NETBible KJV GRK-HEB XRef Names Arts Hymns

  Discovery Box

Matthew 14:1--28:20

Context
The Death of John the Baptist

14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch 1  heard reports about Jesus, 14:2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 14:3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, 2  and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 14:4 because John had repeatedly told 3  him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 4  14:5 Although 5  Herod 6  wanted to kill John, 7  he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. 14:6 But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 14:7 so much that he promised with an oath 8  to give her whatever she asked. 14:8 Instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 14:9 Although it grieved the king, 9  because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. 14:10 So 10  he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 14:11 His 11  head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 14:12 Then John’s 12  disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

14:13 Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it, 13  they followed him on foot from the towns. 14  14:14 As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 14:15 When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, “This is an isolated place 15  and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 14:16 But he 16  replied, “They don’t need to go. You 17  give them something to eat.” 14:17 They 18  said to him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 14:18 “Bring them here to me,” he replied. 14:19 Then 19  he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, 20  who in turn gave them to the crowds. 21  14:20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full. 14:21 Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.

Walking on Water

14:22 Immediately Jesus 22  made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds. 14:23 And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 14:24 Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, 23  was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. 14:25 As the night was ending, 24  Jesus came to them walking on the sea. 25  14:26 When 26  the disciples saw him walking on the water 27  they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear. 14:27 But immediately Jesus 28  spoke to them: 29  “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 14:28 Peter 30  said to him, 31  “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” 14:29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 14:30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, 32  “Lord, save me!” 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 14:32 When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

14:34 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 33  14:35 When the people 34  there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him. 14:36 They begged him if 35  they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Breaking Human Traditions

15:1 Then Pharisees 36  and experts in the law 37  came from Jerusalem 38  to Jesus and said, 39  15:2 “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their 40  hands when they eat.” 41  15:3 He answered them, 42  “And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? 15:4 For God said, 43 Honor your father and mother 44  and ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ 45  15:5 But you say, ‘If someone tells his father or mother, “Whatever help you would have received from me is given to God,” 46  15:6 he does not need to honor his father.’ 47  You have nullified the word of God on account of your tradition. 15:7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said,

15:8This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart 48  is far from me,

15:9 and they worship me in vain,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” 49 

True Defilement

15:10 Then he called the crowd to him and said, 50  “Listen and understand. 15:11 What defiles a person is not what goes into the mouth; it is what 51  comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.” 15:12 Then the disciples came to him and said, “Do you know that when the Pharisees 52  heard this saying they were offended?” 15:13 And he replied, 53  “Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. 15:14 Leave them! They are blind guides. 54  If someone who is blind leads another who is blind, 55  both will fall into a pit.” 15:15 But Peter 56  said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 15:16 Jesus 57  said, “Even after all this, are you still so foolish? 15:17 Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and then passes out into the sewer? 58  15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a person. 15:19 For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 15:20 These are the things that defile a person; it is not eating with unwashed hands that defiles a person.” 59 

A Canaanite Woman’s Faith

15:21 After going out from there, Jesus went to the region of Tyre 60  and Sidon. 61  15:22 A 62  Canaanite woman from that area came 63  and cried out, 64  “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!” 15:23 But he did not answer her a word. Then 65  his disciples came and begged him, 66  “Send her away, because she keeps on crying out after us.” 15:24 So 67  he answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 15:25 But she came and bowed down 68  before him and said, 69  “Lord, help me!” 15:26 “It is not right 70  to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” 71  he said. 72  15:27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, 73  “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 15:28 Then 74  Jesus answered her, “Woman, 75  your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Healing Many Others

15:29 When he left there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain, where he sat down. 15:30 Then 76  large crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They 77  laid them at his feet, and he healed them. 15:31 As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

15:32 Then Jesus called the 78  disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry since they may faint on the way.” 15:33 The disciples said to him, “Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?” 15:34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven – and a few small fish.” 15:35 After instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 15:36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds. 79  15:37 They 80  all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 15:38 Not counting children and women, 81  there were four thousand men who ate. 82  15:39 After sending away the crowd, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. 83 

The Demand for a Sign

16:1 Now when the Pharisees 84  and Sadducees 85  came to test Jesus, 86  they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 87  16:2 He 88  said, “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be fair weather, because the sky is red,’ 16:3 and in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’ 89  You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, 90  but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times. 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then 91  he left them and went away.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

16:5 When the disciples went to the other side, they forgot to take bread. 16:6 “Watch out,” Jesus said to them, “beware of the yeast of the Pharisees 92  and Sadducees.” 93  16:7 So 94  they began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “It is because we brought no bread.” 16:8 When Jesus learned of this, 95  he said, “You who have such little faith! 96  Why are you arguing 97  among yourselves about having no bread? 16:9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 16:10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? 16:11 How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 16:12 Then they understood that he had not told them to be on guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter’s Confession

16:13 When 98  Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, 99  he asked his disciples, 100  “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 16:14 They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, 101  and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16:16 Simon Peter answered, 102  “You are the Christ, 103  the Son of the living God.” 16:17 And Jesus answered him, 104  “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood 105  did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades 106  will not overpower it. 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 16:20 Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. 107 

First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

16:21 From that time on 108  Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem 109  and suffer 110  many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, 111  and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 16:22 So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: 112  “God forbid, 113  Lord! This must not happen to you!” 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” 114  16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, 115  he must deny 116  himself, take up his cross, 117  and follow me. 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life 118  will lose it, 119  but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 16:26 For what does it benefit a person 120  if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 16:27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 121  16:28 I tell you the truth, 122  there are some standing here who will not 123  experience 124  death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” 125 

The Transfiguration

17:1 Six days later 126  Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, 127  and led them privately up a high mountain. 17:2 And he was transfigured before them. 128  His 129  face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 17:3 Then Moses 130  and Elijah 131  also appeared before them, talking with him. 17:4 So 132  Peter said 133  to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make 134  three shelters 135  – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 17:5 While he was still speaking, a 136  bright cloud 137  overshadowed 138  them, and a voice from the cloud said, 139  “This is my one dear Son, 140  in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!” 141  17:6 When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. 142  17:7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Do not be afraid.” 17:8 When 143  they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone.

17:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, 144  “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 17:10 The disciples asked him, 145  “Why then do the experts in the law 146  say that Elijah must come first?” 17:11 He 147  answered, “Elijah does indeed come first and will restore all things. 17:12 And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In 148  the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

The Disciples’ Failure to Heal

17:14 When 149  they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, 17:15 and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures 150  and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water. 17:16 I brought him to your disciples, but 151  they were not able to heal him.” 17:17 Jesus answered, 152  “You 153  unbelieving 154  and perverse generation! How much longer 155  must I be with you? How much longer must I endure 156  you? 157  Bring him here to me.” 17:18 Then 158  Jesus rebuked 159  the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment. 17:19 Then the disciples came 160  to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” 17:20 He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, 161  if you have faith the size of 162  a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing 163  will be impossible for you.”

17:21 [[EMPTY]] 164 
Second Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

17:22 When 165  they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 166  17:23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they became greatly distressed.

The Temple Tax

17:24 After 167  they arrived in Capernaum, 168  the collectors of the temple tax 169  came to Peter and said, “Your teacher pays the double drachma tax, doesn’t he?” 17:25 He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, 170  “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes – from their sons 171  or from foreigners?” 17:26 After he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons 172  are free. 17:27 But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. 173  Take that and give it to them for me and you.”

Questions About the Greatest

18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 18:2 He called a child, had him stand among them, 18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, 174  unless you turn around and become like little children, 175  you will never 176  enter the kingdom of heaven! 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 18:5 And whoever welcomes 177  a child like this in my name welcomes me.

18:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, 178  it would be better for him to have a huge millstone 179  hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. 180  18:7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It 181  is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. 18:8 If 182  your hand or your foot causes you to sin, 183  cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have 184  two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have 185  two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell. 186 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

18:10 “See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 18:11 [[EMPTY]] 187  18:12 What do you think? If someone 188  owns a hundred 189  sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? 190  18:13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, 191  he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 18:14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.

Restoring Christian Relationships

18:15 “If 192  your brother 193  sins, 194  go and show him his fault 195  when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 196  18:17 If 197  he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If 198  he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like 199  a Gentile 200  or a tax collector. 201 

18:18 “I tell you the truth, 202  whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 18:19 Again, I tell you the truth, 203  if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 204  18:20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.”

18:21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother 205  who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 18:22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times! 206 

The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave

18:23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 207  18:24 As 208  he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents 209  was brought to him. 18:25 Because 210  he was not able to repay it, 211  the lord ordered him to be sold, along with 212  his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 18:26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground 213  before him, saying, 214  ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 18:27 The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 18:28 After 215  he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. 216  So 217  he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, 218  saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 219  18:29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, 220  ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 18:30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 18:31 When 221  his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. 18:32 Then his lord called the first slave 222  and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 18:33 Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ 18:34 And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him 223  until he repaid all he owed. 18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your 224  brother 225  from your heart.”

Questions About Divorce

19:1 Now when 226  Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River. 227  19:2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

19:3 Then some Pharisees 228  came to him in order to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful 229  to divorce a wife for any cause?” 230  19:4 He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 231  19:5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 232  19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 19:7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” 233  19:8 Jesus 234  said to them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, 235  but from the beginning it was not this way. 19:9 Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.” 19:10 The 236  disciples said to him, “If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!” 19:11 He 237  said to them, “Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given. 19:12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, 238  and some who were made eunuchs 239  by others, 240  and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

Jesus and Little Children

19:13 Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. 241  But the disciples scolded those who brought them. 242  19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 243  19:15 And he placed his hands on them and went on his way. 244 

The Rich Young Man

19:16 Now 245  someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” 19:17 He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 19:18 “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19:19 honor your father and mother, 246  and love your neighbor as yourself.” 247  19:20 The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed 248  all these laws. 249  What do I still lack?” 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money 250  to the poor, and you will have treasure 251  in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 19:22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 252 

19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, 253  it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, 254  it is easier for a camel 255  to go through the eye of a needle 256  than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 19:25 The 257  disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” 258  19:26 Jesus 259  looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, 260  but for God all things are possible.” 19:27 Then Peter said 261  to him, “Look, 262  we have left everything to follow you! 263  What then will there be for us?” 19:28 Jesus 264  said to them, “I tell you the truth: 265  In the age when all things are renewed, 266  when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging 267  the twelve tribes of Israel. 19:29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much 268  and will inherit eternal life. 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Workers in the Vineyard

20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner 269  who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 20:2 And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, 270  he sent them into his vineyard. 20:3 When it was about nine o’clock in the morning, 271  he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work. 20:4 He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.’ 20:5 So they went. When 272  he went out again about noon and three o’clock that afternoon, 273  he did the same thing. 20:6 And about five o’clock that afternoon 274  he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day without work?’ 20:7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go and work in the vineyard too.’ 20:8 When 275  it was evening 276  the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give the pay 277  starting with the last hired until the first.’ 20:9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each received a full day’s pay. 278  20:10 And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage. 20:11 When 279  they received it, they began to complain 280  against the landowner, 20:12 saying, ‘These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.’ 20:13 And the landowner 281  replied to one of them, 282  ‘Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me to work for the standard wage? 283  20:14 Take what is yours and go. I 284  want to give to this last man 285  the same as I gave to you. 20:15 Am I not 286  permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 287  20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Third Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

20:17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, 288  he took the twelve 289  aside privately and said to them on the way, 20:18 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. 290  They will condemn him to death, 20:19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely 291  and crucified. 292  Yet 293  on the third day, he will be raised.”

