Matthew 13:4

13:4 And as he sowed, some seeds ¹  fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

Matthew 17:25

17:25 He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, ²  “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes – from their sons ³  or from foreigners?”

[13:4]  ¹ tn In Matthew’s version of this parable, plural pronouns are used to refer to the seed in v. 4 (ἅ…αὐτά [Ja…auta]), although the collective singular is used in v. 5 and following (indicated by the singular verbs like ἔπεσεν [epesen]). For the sake of consistency in English, plural pronouns referring to the seed are used in the translation throughout the Matthean account. In both Mark and Luke the collective singular is used consistently throughout (cf. Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8).

[17:25]  ² tn Grk “spoke first to him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[17:25]  ³ sn The phrase their sons may mean “their citizens,” but the term “sons” has been retained here in order to preserve the implicit comparison between the Father and his Son, Jesus.