkz) , "remember his law, or doctrine, but do not remember his works."--Says R. Jochanan, what is that which is written, ( Malachi 2:7 ) . "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." If the doctor is like to an angel, or messenger of the Lord of hosts, they should seek the law at his mouth; and if not, they should not seek the law at his mouth. Says Resh Lekish, R. Meir found and explained that Scripture, ( Proverbs 22:17 ) . "Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart to my knowledge": to their knowledge it is not said, but to my knowledge. R. Chanina says, hence, ( Psalms 45:10 ) . "Hearken, O daughter! and consider, incline thine ear, forget thine own people, and thy father's house": on which the gloss is, forget their works, and do not learn them: he that knows how to take care not to learn their works, may learn the law from their mouths.''

--And a little after,

``the disciples of the wise men are like to a nut; as a nut, though it is defiled with mire and filth, yet that which is within it is not to be rejected; so a scholar, or a disciple of a wise man, though he act wickedly, his law, or doctrine, is not to be despised.''

Good doctrine is not the worse for being taught by bad men; nor are good works to be slighted and neglected, because they are not done by all that teach them; but it must be owned that examples are very useful and forcible, and practice greatly recommends doctrine; and it is to be wished, that they both always went together.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 15. 2.

Matthew 23:3 In-Context

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:

2 "The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.

3 Therefore do whatever they tell you and observe [it]. But don't do what they do, because they don't practice what they teach.

4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 They do everything to be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit do according to their works