A Request for James and John

20:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor. 294  20:21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, 295  “Permit 296  these two sons of mine to sit, one at your 297  right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 20:22 Jesus 298  answered, “You don’t know what you are asking! 299  Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” 300  They said to him, “We are able.” 301  20:23 He told them, “You will drink my cup, 302  but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

20:24 Now 303  when the other ten 304  heard this, 305  they were angry with the two brothers. 20:25 But Jesus called them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 20:26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 20:27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave 306 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom 307  for many.”

Two Blind Men Healed

20:29 As they were leaving Jericho, 308  a large crowd followed them. 20:30 Two 309  blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, 310  “Have mercy 311  on us, Lord, Son of David!” 312  20:31 The 313  crowd scolded 314  them to get them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Lord, have mercy on us, 315  Son of David!” 20:32 Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 20:33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 20:34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

The Triumphal Entry

21:1 Now 316  when they approached Jerusalem 317  and came to Bethphage, 318  at the Mount of Olives, 319  Jesus sent two disciples, 21:2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. 320  Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 21:3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ 321  and he will send them at once.” 21:4 This 322  took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: 323 

21:5Tell the people of Zion, 324 

Look, your king is coming to you,

unassuming and seated on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 325 

21:6 So 326  the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks 327  on them, and he sat on them. 21:8 A 328  very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, 329 Hosanna 330  to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 331  Hosanna in the highest!” 21:10 As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, 332  saying, “Who is this?” 21:11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth 333  in Galilee.”

Cleansing the Temple

21:12 Then 334  Jesus entered the temple area 335  and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple courts, 336  and turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 21:13 And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, 337  but you are turning it into a den 338  of robbers!” 339 

21:14 The blind and lame came to him in the temple courts, and he healed them. 21:15 But when the chief priests and the experts in the law 340  saw the wonderful things he did and heard the children crying out in the temple courts, 341  “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant 21:16 and said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have prepared praise for yourself’?” 342  21:17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

The Withered Fig Tree

21:18 Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 21:19 After noticing a fig tree 343  by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once. 21:20 When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21:21 Jesus 344  answered them, “I tell you the truth, 345  if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, 346  you will receive.”

The Authority of Jesus

21:23 Now after Jesus 347  entered the temple courts, 348  the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority 349  are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 21:24 Jesus 350  answered them, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” 351  They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 21:26 But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 21:27 So 352  they answered Jesus, 353  “We don’t know.” 354  Then he said to them, “Neither will I tell you 355  by what authority 356  I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

21:28 “What 357  do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 21:29 The boy answered, 358  ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart 359  and went. 21:30 The father 360  went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, 361  ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 21:31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” 362  Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, 363  tax collectors 364  and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although 365  you saw this, you did not later change your minds 366  and believe him.

The Parable of the Tenants

21:33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner 367  who planted a vineyard. 368  He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then 369  he leased it to tenant farmers 370  and went on a journey. 21:34 When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves 371  to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop. 372  21:35 But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, 373  killed another, and stoned another. 21:36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way. 21:37 Finally he sent his son to them, 374  saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’ 21:39 So 375  they seized him, 376  threw him out of the vineyard, 377  and killed him. 21:40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 21:41 They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”

21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 378 

This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 379 

21:43 For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people 380  who will produce its fruit. 21:44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” 381  21:45 When 382  the chief priests and the Pharisees 383  heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 21:46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds 384  regarded him as a prophet.

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

22:1 Jesus spoke 385  to them again in parables, saying: 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 22:3 He sent his slaves 386  to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. 22:4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. 387  My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’ 22:5 But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 22:6 The 388  rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 22:7 The 389  king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death 390  and set their city 391  on fire. 22:8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. 22:9 So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 22:10 And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 22:11 But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 22:12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say. 392  22:13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar

22:15 Then the Pharisees 393  went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 394  22:16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, 395  saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 396  You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. 397  22:17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right 398  to pay taxes 399  to Caesar 400  or not?”

22:18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 22:19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” So 401  they brought him a denarius. 402  22:20 Jesus 403  said to them, “Whose image 404  is this, and whose inscription?” 22:21 They replied, 405  “Caesar’s.” He said to them, 406  “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 407  22:22 Now when they heard this they were stunned, 408  and they left him and went away.

Marriage and the Resurrection

22:23 The same day Sadducees 409  (who say there is no resurrection) 410  came to him and asked him, 411  22:24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children 412  for his brother.’ 413  22:25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother. 22:26 The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. 22:27 Last 414  of all, the woman died. 22:28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 415  22:29 Jesus 416  answered them, “You are deceived, 417  because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels 418  in heaven. 22:31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 419  22:32I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 420  He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” 421  22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment

22:34 Now when the Pharisees 422  heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, 423  they assembled together. 424  22:35 And one of them, an expert in religious law, 425  asked him a question to test 426  him: 22:36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 427  22:37 Jesus 428  said to him, “‘Love 429  the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 430  22:38 This is the first and greatest 431  commandment. 22:39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 432  22:40 All the law and the prophets depend 433  on these two commandments.”

The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord

22:41 While 434  the Pharisees 435  were assembled, Jesus asked them a question: 436  22:42 “What do you think about the Christ? 437  Whose son is he?” They said, “The son of David.” 438  22:43 He said to them, “How then does David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying,

22:44The Lord said to my lord, 439 

Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet”’? 440 

22:45 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 441  22:46 No one 442  was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.

Seven Woes

23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 23:2 “The 443  experts in the law 444  and the Pharisees 445  sit on Moses’ seat. 23:3 Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 446  23:4 They 447  tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. 23:5 They 448  do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries 449  wide and their tassels 450  long. 23:6 They 451  love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues 452  23:7 and elaborate greetings 453  in the marketplaces, and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.’ 23:8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. 23:9 And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 23:10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ. 454  23:11 The 455  greatest among you will be your servant. 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

23:13 “But woe to you, experts in the law 456  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! 457  You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! 458  For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.

23:14 [[EMPTY]] 459 

23:15 “Woe to you, experts in the law 460  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, 461  and when you get one, 462  you make him twice as much a child of hell 463  as yourselves!

23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. 464  But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’ 23:17 Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 23:18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. 465  But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’ 23:19 You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 23:20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 23:21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. 23:22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.

23:23 “Woe to you, experts in the law 466  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth 467  of mint, dill, and cumin, 468  yet you neglect what is more important in the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You 469  should have done these things without neglecting the others. 23:24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel! 470 

23:25 “Woe to you, experts in the law 471  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 23:26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, 472  so that the outside may become clean too!

23:27 “Woe to you, experts in the law 473  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. 474  23:28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

23:29 “Woe to you, experts in the law 475  and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You 476  build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves 477  of the righteous. 23:30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, 478  we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 23:31 By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 23:32 Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! 23:33 You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 479 

23:34 “For this reason I 480  am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, 481  some of whom you will kill and crucify, 482  and some you will flog 483  in your synagogues 484  and pursue from town to town, 23:35 so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, 485  whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 23:36 I tell you the truth, 486  this generation will be held responsible for all these things! 487 

Judgment on Israel

23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 488  you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! 489  How often I have longed 490  to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but 491  you would have none of it! 492  23:38 Look, your house is left to you desolate! 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” 493 

The Destruction of the Temple

24:1 Now 494  as Jesus was going out of the temple courts and walking away, his disciples came to show him the temple buildings. 495  24:2 And he said to them, 496  “Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, 497  not one stone will be left on another. 498  All will be torn down!” 499 

Signs of the End of the Age

24:3 As 500  he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things 501  happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 24:4 Jesus answered them, 502  “Watch out 503  that no one misleads you. 24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ 504  and they will mislead many. 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. 505  24:7 For nation will rise up in arms 506  against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines 507  and earthquakes 508  in various places. 24:8 All 509  these things are the beginning of birth pains.

Persecution of Disciples

24:9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations 510  because of my name. 511  24:10 Then many will be led into sin, 512  and they will betray one another and hate one another. 24:11 And many false prophets will appear and deceive 513  many, 24:12 and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. 24:13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 514  24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, 515  and then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation

24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation 516  – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 24:16 then those in Judea must flee 517  to the mountains. 24:17 The one on the roof 518  must not come down 519  to take anything out of his house, 24:18 and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24:19 Woe 520  to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 24:20 Pray 521  that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 24:21 For then there will be great suffering 522  unlike anything that has happened 523  from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. 24:22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 24:23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ 524  or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. 24:24 For false messiahs 525  and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 24:25 Remember, 526  I have told you ahead of time. 24:26 So then, if someone 527  says to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ 528  do not go out, or ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. 24:27 For just like the lightning 529  comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 24:28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures 530  will gather. 531 

The Arrival of the Son of Man

24:29 “Immediately 532  after the suffering 533  of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 534  24:30 Then 535  the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 536  and 537  all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They 538  will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven 539  with power and great glory. 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven 540  to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

24:32 “Learn 541  this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know 542  that he is near, right at the door. 24:34 I tell you the truth, 543  this generation 544  will not pass away until all these things take place. 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 545 

Be Ready!

24:36 “But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven 546  – except the Father alone. 24:37 For just like the days of Noah 547  were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 24:38 For in those days before the flood, people 548  were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. 24:39 And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. 549  It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. 550  24:40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. 551  24:41 There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; 552  one will be taken and one left.

