Matthew 10:16

Persecution of Disciples

10:16 “I ¹  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ²  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Matthew 11:10

11:10 This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, ³ 

who will prepare your way before you.’ ⁴ 

Matthew 23:34

23:34 “For this reason I ⁵  am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, ⁶  some of whom you will kill and crucify, ⁷  and some you will flog ⁸  in your synagogues ⁹  and pursue from town to town,

[10:16]  ¹ tn Grk “Behold I.” 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).

[10:16]  ² sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism; see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30.

[11:10]  ³ tn Grk “before your face” (an idiom).

[11:10]  ⁴ sn The quotation is primarily from Mal 3:1 with pronouns from Exod 23:20. Here is the forerunner who points the way to the arrival of God’s salvation. His job is to prepare and guide the people, as the cloud did for Israel in the desert.

[23:34]  ⁵ tn Grk “behold I am sending.” 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).

[23:34]  ⁶ tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:34]  ⁷ sn See the note on crucified in 20:19.

[23:34]  ⁸ tn BDAG 620 s.v. μαστιγόω 1.a states, “of flogging as a punishment decreed by the synagogue (Dt 25:2f; s. the Mishna Tractate Sanhedrin-Makkoth, edited w. notes by SKrauss ’33) w. acc. of pers. Mt 10:17; 23:34.”

[23:34]  ⁹ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.