Matthew 9:3

9:3 Then ¹  some of the experts in the law ²  said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” ³ 

Matthew 27:41

27:41 In ⁴  the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law ⁵  and elders ⁶  – were mocking him: ⁷ 

Matthew 12:38

The Sign of Jonah

12:38 Then some of the experts in the law ⁸  along with some Pharisees ⁹  answered him, ¹⁰  “Teacher, we want to see a sign ¹¹  from you.”

Matthew 5:20

5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law ¹²  and the Pharisees, ¹³  you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 16:21

First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

16:21 From that time on ¹⁴  Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem ¹⁵  and suffer ¹⁶  many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, ¹⁷  and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

¹ tn Grk “And behold.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1). Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events in the narrative.

² tn Or “some of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

³ sn Blaspheming meant to say something that dishonored God. To claim divine prerogatives or claim to speak for God when one really does not would be such an act of offense. The remark raised directly the issue of the nature of Jesus’ ministry.

⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

⁵ tn Or “with the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

⁶ tn Only “chief priests” is in the nominative case; this sentence structure attempts to capture this emphasis.

⁷ tn Grk “Mocking him, the chief priests…said.”

⁷ tn Or “Then some of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

⁸ tn Grk “and Pharisees.” The word “some” before “Pharisees” has been supplied for clarification.

⁹ tn Grk “answered him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant, but the syntax of the sentence was changed to conform to English style.

¹⁰ sn What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.

¹⁰ tn Or “that of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

¹¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

¹³ tn Grk “From then.”

¹⁴ map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

¹⁵ sn The necessity that the Son of Man suffer is the particular point that needed emphasis since for many 1st century Jews the Messiah was a glorious and powerful figure, not a suffering one.

¹⁶ tn Or “and scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.