24:42 “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day 553  your Lord will come. 24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief 554  was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 555 

The Faithful and Wise Slave

24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, 556  whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves 557  their food at the proper time? 24:46 Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work 558  when he comes. 24:47 I tell you the truth, 559  the master 560  will put him in charge of all his possessions. 24:48 But if 561  that evil slave should say to himself, 562  ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 24:49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards, 24:50 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, 24:51 and will cut him in two, 563  and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 25:2 Five 564  of the virgins 565  were foolish, and five were wise. 25:3 When 566  the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra 567  olive oil 568  with them. 25:4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 25:5 When 569  the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 25:6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ 570  25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 25:8 The 571  foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 25:9 ‘No,’ they replied. 572  ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 25:10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then 573  the door was shut. 25:11 Later, 574  the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’ 575  25:12 But he replied, 576  ‘I tell you the truth, 577  I do not know you!’ 25:13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. 578 

The Parable of the Talents

25:14 “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves 579  and entrusted his property to them. 25:15 To 580  one he gave five talents, 581  to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 25:16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work 582  and gained five more. 25:17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. 25:18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. 25:19 After 583  a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. 25:20 The 584  one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, 585  you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 25:21 His master answered, 586  ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 25:22 The 587  one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ 25:23 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 25:24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, 25:25 so 588  I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 25:26 But his master answered, 589  ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? 25:27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, 590  and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! 591  25:28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 592  25:29 For the one who has will be given more, 593  and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 594  25:30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Judgment

25:31 “When 595  the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 25:32 All 596  the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 25:33 He 597  will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 25:34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 25:36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, 598  ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 25:38 When 599  did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? 25:39 When 600  did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 25:40 And the king will answer them, 601  ‘I tell you the truth, 602  just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters 603  of mine, you did it for me.’

25:41 “Then he will say 604  to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 25:44 Then they too will answer, 605  ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ 25:45 Then he will answer them, 606  ‘I tell you the truth, 607  just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 25:46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Plot Against Jesus

26:1 When 608  Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, 26:2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over 609  to be crucified.” 610  26:3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. 26:4 They 611  planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 26:5 But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.” 612 

Jesus’ Anointing

26:6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 26:7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar 613  of expensive perfumed oil, 614  and she poured it on his head as he was at the table. 615  26:8 When 616  the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste? 26:9 It 617  could have been sold at a high price and the money 618  given to the poor!” 26:10 When 619  Jesus learned of this, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She 620  has done a good service for me. 26:11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me! 621  26:12 When 622  she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 26:13 I tell you the truth, 623  wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

The Plan to Betray Jesus

26:14 Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 26:15 and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?” 624  So they set out thirty silver coins for him. 26:16 From that time 625  on, Judas 626  began looking for an opportunity to betray him.

The Passover

26:17 Now on the first day of the feast of 627  Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, 628  “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 629  26:18 He 630  said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” 26:19 So 631  the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover. 26:20 When 632  it was evening, he took his place at the table 633  with the twelve. 634  26:21 And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth, 635  one of you will betray me.” 636  26:22 They 637  became greatly distressed 638  and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 26:23 He 639  answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me 640  will betray me. 26:24 The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” 26:25 Then 641  Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus 642  replied, “You have said it yourself.”

The Lord’s Supper

26:26 While 643  they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 26:27 And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 26:28 for this is my blood, the blood 644  of the covenant, 645  that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 26:29 I 646  tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit 647  of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 26:30 After 648  singing a hymn, 649  they went out to the Mount of Olives.

The Prediction of Peter’s Denial

26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 650 

26:32 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 26:33 Peter 651  said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 26:34 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, 652  on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 26:35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing.

Gethsemane

26:36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 26:37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed. 26:38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 26:39 Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, 653  “My Father, if possible, 654  let this cup 655  pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 26:40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He 656  said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? 26:41 Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, 657  “My Father, if this cup 658  cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.” 26:43 He came again and found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open. 659  26:44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more. 26:45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 26:46 Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer 660  is approaching!”

Betrayal and Arrest

26:47 While he was still speaking, Judas, 661  one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 26:48 (Now the betrayer 662  had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. 663  Arrest him!”) 664  26:49 Immediately 665  he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him. 666  26:50 Jesus 667  said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and took hold 668  of Jesus and arrested him. 26:51 But 669  one of those with Jesus grabbed 670  his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest’s slave, 671  cutting off his ear. 26:52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place! 672  For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword. 26:53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions 673  of angels right now? 26:54 How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?” 26:55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? 674  Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet 675  you did not arrest me. 26:56 But this has happened so that 676  the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Condemned by the Sanhedrin

26:57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house 677  the experts in the law 678  and the elders had gathered. 26:58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After 679  going in, he sat with the guards 680  to see the outcome. 26:59 The 681  chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 26:60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally 682  two came forward 26:61 and declared, “This man 683  said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 26:62 So 684  the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 26:63 But Jesus was silent. The 685  high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, 686  the Son of God.” 26:64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand 687  of the Power 688  and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 689  26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, 690  “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now 691  you have heard the blasphemy! 26:66 What is your verdict?” 692  They 693  answered, “He is guilty and deserves 694  death.” 26:67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 26:68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! 695  Who hit you?” 696 

Peter’s Denials

26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A 697  slave girl 698  came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 26:70 But he denied it in front of them all: 699  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 26:71 When 700  he went out to the gateway, another slave girl 701  saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 26:72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 26:73 After 702  a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too – even your accent 703  gives you away!” 26:74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed. 704  26:75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. 705 

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

27:1 When 706  it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 27:2 They 707  tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate 708  the governor. 709 

Judas’ Suicide

27:3 Now when 710  Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus 711  had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, 27:4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!” 27:5 So 712  Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 27:6 The 713  chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” 27:7 After 714  consulting together they bought the Potter’s Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners. 27:8 For this reason that field has been called the “Field of Blood” to this day. 27:9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah 715  the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel, 716  27:10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” 717 

Jesus and Pilate

27:11 Then 718  Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, 719  “Are you the king 720  of the Jews?” Jesus 721  said, “You say so.” 722  27:12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond. 27:13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?” 27:14 But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.

27:15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, 723  whomever they wanted. 27:16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus 724  Barabbas. 27:17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus 725  Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” 726  27:18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.) 727  27:19 As 728  he was sitting on the judgment seat, 729  his wife sent a message 730  to him: 731  “Have nothing to do with that innocent man; 732  I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream 733  about him today.” 27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 27:21 The 734  governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 27:22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” 735  They all said, “Crucify him!” 736  27:23 He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”

Jesus is Condemned and Mocked

27:24 When 737  Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!” 738  27:25 In 739  reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” 27:26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged, 740  he handed him over 741  to be crucified. 742  27:27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence 743  and gathered the whole cohort 744  around him. 27:28 They 745  stripped him and put a scarlet robe 746  around him, 27:29 and after braiding 747  a crown of thorns, 748  they put it on his head. They 749  put a staff 750  in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him: 751  “Hail, king of the Jews!” 752  27:30 They 753  spat on him and took the staff 754  and struck him repeatedly 755  on the head. 27:31 When 756  they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then 757  they led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

27:32 As 758  they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced 759  to carry his cross. 760  27:33 They 761  came to a place called Golgotha 762  (which means “Place of the Skull”) 763  27:34 and offered Jesus 764  wine mixed with gall to drink. 765  But after tasting it, he would not drink it. 27:35 When 766  they had crucified 767  him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice. 768  27:36 Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. 27:37 Above 769  his head they put the charge against him, 770  which read: 771  “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 27:38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 27:39 Those 772  who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads 27:40 and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! 773  If you are God’s Son, come down 774  from the cross!” 27:41 In 775  the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law 776  and elders 777  – were mocking him: 778  27:42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down 779  now from the cross, we will believe in him! 27:43 He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him now 780  because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” 27:44 The 781  robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him. 782 

Jesus’ Death

27:45 Now from noon until three, 783  darkness came over all the land. 784  27:46 At 785  about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, 786 Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 787  27:47 When 788  some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 27:48 Immediately 789  one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, 790  put it on a stick, 791  and gave it to him to drink. 27:49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.” 792  27:50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 27:51 Just then 793  the temple curtain 794  was torn in two, from top to bottom. The 795  earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 27:52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died 796  were raised. 27:53 (They 797  came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) 27:54 Now when the centurion 798  and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!” 27:55 Many 799  women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support 800  were also there, watching from a distance. 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Jesus’ Burial

27:57 Now 801  when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 802  27:58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 803  Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 27:59 Joseph 804  took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 805  27:60 and placed it 806  in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. 807  Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance 808  of the tomb and went away. 27:61 (Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)

The Guard at the Tomb

27:62 The 809  next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees 810  assembled before Pilate 27:63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 27:64 So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body 811  and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 27:65 Pilate said to them, “Take 812  a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.” 27:66 So 813  they went with the soldiers 814  of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

The Resurrection

28:1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 28:2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord 815  descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 28:3 His 816  appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 28:4 The 817  guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 28:5 But the angel said 818  to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know 819  that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 820  28:6 He is not here, for he has been raised, 821  just as he said. Come and see the place where he 822  was lying. 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He 823  is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 28:8 So 824  they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 28:9 But 825  Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They 826  came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”

The Guards’ Report

28:11 While 827  they were going, some 828  of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 28:12 After 829  they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 28:13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body 830  while we were asleep.’ 28:14 If 831  this matter is heard before the governor, 832  we will satisfy him 833  and keep you out of trouble.” 834  28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day. 835 

The Great Commission

28:16 So 836  the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. 28:17 When 837  they saw him, they worshiped him, 838  but some doubted. 839  28:18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, 840  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 28:19 Therefore go 841  and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 842  28:20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, 843  I am with you 844  always, to the end of the age.” 845 

Drag to resizeDrag to resize

[14:1]  1 sn A tetrarch, a ruler with rank and authority lower than a king, ruled only with the approval of the Roman authorities. This was roughly equivalent to being governor of a region. Several times in the NT, Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, is called a king (Matt 14:9, Mark 6:14-29), reflecting popular usage rather than an official title.

[14:3]  2 tc ‡ Most witnesses (א2 C D L W Z Θ 0106 Ë1,13 33 Ï lat) read αὐτόν (auton, “him”) here as a way of clarifying the direct object; various important witnesses lack the word, however (א* B 700 pc ff1 h q). The original wording most likely lacked it, but it has been included here due to English style. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations about its authenticity.

[14:4]  3 tn The imperfect tense verb is here rendered with an iterative force.

[14:4]  4 sn This marriage of Herod to his brother Philip’s wife was a violation of OT law (Lev 18:16; 20:21). In addition, both Herod Antipas and Herodias had each left marriages to enter into this union.

[14:5]  4 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[14:5]  5 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Herod) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:5]  6 tn Grk “him” (also in the following phrase, Grk “accepted him”); in both cases the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:7]  5 tn The Greek text reads here ὁμολογέω (Jomologew); though normally translated “acknowledge, confess,” BDAG (708 s.v. 1) lists “assure, promise with an oath” for certain contexts such as here.

[14:9]  6 tn Grk “and being grieved, the king commanded.”

[14:10]  7 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.

