Moses' seat

Stone seats have been found in a few synagogues from later centuries. Many scholars think a seat like that was called the seat of Moses. Whoever sat there explained the law. Jesus recognises that authority: do what they tell you. You don't expect that just before his fiercest criticism.

His problem is the gap between their words and their lives. A mirror for parents, teachers and church leaders. Good words don't become wrong because the speaker falls short. But they only become believable when he lives by them himself.