The answer
Moses’ seat is a symbolic expression only, there was no real chair. The seat of Moses signifies the teaching authority of the scribes and Pharisees. Sitting in Moses’ seat means teaching from the books of Moses, the Pentateuch: the first five books of the Bible. The reader (in this case a scribe or Pharisee) would exhort the people to be keepers of the law of Moses. Obviously our Lord Jesus Christ here is saying that whatever scripture (Moses' seat) they read from and bid the people to observe, should be observed by the people. They piously read from the scriptures, but did not keep nor carry out what the scriptures had taught. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells the people not to follow their example. In other words, He wants us to obey what the Holy Scriptures say but not those who read it and interpret it falsely.Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)