[14:11]  8 tn Grk “And his”; the referent (John the Baptist) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:12]  9 tn Grk “his”; the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”

[14:13]  10 tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[14:13]  11 tn Or “cities.”

[14:15]  11 tn Or “a desert” (meaning a deserted or desolate area with sparse vegetation).

[14:16]  12 tc ‡ The majority of witnesses read ᾿Ιησοῦς (Ihsous, “Jesus”) here, perhaps to clarify the subject. Although only a few Greek mss, along with several versional witnesses (א* D Zvid 579 1424 pc e k sys,c,p sa bo), lack the name of Jesus, the omission does not seem to be either accidental or malicious and is therefore judged to be most likely the original reading. Nevertheless, a decision is difficult. NA27 has the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[14:16]  13 tn Here the pronoun ὑμεῖς (Jumeis) is used, making “you” in the translation emphatic.

[14:17]  13 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[14:19]  14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”

[14:19]  15 tn Grk “And after instructing the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass, after taking the five loaves and the two fish, after looking up to heaven, he gave thanks, and after breaking the loaves he gave them to the disciples.” Although most of the participles are undoubtedly attendant circumstance, there are but two indicative verbs – “he gave thanks” and “he gave.” The structure of the sentence thus seems to focus on these two actions and has been translated accordingly.

[14:19]  16 tn Grk “to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.”

[14:22]  15 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:24]  16 tn Grk “The boat was already many stades from the land.” A stade (στάδιον, stadion) was a unit of distance about 607 feet (187 meters) long.

[14:25]  17 tn Grk “In the fourth watch of the night,” that is, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

[14:25]  18 tn Or “on the lake.”

[14:26]  18 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[14:26]  19 tn Grk “on the sea”; or “on the lake.” The translation “water” has been used here for stylistic reasons (cf. the same phrase in v. 25).

[14:27]  19 tc Most witnesses have ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς (Jo Ihsous, “Jesus”), while a few lack the words (א* D 073 892 pc ff1 syc sa bo). Although such additions are often suspect (due to liturgical influences, piety, or for the sake of clarity), in this case it is likely that ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς dropped out accidentally. Apart from a few albeit important witnesses, as noted above, the rest of the tradition has either ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς αὐτοῖς (Jo Ihsous autois) or αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς (autois Jo Ihsous). In uncial letters, with Jesus’ name as a nomen sacrum, this would have been written as autoisois_ or ois_autois. Thus homoioteleuton could explain the reason for the omission of Jesus’ name.

[14:27]  20 tn Grk “he said to them, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant and has not been translated.

[14:28]  20 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[14:28]  21 tn Grk “answering him, Peter said.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (apokriqeis) is redundant and has not been translated.

[14:30]  21 tn Grk “he cried out, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant and has not been translated.

[14:34]  22 sn Gennesaret was a fertile plain south of Capernaum (see also Mark 6:53). The Sea of Galilee was also sometimes known as the Sea of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1).

[14:35]  23 tn Grk “men”; the word here (ἀνήρ, anhr) usually indicates males or husbands, but occasionally is used in a generic sense of people in general, as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 1.a, 2).

[14:36]  24 tn Grk “asked that they might touch.”

[15:1]  25 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[15:1]  26 tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[15:1]  27 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[15:1]  28 tn The participle λέγοντες (legontes) has been translated as a finite verb so that its telic (i.e., final or conclusive) force can be more easily detected: The Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus in order to speak with him.

[15:2]  26 tc ‡ Although most witnesses read the genitive plural pronoun αὐτῶν (autwn, “their”), it may have been motivated by clarification (as it is in the translation above). Several other authorities do not have the pronoun, however (א B Δ 073 Ë1 579 700 892 1424 pc f g1); the lack of an unintentional oversight as the reason for omission strengthens their combined testimony in this shorter reading. NA27 has the pronoun in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[15:2]  27 tn Grk “when they eat bread.”

[15:3]  27 tn Grk “But answering, he said to them.”

[15:4]  28 tc Most mss (א*,2 C L W 0106 33 Ï) have an expanded introduction here; instead of “For God said,” they read “For God commanded, saying” (ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἐνετείλατο λέγων, Jo gar qeo" eneteilato legwn). But such expansions are generally motivated readings; in this case, most likely it was due to the wording of the previous verse (“the commandment of God”) that caused early scribes to add to the text. Although it is possible that other witnesses reduced the text to the simple εἶπεν (eipen, “[God] said”) because of perceived redundancy with the statement in v. 3, such is unlikely in light of the great variety and age of these authorities (א1 B D Θ 073 Ë1,13 579 700 892 pc lat co, as well as other versions and fathers).

[15:4]  29 sn A quotation from Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16.

[15:4]  30 sn A quotation from Exod 21:17; Lev 20:9.

[15:5]  29 tn Grk “is a gift,” that is, something dedicated to God.

[15:6]  30 tc The logic of v. 5 would seem to demand that both father and mother are in view in v. 6. Indeed, the majority of mss (C L W Θ 0106 Ë1 Ï) have “or his mother” (ἢ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, h thn mhtera autou) after “honor his father” here. However, there are significant witnesses that have variations on this theme (καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ [kai thn mhtera autou, “and his mother”] in Φ 565 1241 pc and ἢ τὴν μητέρα [“or mother”] in 073 Ë13 33 579 700 892 pc), which is usually an indication of a predictable addition to the text rather than an authentic reading. Further, the shorter reading (without any mention of “mother”) is found in early and important witnesses (א B D sa). Although it is possible that the shorter reading came about accidentally (due to the repetition of –ερα αὐτοῦ), the evidence more strongly suggests that the longer readings were intentional scribal alterations.

[15:8]  31 tn The term “heart” is a collective singular in the Greek text.

[15:9]  32 sn A quotation from Isa 29:13.

[15:10]  33 tn Grk “And calling the crowd, he said to them.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesamenos) has been translated as attendant circumstance. The emphasis here is upon Jesus’ speaking to the crowd.

[15:11]  34 tn Grk “but what.”

[15:12]  35 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[15:13]  36 tn Grk “And answering, he said.”

[15:14]  37 tc ‡ Most mss, some of which are significant, read “They are blind guides of the blind” (א1 C L W Z Θ Ë1,13 33 Ï lat). The shorter reading is read by א*,2 B D 0237 Epiph. There is a distinct possibility of omission due to homoioarcton in א*; this manuscript has a word order variation which puts the word τυφλοί (tufloi, “blind”) right before the word τυφλῶν (tuflwn, “of the blind”). This does not explain the shorter reading, however, in the other witnesses, of which B and D are quite weighty. Internal considerations suggest that the shorter reading is original: “of the blind” was likely added by scribes to balance this phrase with Jesus’ following statement about the blind leading the blind, which clearly has two groups in view. A decision is difficult, but internal considerations here along with the strength of the witnesses argue that the shorter reading is more likely original. NA27 places τυφλῶν in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[15:14]  38 tn Grk “If blind leads blind.”

[15:15]  38 tn Grk “And answering, Peter said to him.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.

[15:16]  39 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[15:17]  40 tn Or “into the latrine.”

[15:20]  41 tn Grk “but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”

[15:21]  42 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.

[15:21]  43 map For location see Map1 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.

[15:22]  43 tn Grk “And behold a Canaanite.” 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).

[15:22]  44 tn Grk The participle ἐξελθοῦσα (exelqousa) is here translated as a finite verb. The emphasis is upon her crying out to Jesus.

[15:22]  45 tn Grk “cried out, saying.” The participle λέγουσα (legousa) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[15:23]  44 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”

[15:23]  45 tn Grk “asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[15:24]  45 tn Grk “And answering, he said.” The construction in Greek is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ request.

[15:25]  46 tn In this context the verb προσκυνέω (proskunew), which often describes worship, probably means simply bowing down to the ground in an act of reverence or supplication (see L&N 17.21).

[15:25]  47 tn Grk “she bowed down to him, saying.”

[15:26]  47 tn Grk “And answering, he said, ‘It is not right.’” The introductory phrase “answering, he said” has been simplified and placed at the end of the English sentence for stylistic reasons. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[15:26]  48 tn Or “lap dogs, house dogs,” as opposed to dogs on the street. The diminutive form originally referred to puppies or little dogs, then to house pets. In some Hellenistic uses κυνάριον (kunarion) simply means “dog.”

[15:26]  49 tn Grk “And answering, he said.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (apokriqeis) is redundant and has not been translated.

[15:27]  48 tn Grk “she said.”

[15:28]  49 tn Grk “Then answering, Jesus said to her.” This expression has been simplified in the translation.

[15:28]  50 sn Woman was a polite form of address (see BDAG 208-9 s.v. γυνή 1), similar to “Madam” or “Ma’am” used in English in different regions.

[15:30]  50 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”

[15:30]  51 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[15:32]  51 tc ‡ Although the external evidence is not great (א W Θ 700 pc), the internal evidence for the omission of αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”) after “disciples” is fairly strong. The pronoun may have been added by way of clarification. NA27, however, includes the pronoun, on the basis of the much stronger external evidence.

[15:36]  52 tn Grk “was giving them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowd.”

[15:37]  53 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[15:38]  54 tc ‡ Although most witnesses (B C L W Ë13 33 Ï f sys,p,h mae) read “women and children” instead of “children and women,” it is likely that the majority’s reading is a harmonization to Matt 14:21. “Children and women” is found in early and geographically widespread witnesses (e.g., א D [Θ Ë1] 579 lat syc sa bo), and has more compelling internal arguments on its side, suggesting that this is the original reading. NA27, however, agrees with the majority of witnesses.

[15:38]  55 tn Grk “And those eating were four thousand men, apart from children and women.”

[15:39]  55 sn Magadan was a place along the Sea of Galilee, the exact location of which is uncertain.

[16:1]  56 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[16:1]  57 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.

[16:1]  58 tn The object of the participle πειράζοντες (peirazontes) is not given in the Greek text but has been supplied here for clarity.

[16:1]  59 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.

[16:2]  57 tn Grk “But answering, he said to them.” The construction has been simplified in the translation and δέ (de) has not been translated.

[16:3]  58 tn Or “red and gloomy” (L&N 14.56).

[16:3]  59 tn Grk “The face of the sky you know how to discern.”

[16:4]  59 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[16:6]  60 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[16:6]  61 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.

[16:7]  61 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ saying about the Pharisees and Sadducees.

[16:8]  62 tn Or “becoming aware of it.”

[16:8]  63 tn Grk “Those of little faith.”

[16:8]  64 tn Or “discussing.”

[16:13]  63 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[16:13]  64 map For location see Map1 C1; Map2 F4.

[16:13]  65 tn Grk “he asked his disciples, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant and has been left untranslated.

[16:14]  64 sn The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.

