John Chrysostom

"Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you do, that do; but do not after their works." Then. When? When He had said these things, when He had stopped their mouths; when He had brought them that they should no more dare to tempt Him; when He had shown their state incurable. And since He had made mention of "the Lord" and "my Lord," He recurs again to the law. …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 72 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

When He has shut the mouths of the Pharisees and shown them to be incurably diseased, then He speaks about them. He speaks about their life and manner of living, admonishing His listeners not to despise their teachers even if they have a corrupt life. At the same time He shows that He is not in opposition to the law, but rather desires that the law be practiced even though those who teach it are unworthy. For, He says, whatever the teachers say, you must treat as if it had been spoken by Moses, and indeed by God. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Above it was shown how the Pharisees and scribes were provoked by the glory of Christ, and also by his wisdom, by which he had confounded them; now he shows how they were provoked by the justice with which he rebuked them. And he does two things. First, he instructs certain ones; secondly, he reproves them, at but woe to you, scribes and Pharisees. Regarding the first, he does two things. First, he shows their dignity; secondly, he reveals their intention in the use of authority, at all their works they do to be seen by men. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