Regarding Matthew 23:2
FACT: Jesus Himself lived by these oral traditions.
FACT: Not only did the Lord live by them, but He is also recorded defending one in Matthew 23.
Matthew 23: 1-3: "Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all the things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.’ "
FACT: The "chair of Moses" was Moses' teaching authority, according to ancient Jewish oral tradition.
For example, it is recorded in the Midrash Rabbah: "They made for him (Moses) a chair like that of the advocates, in which one sits and yet seems to be standing." (Exodus Rabbah 43:4)
Also, the Pesikta siRav Kahana 1:7 mentions the "chair of Moses," and the editors of the English edition comment:
"The particular place in the synagogue where the leaders used to sit was known metaphorically as the ‘chair of Moses’ or as the ‘Throne of the Torah,’ symbolizing the succession of teachers of Torah (from Moses) down through the ages."
FACT: While the "chair of Moses" is an element of ancient Jewish tradition -- apparently dating from the time of Moses himself -- it is recorded nowhere in the Old Testament Scriptures. Rather, it is strictly an oral Tradition.
FACT: Yet, while not being recorded in the Old Testament, Jesus Himself -- Who is (let us not forget) the Word of God -- bears testimony to its legitimacy.
Therefore, it must be admitted that the Word of God as we have it in the Old Testament is not merely a Scriptural record, but rather comes to us (at least in this one case) through both Scripture as well as a living oral Tradition. The idea that the Scribes and Pharisees (i.e., "the fathers of Israel") were the direct successors of Moses’ authority is stated nowhere in Old Testament Scripture; yet He Who is the Word of God tells us this based on oral Tradition.
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/a21.htm
So the Chair of Moses is in fact Jewish Tradition and is found in writings of the Jewish Faith!
"Arch made of the local basalt rock. An interior wall is on the inside. The square openings are interior windows. Interior arches inside a residence or a building in Korazin. Heavy basalt stones would lay across the top for the roof. Inside the synagogue in Korazin These steps lead to the synagogue. The gable from the front of the roof is sitting on the top of the stairs. Drawing of the synagogue taken from text of Jerusalem University College. Decorative pilaster on the outside front of the synagogue The basalt chair in the synagogue known as "the seat of Moses". Notice the Greek inscription on the front of the chair. See Matthew 23:2. Close up of the Greek inscription on the seat of Moses in the synagogue in Korazin Drawing of "the seat of Moses" with translation of Greek inscription. Taken from workbook from Jerusalem University "- http://www.generationword.com/Israel/korazin.html
In saying that the "Seat of Moses" is a sort of metaphor for the "authority of Moses" as the Holman Christian Standard Bible states "Matthew 23:2 a special chair for teaching in synagogues, or a metaphorical phrase for teaching with Moses' authority" is close to entering an extra-Biblical interpretation to the verse. This is saying one could understand this in this manner. Asserting this also might negate that possibly this is a real seat or chair.
Additionally, it appears there can be some question about the original interpretation of the Greek. This material is a bit too much in depth but is discussed: http://lingamish.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/malformed-equivalence-in-matthew-232/
The idea that the Scribes and Pharisees (i.e., "the fathers of Israel") were the direct successors of Moses’ authority is stated nowhere in Old Testament Scripture; yet He Who is the Word of God tells us this based on oral Tradition.I don't think the implication was that the Scribes and Pharisees were the legitimate successors of Moses...They took over this position on their own...And Jesus makes the warning that when they teach what Moses taught, do that...But DO NOT do what those Pharisees do...And then Jesus goes on in the next verses telling what the Parisees were up to...
But you certainly don't have to know any Jewish history to find this out...It's all in the scripture...