[16:16]  65 tn Grk “And answering, Simon Peter said.”

[16:16]  66 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[16:17]  66 tn Grk “answering, Jesus said to him.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (apokriqeis) is redundant, but the syntax of this phrase has been modified for clarity.

[16:17]  67 tn The expression “flesh and blood” could refer to “any human being” (so TEV, NLT; cf. NIV “man”), but it could also refer to Peter himself (i.e., his own intuition; cf. CEV “You didn’t discover this on your own”). Because of the ambiguity of the referent, the phrase “flesh and blood” has been retained in the translation.

[16:18]  67 tn Or “and the power of death” (taking the reference to the gates of Hades as a metonymy).

[16:20]  68 tc Most mss (א2 C W Ï lat bo) have “Jesus, the Christ” (᾿Ιησοῦς ὁ Χριστός, Ihsou" Jo Cristo") here, while D has “Christ Jesus” (ὁ Χριστὸς ᾿Ιησοῦς). On the one hand, this is a much harder reading than the mere Χριστός, because the name Jesus was already well known for the disciples’ master – both to them and to others. Whether he was the Messiah is the real focus of the passage. But this is surely too hard a reading: There are no other texts in which the Lord tells his disciples not to disclose his personal name. Further, it is plainly a motivated reading in that scribes had the proclivity to add ᾿Ιησοῦς to Χριστός or to κύριος (kurio", “Lord”), regardless of whether such was appropriate to the context. In this instance it clearly is not, and it only reveals that scribes sometimes, if not often, did not think about the larger interpretive consequences of their alterations to the text. Further, the shorter reading is well supported by א* B L Δ Θ Ë1,13 565 700 1424 al it sa.

[16:21]  69 tn Grk “From then.”

[16:21]  70 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[16:21]  71 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.

[16:21]  72 tn Or “and scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[16:22]  70 tn Grk “began to rebuke him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[16:22]  71 tn Grk “Merciful to you.” A highly elliptical expression: “May God be merciful to you in sparing you from having to undergo [some experience]” (L&N 88.78). A contemporary English equivalent is “God forbid!”

[16:23]  71 tn Grk “people.”

[16:24]  72 tn Grk “to come after me.”

[16:24]  73 tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[16:24]  74 sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.

[16:25]  73 tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 25-26).

[16:25]  74 sn The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.

[16:26]  74 tn Grk “a man,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense here to refer to both men and women.

[16:27]  75 sn An allusion to Pss 28:4; 62:12; cf. Prov 24:12.

[16:28]  76 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[16:28]  77 tn The Greek negative here (οὐ μή, ou mh) is the strongest possible.

[16:28]  78 tn Grk “will not taste.” Here the Greek verb does not mean “sample a small amount” (as a typical English reader might infer from the word “taste”), but “experience something cognitively or emotionally; come to know something” (cf. BDAG 195 s.v. γεύομαι 2).

[16:28]  79 sn Several suggestions have been made as to the referent for the phrase the Son of Man coming in his kingdom: (1) the transfiguration itself, which immediately follows in the narrative; (2) Jesus’ resurrection and ascension; (3) the coming of the Spirit; (4) Christ’s role in the Church; (5) the destruction of Jerusalem; (6) Jesus’ second coming and the establishment of the kingdom. The reference to six days later in 17:1 seems to indicate that Matthew had the transfiguration in mind insofar as it was a substantial prefiguring of the consummation of the kingdom (although this interpretation is not without its problems). As such, the transfiguration would be a tremendous confirmation to the disciples that even though Jesus had just finished speaking of his death (in vv. 21-23), he was nonetheless the promised Messiah and things were proceeding according to God’s plan.

[17:1]  77 tn Grk “And after six days.”

[17:1]  78 tn Grk “John his brother” with “his” referring to James.

[17:2]  78 sn In 1st century Judaism and in the NT, there was the belief that the righteous get new, glorified bodies in order to enter heaven (1 Cor 15:42-49; 2 Cor 5:1-10). This transformation means the righteous will share the glory of God. One recalls the way Moses shared the Lord’s glory after his visit to the mountain in Exod 34. So the disciples saw Jesus transfigured, and they were getting a sneak preview of the great glory that Jesus would have (only his glory is more inherent to him as one who shares in the rule of the kingdom).

[17:2]  79 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[17:3]  79 tn Grk “And behold, Moses.” 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).

[17:3]  80 sn Commentators and scholars discuss why Moses and Elijah are present. The most likely explanation is that Moses represents the prophetic office (Acts 3:18-22) and Elijah pictures the presence of the last days (Mal 4:5-6), the prophet of the eschaton (the end times).

[17:4]  80 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the appearance of Moses and Elijah prompted Peter’s comment.

[17:4]  81 tn Grk “Peter answering said.” This construction is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[17:4]  82 tc Instead of the singular future indicative ποιήσω (poihsw, “I will make”), most witnesses (C3 D L W Θ [Φ] 0281 Ë[1],13 33 Ï lat sy co) have the plural aorist subjunctive ποιήσωμεν (poihswmen, “let us make”). But since ποιήσωμεν is the reading found in the parallel accounts in Mark and Luke, it is almost surely a motivated reading. Further, the earliest and best witnesses, as well as a few others (א B C* 700 pc) have ποιήσω. It is thus more likely that the singular verb is authentic.

[17:4]  83 tn Or “booths,” “dwellings” (referring to the temporary booths constructed in the celebration of the feast of Tabernacles).

[17:5]  81 tn Grk “behold, a.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated here or in the following clause because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[17:5]  82 sn This cloud is the cloud of God’s presence and the voice is his as well.

[17:5]  83 tn Or “surrounded.”

[17:5]  84 tn Grk “behold, a voice from the cloud, saying.” This is an incomplete sentence in Greek which portrays intensity and emotion. The participle λέγουσα (legousa) was translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style.

[17:5]  85 tn Grk “my beloved Son,” or “my Son, the beloved [one].” The force of ἀγαπητός (agaphtos) is often “pertaining to one who is the only one of his or her class, but at the same time is particularly loved and cherished” (L&N 58.53; cf. also BDAG 7 s.v. 1).

[17:5]  86 sn The expression listen to him comes from Deut 18:15 and makes two points: 1) Jesus is a prophet like Moses, a leader-prophet, and 2) they have much yet to learn from him.

[17:6]  82 tn Grk “they fell down on their faces.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”

[17:8]  83 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[17:9]  84 tn Grk “Jesus commanded them, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant and has not been translated.

[17:10]  85 tn Grk “asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant and has not been translated.

[17:10]  86 tn Or “do the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[17:11]  86 tn Grk “And answering, he said.” This has been simplified in the translation.

[17:12]  87 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[17:14]  88 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[17:15]  89 tn Grk “he is moonstruck,” possibly meaning “lunatic” (so NAB, NASB), although now the term is generally regarded as referring to some sort of seizure disorder such as epilepsy (L&N 23.169; BDAG 919 s.v. σεληνιάζομαι).

[17:16]  90 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[17:17]  91 tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[17:17]  92 tn Grk “O.” The marker of direct address, (w), is functionally equivalent to a vocative and is represented in the translation by “you.”

[17:17]  93 tn Or “faithless.”

[17:17]  94 tn Grk “how long.”

[17:17]  95 tn Or “put up with.” See Num 11:12; Isa 46:4.

[17:17]  96 sn The pronouns you…you are plural, indicating that Jesus is speaking to a group rather than an individual.

[17:18]  92 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”

[17:18]  93 tn Or “commanded” (often with the implication of a threat, L&N 33.331).

[17:19]  93 tn Grk “coming, the disciples said.” The participle προσελθόντες (proselqontes) has been translated as a finite verb to make the sequence of events clear in English.

[17:20]  94 tn Grk “For truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

[17:20]  95 tn Grk “faith as,” “faith like.”

[17:20]  96 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[17:21]  95 tc Many important mss (א* B Θ 0281 33 579 892* pc e ff1 sys,c sa) do not include 17:21 “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” The verse is included in א2 C D L W Ë1,13 Ï lat, but is almost certainly not original. As B. M. Metzger notes, “Since there is no satisfactory reason why the passage, if originally present in Matthew, should have been omitted in a wide variety of witnesses, and since copyists frequently inserted material derived from another Gospel, it appears that most manuscripts have been assimilated to the parallel in Mk 9.29” (TCGNT 35). The present translation follows NA27 in omitting the verse number as well, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.

[17:22]  96 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[17:22]  97 tn The plural Greek term ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) is considered by some to be used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women (cf. NRSV “into human hands”; TEV, CEV “to people”). However, because this can be taken as a specific reference to the group responsible for Jesus’ arrest, where it is unlikely women were present (cf. Matt 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12), the word “men” has been retained in the translation. There may also be a slight wordplay with “the Son of Man” earlier in the verse.

[17:24]  97 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[17:24]  98 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 C3; Map3 B2.

[17:24]  99 tn Grk “Collectors of the double drachma.” This is a case of metonymy, where the coin formerly used to pay the tax (the double drachma coin, or δίδραχμον [didracmon]) was put for the tax itself (cf. BDAG 241 s.v.). Even though this coin was no longer in circulation in NT times and other coins were used to pay the tax, the name for the coin was still used to refer to the tax itself.

[17:25]  98 tn Grk “spoke first to him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[17:25]  99 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.

[17:26]  99 sn See the note on the phrase their sons in the previous verse.

[17:27]  100 sn The four drachma coin was a stater (στατήρ, stathr), a silver coin worth four drachmas. One drachma was equivalent to one denarius, the standard pay for a day’s labor (L&N 6.80).

[18:3]  101 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[18:3]  102 sn The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.

[18:3]  103 tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.

[18:5]  102 tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

[18:6]  103 tn The Greek term σκανδαλίζω (skandalizw), translated here “causes to sin” can also be translated “offends” or “causes to stumble.”

[18:6]  104 tn Grk “the millstone of a donkey.” This refers to a large flat stone turned by a donkey in the process of grinding grain (BDAG 661 s.v. μύλος 2; L&N 7.68-69). The same term is used in the parallel account in Mark 9:42.

[18:6]  105 tn The term translated “open” here (πελάγει, pelagei) refers to the open sea as opposed to a stretch of water near a coastline (BDAG 794 s.v. πέλαγος). A similar English expression would be “the high seas.”

[18:7]  104 tn Grk “For it.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

[18:8]  105 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[18:8]  106 sn In Greek there is a wordplay that is difficult to reproduce in English here. The verb translated “causes…to sin” (σκανδαλίζω, skandalizw) comes from the same root as the word translated “stumbling blocks” (σκάνδαλον, skandalon) in the previous verse.

[18:8]  107 tn Grk “than having.”

[18:9]  106 tn Grk “than having.”

[18:9]  107 tn Grk “the Gehenna of fire.”

[18:11]  107 tc The most important mss (א B L* Θ* Ë1,13 33 892* pc e ff1 sys sa) do not include 18:11 “For the Son of Man came to save the lost.” The verse is included in D Lmg W Θc 078vid Ï lat syc,p,h, but is almost certainly not original, being borrowed, as it were, from the parallel in Luke 19:10. The present translation follows NA27 in omitting the verse number as well, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.

[18:12]  108 tn Grk “a certain man.” The Greek word ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used here in a somewhat generic sense.

[18:12]  109 sn This individual with a hundred sheep is a shepherd of modest means, as flocks often had up to two hundred head of sheep.

[18:12]  110 sn Look for the one that went astray. The parable pictures God’s pursuit of the sinner. On the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, see John 10:1-18.

[18:13]  109 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[18:15]  110 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. All the “if” clauses in this paragraph are third class conditions in Greek.

[18:15]  111 tn The Greek term “brother” can mean “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a) whether male or female. It can also refer to siblings, though here it is used in a broader sense to connote familial relationships within the family of God. Therefore, because of the familial connotations, “brother” has been retained in the translation here in preference to the more generic “fellow believer” (“fellow Christian” would be anachronistic in this context).

[18:15]  112 tc ‡ The earliest and best witnesses lack “against you” after “if your brother sins.” It is quite possible that the shorter reading in these witnesses (א B, as well as 0281 Ë1 579 pc sa) occurred when scribes either intentionally changed the text (to make it more universal in application) or unintentionally changed the text (owing to the similar sound of the end of the verb ἁμαρτήσῃ [Jamarthsh] and the prepositional phrase εἰς σέ [eis se]). However, if the mss were normally copied by sight rather than by sound, especially in the early centuries of Christianity, such an unintentional change is not as likely for these mss. And since scribes normally added material rather than deleted it for intentional changes, on balance, the shorter reading appears to be original. NA27 includes the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity.

[18:15]  113 tn Grk “go reprove him.”

[18:16]  111 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15.

[18:17]  112 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[18:17]  113 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[18:17]  114 tn Grk “let him be to you as.”

[18:17]  115 tn Or “a pagan.”

[18:17]  116 sn To treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector means not to associate with such a person. See the note on tax collectors in 5:46.

[18:18]  113 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[18:19]  114 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[18:19]  115 tn Grk “if two of you…agree about whatever they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style, and the pronouns, which change from second person plural to third person plural in the Greek text, have been consistently translated as second person plural.

[18:21]  115 tn Here the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a), whether male or female. Concerning the familial connotations, see also the note on the first occurrence of this term in v. 15.

[18:22]  116 tn Or “seventy times seven,” i.e., an unlimited number of times. See L&N 60.74 and 60.77 for the two possible translations of the phrase.

[18:23]  117 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[18:24]  118 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[18:24]  119 sn A talent was a huge sum of money, equal to 6,000 denarii. One denarius was the usual day’s wage for a worker. L&N 6.82 states, “a Greek monetary unit (also a unit of weight) with a value which fluctuated, depending upon the particular monetary system which prevailed at a particular period of time (a silver talent was worth approximately six thousand denarii with gold talents worth at least thirty times that much).”

[18:25]  119 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[18:25]  120 tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[18:25]  121 tn Grk “and his wife.”

[18:26]  120 tn Grk “falling therefore the slave bowed down to the ground.” The redundancy of this expression signals the desperation of the slave in begging for mercy.

[18:26]  121 tc The majority of mss (א L W 058 0281 Ë1,13 33 Ï it syp,h co) begin the slave’s plea with “Lord” (κύριε, kurie), though a few important witnesses lack this vocative (B D Θ 700 pc lat sys,c Or Chr). Understanding the parable to refer to the Lord, scribes would be naturally prone to add the vocative here, especially as the slave’s plea is a plea for mercy. Thus, the shorter reading is more likely to be authentic.

[18:28]  121 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[18:28]  122 tn Grk “one hundred denarii.” The denarius was a silver coin worth about a day’s wage for a laborer; this would be about three month’s pay.

[18:28]  123 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so.” A new sentence was started at this point in the translation in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.

[18:28]  124 tn Grk “and he grabbed him and started choking him.”

[18:28]  125 tn The word “me” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[18:29]  122 tn Grk “begged him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[18:31]  123 tn Grk “Therefore when.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.

[18:32]  124 tn Grk “him”; the referent (the first slave mentioned in v. 24) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:34]  125 tn Grk “handed him over to the torturers,” referring specifically to guards whose job was to torture prisoners who were being questioned. According to L&N 37.126, it is difficult to know for certain in this instance whether the term actually envisions torture as a part of the punishment or is simply a hyperbole. However, in light of the following verse and Jesus’ other warning statements in Matthew about “fiery hell,” “the outer darkness,” etc., it is best not to dismiss this as mere imagery.

[18:35]  126 tn Grk “his.” The pronoun has been translated to follow English idiom (the last pronoun of the verse [“from your heart”] is second person plural in the original).

[18:35]  127 tn Here the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a), whether male or female. Concerning the familial connotations, see also the note on the first occurrence of this term in v. 15.

[19:1]  127 tn Grk “it happened when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[19:1]  128 tn “River” is not in the Greek text but is supplied for clarity. The region referred to here is sometimes known as Transjordan (i.e., “across the Jordan”).

[19:3]  128 tn Grk “And Pharisees.”

[19:3]  129 tc ‡ Most mss have either ἀνθρώπῳ (anqrwpw, “for a man” [so א2 C D W Θ 087 Ë1,13 33 Ï latt]) or ἀνδρί (andri, “for a husband” [1424c pc]) before the infinitive ἀπολῦσαι (apolusai, “to divorce”). The latter reading is an assimilation to the parallel in Mark; the former reading may have been motivated by the clarification needed (especially to give the following αὐτοῦ [autou, “his”] an antecedent). But a few significant mss (א* B L Γ 579 [700] 1424* pc) have neither noun. As the harder reading, it seems to best explain the rise of the others. NA27, however, reads ἀνθρώπῳ here.

[19:3]  130 sn The question of the Pharisees was anything but sincere; they were asking it to test him. Jesus was now in the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas (i.e., Judea and beyond the Jordan) and it is likely that the Pharisees were hoping he might answer the question of divorce in a way similar to John the Baptist and so suffer the same fate as John, i.e., death at the hands of Herod (cf. 14:1-12). Jesus answered the question not on the basis of rabbinic custom and the debate over Deut 24:1, but rather from the account of creation and God’s original design.

[19:4]  129 sn A quotation from Gen 1:27; 5:2.

[19:5]  130 sn A quotation from Gen 2:24.

[19:7]  131 tc ‡ Although the majority of witnesses (B C W 078 087 Ë13 33 Ï syp,h) have αὐτήν (authn, “her”) after the infinitive ἀπολῦσαι (apolusai, “to divorce”), a variant lacks the αὐτήν. This shorter reading may be due to assimilation to the Markan parallel, but since it is attested in early and diverse witnesses (א D L Z Θ Ë1 579 700 pc lat) and since the parallel verse (Mark 10:4) already departs at many points, the shorter reading seems more likely to be original. The pronoun has been included in the translation, however, for clarity. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations regarding its authenticity.

[19:8]  132 tc A few important mss (א Φ pc) have the name “Jesus” here, but it is probably not original. Nevertheless, this translation routinely specifies the referents of pronouns to improve clarity, so that has been done here.

[19:8]  133 tn Grk “heart” (a collective singular).

[19:10]  133 tc ‡ Some significant witnesses, along with the majority of later mss (Ì25 C D L W Z 078 Ë1,13 33 Ï lat sy samss bo), read αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”) after μαθηταί (maqhtai, “disciples”), but this looks to be a clarifying reading. Other early and important witnesses lack the pronoun (Ì71vid א B Θ e ff1 g1 sams mae), the reading adopted here. NA27 includes the pronoun in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[19:11]  134 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[19:12]  135 tn Grk “from the womb of the mother” (an idiom).

[19:12]  136 tn The verb εὐνουχίζω occurs twice in this verse, translated the first time as “made eunuchs” and the second time as “became eunuchs.” The term literally refers to castration. The second occurrence of the word in this verse is most likely figurative, though, referring to those who willingly maintain a life of celibacy for the furtherance of the kingdom (see W. D. Davies and D. C. Allison, Matthew [ICC], 3:23).

[19:12]  137 tn Grk “people.”

[19:13]  136 tn Grk “so that he would lay his hands on them and pray.”

[19:13]  137 tn Grk “the disciples scolded them.” In the translation the referent has been specified as “those who brought them,” since otherwise the statement could be understood to mean that the disciples scolded the children rather than their parents who brought them.

[19:14]  137 sn The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Children are a picture of those whose simple trust illustrates what faith is all about. The remark illustrates how everyone is important to God, even those whom others regard as insignificant.

[19:15]  138 tn Grk “went from there.”

[19:16]  139 tn Grk “And behold one came.” 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 “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[19:19]  140 sn A quotation from Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20.

[19:19]  141 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.

[19:20]  141 tn Grk “kept.” The implication of this verb is that the man has obeyed the commandments without fail, so the adverb “wholeheartedly” has been added to the translation to bring out this nuance.

[19:20]  142 tn Grk “these things.” The referent of the pronoun (the laws mentioned by Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:21]  142 tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[19:21]  143 sn The call for sacrifice comes with a promise of eternal reward: You will have treasure in heaven. Jesus’ call is a test to see how responsive the man is to God’s direction through him. Will he walk the path God’s agent calls him to walk? For a rich person who got it right, see Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10.

[19:22]  143 tn Grk “he had many possessions.” This term (κτῆμα, kthma) is often used for land as a possession.

[19:23]  144 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[19:24]  145 tn Grk “I say to you.”

[19:24]  146 tc A few late witnesses (579 1424 pc) read κάμιλον (kamilon, “rope”) for κάμηλον (kamhlon, “camel”), either through accidental misreading of the text or intentionally so as to soften Jesus’ words.

[19:24]  147 sn The eye of a needle refers to a sewing needle. (The gate in Jerusalem known as “The Needle’s Eye” was built during the middle ages and was not in existence in Jesus’ day.) Jesus was saying rhetorically that it is impossible for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom, unless God (v. 26) intervenes.

[19:25]  146 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[19:25]  147 sn The assumption is that the rich are blessed, so if they risk exclusion, who is left to be saved?

[19:26]  147 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[19:26]  148 tn The plural Greek term ἄνθρωποις (anqrwpois) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women (cf. NASB 1995 update, “people”). Because of the contrast here between mere mortals and God (“impossible for men, but for God all things are possible”) the phrase “mere humans” has been used in the translation. There may also be a slight wordplay with “the Son of Man” in v. 28.

[19:27]  148 tn Grk “Then answering, Peter said.” This construction is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

[19:27]  149 sn Peter wants reassurance that the disciples’ response and sacrifice have been noticed.

[19:27]  150 tn Grk “We have left everything and followed you.” Koine Greek often used paratactic structure when hypotactic was implied.

[19:28]  149 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[19:28]  150 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[19:28]  151 sn The Greek term translated the age when all things are renewed (παλιγγενεσία, palingenesia) is understood as a reference to the Messianic age, the time when all things are renewed and restored (cf. Rev 21:5).

[19:28]  152 sn The statement you…will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel looks at the future authority the Twelve will have when Jesus returns. They will share in Israel’s judgment.

[19:29]  150 sn Jesus reassures his disciples with a promise that (1) much benefit in this life (a hundred times as much) and (2) eternal life will be given.

[20:1]  151 sn The term landowner here refers to the owner and manager of a household.

[20:2]  152 tn Grk “agreeing with the workers for a denarius a day.”

[20:3]  153 tn Grk “about the third hour.”

[20:5]  154 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[20:5]  155 tn Grk “he went out again about the sixth and ninth hour.”

[20:6]  155 tn Grk “about the eleventh hour.”

[20:8]  156 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[20:8]  157 sn That is, six o’clock in the evening, the hour to pay day laborers. See Lev 19:13b.

[20:8]  158 tc ‡ Most witnesses (including B D W Θ Ë1,13 33vid Ï latt sy) have αὐτοῖς (autois, “to them”) after ἀπόδος (apodos, “give the pay”), but this seems to be a motivated reading, clarifying the indirect object. The omission is supported by א C L Z 085 Or. Nevertheless, NA27 includes the pronoun on the basis of the greater external attestation.

[20:9]  157 tn Grk “each received a denarius.” See the note on the phrase “standard wage” in v. 2.

[20:11]  158 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[20:11]  159 tn The imperfect verb ἐγόγγυζον (egonguzon) has been translated ingressively.

[20:13]  159 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the landowner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:13]  160 tn Grk “And answering, he said to one of them.” This construction is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

[20:13]  161 tn Grk “for a denarius a day.”

[20:14]  160 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[20:14]  161 tn Grk “this last one,” translated as “this last man” because field laborers in 1st century Palestine were men.

[20:15]  161 tc ‡ Before οὐκ (ouk, “[am I] not”) a number of significant witnesses read (h, “or”; e.g., א C W 085 Ë1,13 33 and most others). Although in later Greek the οι in σοι (oi in soi) – the last word of v. 14 – would have been pronounced like , since is lacking in early mss (B D; among later witnesses, note L Z Θ 700) and since mss were probably copied predominantly by sight rather than by sound, even into the later centuries, the omission of cannot be accounted for as easily. Thus the shorter reading is most likely original. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[20:15]  162 tn Grk “Is your eye evil because I am good?”

[20:17]  162 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[20:17]  163 tc ‡ A number of significant witnesses (e.g., B C W 085 33 lat) have μαθητάς (maqhtas, “disciples”) after δώδεκα (dwdeka, “twelve”), perhaps by way of clarification, while other important witnesses lack the word (e.g., א D L Θ Ë1,13). The longer reading looks to be a scribal clarification, and hence is considered to be secondary. NA27 puts the word in brackets to show doubts about its authenticity.

[20:18]  163 tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[20:19]  164 tn Traditionally, “scourged” (the term means to beat severely with a whip, L&N 19.9). BDAG 620 s.v. μαστιγόω 1.a states, “The ‘verberatio’ is denoted in the passion predictions and explicitly as action by non-Israelites Mt 20:19; Mk 10:34; Lk 18:33”; the verberatio was the beating given to those condemned to death in the Roman judicial system. Here the term μαστιγόω (mastigow) has been translated “flog…severely” to distinguish it from the term φραγελλόω (fragellow) used in Matt 27:26; Mark 15:15.

[20:19]  165 sn Crucifixion was the cruelest form of punishment practiced by the Romans. Roman citizens could not normally undergo it. It was reserved for the worst crimes, like treason and evasion of due process in a capital case. The Roman historian Cicero called it “a cruel and disgusting penalty” (Against Verres 2.5.63-66 §§163-70); Josephus (J. W. 7.6.4 [7.203]) called it the worst of deaths.

[20:19]  166 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[20:20]  165 tn Grk “asked something from him.”

[20:21]  166 tn Grk “said to him.”

[20:21]  167 tn Grk “Say that.”

[20:21]  168 tc A majority of witnesses read σου (sou, “your”) here, perhaps for clarification. At the same time, it is possible that the pronoun dropped out through haplography or was excised because of perceived redundancy (there are two other such pronouns in the verse) by א B. Either way, the translation adds it due to the requirements of English style. NA27 includes σου here.

[20:22]  167 tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[20:22]  168 tn The verbs in Greek are plural here, indicating that Jesus is not answering the mother but has turned his attention directly to the two disciples.

[20:22]  169 tc Most mss (C W 33 Ï, as well as some versional and patristic authorities) in addition have “or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” But this is surely due to a recollection of the fuller version of this dominical saying found in Mark 10:38. The same mss also have the Lord’s response, “and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized” in v. 23, again due to the parallel in Mark 10:39. The shorter reading, in both v. 22 and v. 23, is to be preferred both because it better explains the rise of the other reading and is found in superior witnesses (א B D L Z Θ 085 Ë1,13 pc lat, as well as other versional and patristic authorities).

[20:22]  170 sn No more naïve words have ever been spoken as those found here coming from James and John, “We are able.” They said it with such confidence and ease, yet they had little clue as to what they were affirming. In the next sentence Jesus confirms that they will indeed suffer for his name.

[20:23]  168 tc See the tc note on “about to drink” in v. 22.

[20:24]  169 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[20:24]  170 tn Grk “the ten.”

[20:24]  171 tn The word “this” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[20:27]  170 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[20:28]  171 sn The Greek word for ransom (λύτρον, lutron) is found here and in Mark 10:45 and refers to the payment of a price in order to purchase the freedom of a slave. The idea of Jesus as the “ransom” is that he paid the price with his own life by standing in our place as a substitute, enduring the judgment that we deserved for sin.

[20:29]  172 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[20:30]  173 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).

[20:30]  174 tn Grk “shouted, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[20:30]  175 sn Have mercy on us is a request for healing. It is not owed to the men. They simply ask for God’s kind grace.

[20:30]  176 sn There was a tradition in Judaism that the Son of David (Solomon) had great powers of healing (Josephus, Ant. 8.2.5 [8.42-49]).

[20:31]  174 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[20:31]  175 tn Or “rebuked.” The crowd’s view was that surely Jesus would not be bothered with someone as unimportant as a blind beggar.

[20:31]  176 tc ‡ The majority of mss (C W Ë1 33 Ï and several versional witnesses) read κύριε (kurie, “Lord”) after ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς (elehson Jhma", “have mercy on us”). But since this is the order of words in v. 30 (though that wording is also disputed), and since the κύριε-first reading enjoys widespread and early support (א B D L Z Θ 085 0281 Ë13 892 pc lat), the latter was considered original. However, the decision was by no means easy. NA27 has κύριε after ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς here; a majority of that committee felt that since the placement of κύριε in last place was the nonliturgical order it “would have been likely to be altered in transcription to the more familiar sequence” (TCGNT 44).

[21:1]  175 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[21:1]  176 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[21:1]  177 sn The exact location of the village of Bethphage is not known. Most put it on the southeast side of the Mount of Olives and northwest of Bethany, about 1.5 miles (3 km) east of Jerusalem.

[21:1]  178 sn “Mountain” in English generally denotes a higher elevation than it often does in reference to places in Palestine. The Mount of Olives is really a ridge running north to south about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) long, east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. Its central elevation is about 30 meters (100 ft) higher than Jerusalem. It was named for the large number of olive trees which grew on it.

[21:2]  176 tn Grk “the village lying before you” (BDAG 530 s.v. κατέναντι 2.b).

[21:3]  177 sn The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.

[21:4]  178 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:4]  179 tn Grk “what was spoken by the prophet, saying.” The present participle λέγοντος (legontos) is redundant and has not been translated.

[21:5]  179 tn Grk “Tell the daughter of Zion” (the phrase “daughter of Zion” is an idiom for the inhabitants of Jerusalem: “people of Zion”). The idiom “daughter of Zion” has been translated as “people of Zion” because the original idiom, while firmly embedded in the Christian tradition, is not understandable to most modern English readers.

[21:5]  180 tn Grk “the foal of an animal under the yoke,” i.e., a hard-working animal. This is a quotation from Zech 9:9.

[21:6]  180 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ instructions in vv. 2-3.

[21:7]  181 tn Grk “garments”; but this refers in context to their outer cloaks. The action is like 2 Kgs 9:13.

[21:8]  182 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:9]  183 tn Grk “were shouting, saying.” The participle λέγοντας (legontas) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[21:9]  184 tn The expression ῾Ωσαννά (Jwsanna, literally in Hebrew, “O Lord, save”) in the quotation from Ps 118:25-26 was probably by this time a familiar liturgical expression of praise, on the order of “Hail to the king,” although both the underlying Aramaic and Hebrew expressions meant “O Lord, save us.” In words familiar to every Jew, the author is indicating that at this point every messianic expectation is now at the point of realization. It is clear from the words of the psalm shouted by the crowd that Jesus is being proclaimed as messianic king. See E. Lohse, TDNT 9:682-84.

[21:9]  185 sn A quotation from Ps 118:25-26.

[21:10]  184 tn Grk “was shaken.” The translation “thrown into an uproar” is given by L&N 25.233.

[21:11]  185 map For location see Map1 D3; Map2 C2; Map3 D5; Map4 C1; Map5 G3.

[21:12]  186 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[21:12]  187 tn Grk “the temple.”

[21:12]  188 tn Grk “the temple.”

[21:13]  187 sn A quotation from Isa 56:7.

[21:13]  188 tn Or “a hideout” (see L&N 1.57).

[21:13]  189 sn A quotation from Jer 7:11. The meaning of Jesus’ statement about making the temple courts a den of robbers probably operates here at two levels. Not only were the religious leaders robbing the people financially, but because of this they had also robbed them spiritually by stealing from them the opportunity to come to know God genuinely. It is possible that these merchants had recently been moved to this location for convenience.

[21:15]  188 tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[21:15]  189 tn Grk “crying out in the temple [courts] and saying.” The participle λέγοντας (legontas) is somewhat redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[21:16]  189 sn A quotation from Ps 8:2.

[21:19]  190 tn Grk “one fig tree.”

[21:21]  191 tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[21:21]  192 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[21:22]  192 tn Grk “believing”; the participle here is conditional.

[21:23]  193 tn Grk “he.”

[21:23]  194 tn Grk “the temple.”

[21:23]  195 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ.1

[21:24]  194 tn Grk “answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:25]  195 tn The plural Greek term ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) is used here (and in v. 26) in a generic sense, referring to both men and women (cf. NAB, NRSV, “of human origin”; TEV, “from human beings”; NLT, “merely human”).

[21:27]  196 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “So” to indicate that the clause is a result of the deliberations of the leaders.

[21:27]  197 tn Grk “answering Jesus, they said.” This construction is somewhat awkward in English and has been simplified in the translation.

[21:27]  198 sn Very few questions could have so completely revealed the wicked intentions of the religious leaders. Jesus’ question revealed the motivation of the religious leaders and exposed them for what they really were – hypocrites. They indicted themselves when they cited only two options and chose neither of them (“We do not know”). The point of Matt 21:23-27 is that no matter what Jesus said in response to their question, they were not going to believe it and would in the end use it against him.

[21:27]  199 sn Neither will I tell you. Though Jesus gave no answer, the analogy he used to their own question makes his view clear. His authority came from heaven.

[21:27]  200 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ. This is exactly the same phrase as in v. 23.

[21:28]  197 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:29]  198 tn Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here the referent (“the boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:29]  199 tn The Greek text reads here μεταμέλομαι (metamelomai): “to change one’s mind about something, with the probable implication of regret” (L&N 31.59); cf. also BDAG 639 s.v. The idea in this context involves more than just a change of mind, for the son regrets his initial response. The same verb is used in v. 32.

[21:30]  199 tn “And he”; here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:30]  200 tn Grk “And answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated. Here the referent (“this boy”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:31]  200 tc Verses 29-31 involve a rather complex and difficult textual problem. The variants cluster into three different groups: (1) The first son says “no” and later has a change of heart, and the second son says “yes” but does not go. The second son is called the one who does his father’s will. This reading is found in the Western mss (D it). But the reading is so hard as to be nearly impossible. One can only suspect some tampering with the text, extreme carelessness on the part of the scribe, or possibly a recognition of the importance of not shaming one’s parent in public. (Any of these reasons is not improbable with this texttype, and with codex D in particular.) The other two major variants are more difficult to assess. Essentially, the responses make sense (the son who does his father’s will is the one who changes his mind after saying “no”): (2) The first son says “no” and later has a change of heart, and the second son says “yes” but does not go. But here, the first son is called the one who does his father’s will (unlike the Western reading). This is the reading found in (א) C L W (Z) 0102 0281 Ë1 33 Ï and several versional witnesses. (3) The first son says “yes” but does not go, and the second son says “no” but later has a change of heart. This is the reading found in B Θ Ë13 700 and several versional witnesses. Both of these latter two readings make good sense and have significantly better textual support than the first reading. The real question, then, is this: Is the first son or the second the obedient one? If one were to argue simply from the parabolic logic, the second son would be seen as the obedient one (hence, the third reading). The first son would represent the Pharisees (or Jews) who claim to obey God, but do not (cf. Matt 23:3). This accords well with the parable of the prodigal son (in which the oldest son represents the unbelieving Jews). Further, the chronological sequence of the second son being obedient fits well with the real scene: Gentiles and tax collectors and prostitutes were not, collectively, God’s chosen people, but they did repent and come to God, while the Jewish leaders claimed to be obedient to God but did nothing. At the same time, the external evidence is weaker for this reading (though stronger than the first reading), not as widespread, and certainly suspect because of how neatly it fits. One suspects scribal manipulation at this point. Thus the second reading looks to be superior to the other two on both external and transcriptional grounds. But what about intrinsic evidence? One can surmise that Jesus didn’t always give predictable responses. In this instance, he may well have painted a picture in which the Pharisees saw themselves as the first son, only to stun them with his application (v. 32).

[21:31]  201 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[21:31]  202 sn See the note on tax collectors in 5:46.

[21:32]  201 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[21:32]  202 sn The word translated change your minds is the same verb used in v. 29 (there translated had a change of heart). Jesus is making an obvious comparison here, in which the religious leaders are viewed as the disobedient son.

[21:33]  202 tn The term here refers to the owner and manager of a household.

[21:33]  203 sn The vineyard is a figure for Israel in the OT (Isa 5:1-7). The nation and its leaders are the tenants, so the vineyard here may well refer to the promise that resides within the nation. The imagery is like that in Rom 11:11-24.

[21:33]  204 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[21:33]  205 sn The leasing of land to tenant farmers was common in this period.

[21:34]  203 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[21:34]  204 tn Grk “to collect his fruits.”

[21:35]  204 sn The image of the tenants mistreating the owner’s slaves pictures the nation’s rejection of the prophets and their message.

[21:37]  205 sn The owner’s decision to send his son represents God sending Jesus.

[21:39]  206 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the tenants’ decision to kill the son in v. 38.

[21:39]  207 tn Grk “seizing him.” The participle λαβόντες (labontes) has been translated as attendant circumstance.

[21:39]  208 sn Throwing the heir out of the vineyard pictures Jesus’ death outside of Jerusalem.

[21:42]  207 tn Or “capstone,” “keystone.” Although these meanings are lexically possible, the imagery in Eph 2:20-22 and 1 Cor 3:11 indicates that the term κεφαλὴ γωνίας (kefalh gwnia") refers to a cornerstone, not a capstone.

[21:42]  208 sn A quotation from Ps 118:22-23.

[21:43]  208 tn Or “to a nation” (so KJV, NASB, NLT).

[21:44]  209 tc A few witnesses, especially of the Western text (D 33 it sys Or Eussyr), do not contain 21:44. However, the verse is found in א B C L W Z (Θ) 0102 Ë1,13 Ï lat syc,p,h co and should be included as authentic.

[21:45]  210 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[21:45]  211 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[21:46]  211 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowds) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Both previous occurrences of “they” in this verse refer to the chief priests and the Pharisees.

[22:1]  212 tn Grk “And answering again, Jesus spoke.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.

[22:3]  213 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[22:4]  214 tn Grk “Behold, I have prepared my dinner.” In some contexts, however, to translate ἄριστον (ariston) as “dinner” somewhat misses the point. L&N 23.22 here suggests, “See now, the feast I have prepared (for you is ready).”

[22:6]  215 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[22:7]  216 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[22:7]  217 tn Grk “he sent his soldiers, destroyed those murderers.” The verb ἀπώλεσεν (apwlesen) is causative, indicating that the king was the one behind the execution of the murderers. In English the causative idea is not expressed naturally here; either a purpose clause (“he sent his soldiers to put those murderers to death”) or a relative clause (“he sent his soldier who put those murderers to death”) is preferred.

[22:7]  218 tn The Greek text reads here πόλις (polis), which could be translated “town” or “city.” The prophetic reference is to the city of Jerusalem, so “city” is more appropriate here.

[22:12]  217 tn Grk “he was silent.”

[22:15]  218 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[22:15]  219 tn Grk “trap him in word.”

[22:16]  219 sn The Herodians are mentioned in the NT only once in Matt (22:16 = Mark 12:13) and twice in Mark (3:6; 12:13; some mss also read “Herodians” instead of “Herod” in Mark 8:15). It is generally assumed that as a group the Herodians were Jewish supporters of the Herodian dynasty (or of Herod Antipas in particular). In every instance they are linked with the Pharisees. This probably reflects agreement regarding political objectives (nationalism as opposed to submission to the yoke of Roman oppression) rather than philosophy or religious beliefs.

[22:16]  220 sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.

[22:16]  221 tn Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”

[22:17]  220 tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.

[22:17]  221 tn According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος (khnso") was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government.

[22:17]  222 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[22:19]  221 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate their response to Jesus’ request for a coin.

[22:19]  222 tn Here the specific name of the coin was retained in the translation, because not all coins in circulation in Palestine at the time carried the image of Caesar. In other places δηνάριον (dhnarion) has been translated simply as “silver coin” with an explanatory note.

[22:20]  222 tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[22:20]  223 tn Or “whose likeness.”

[22:21]  223 tn Grk “they said to him.”

[22:21]  224 tn Grk “then he said to them.” τότε (tote) has not been translated to avoid redundancy.

[22:21]  225 sn Jesus’ answer to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s was a both/and, not the questioners’ either/or. So he slipped out of their trap.

[22:22]  224 tn Grk “they were amazed; they marveled.”

[22:23]  225 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.

[22:23]  226 sn This remark is best regarded as a parenthetical note by the author.

[22:23]  227 tn Grk “and asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[22:24]  226 tn Grk “and raise up seed,” an idiom for fathering children (L&N 23.59).

[22:24]  227 sn A quotation from Deut 25:5. This practice is called levirate marriage (see also Ruth 4:1-12; Mishnah, m. Yevamot; Josephus, Ant. 4.8.23 [4.254-256]). The levirate law is described in Deut 25:5-10. The brother of a man who died without a son had an obligation to marry his brother’s widow. This served several purposes: It provided for the widow in a society where a widow with no children to care for her would be reduced to begging, and it preserved the name of the deceased, who would be regarded as the legal father of the first son produced from that marriage.

[22:27]  227 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[22:28]  228 tn Grk “For all had her.”

[22:29]  229 tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[22:29]  230 tn Or “mistaken” (cf. BDAG 822 s.v. πλανάω 2.c.γ).

[22:30]  230 tc Most witnesses have “of God” after “angels,” although some mss read ἄγγελοι θεοῦ (angeloi qeou; א L Ë13 {28} 33 892 1241 1424 al) while others have ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ (angeloi tou qeou; W 0102 0161 Ï). Whether with or without the article, the reading “of God” appears to be motivated as a natural expansion. A few important witnesses lack the adjunct (B D Θ {0233} Ë1 700 {sa}); this coupled with strong internal evidence argues for the shorter reading.

[22:31]  231 tn Grk “spoken to you by God, saying.” The participle λέγοντος (legontos) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[22:32]  232 sn A quotation from Exod 3:6.

[22:32]  233 sn He is not God of the dead but of the living. Jesus’ point was that if God could identify himself as God of the three old patriarchs, then they must still be alive when God spoke to Moses; and so they must be raised.

[22:34]  233 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[22:34]  234 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.

[22:34]  235 tn Grk “for the same.” That is, for the same purpose that the Sadducees had of testing Jesus.

[22:35]  234 tn Traditionally, “a lawyer.” This was an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law.

[22:35]  235 tn Grk “testing.” The participle, however, is telic in force.

[22:36]  235 tn Or possibly “What sort of commandment in the law is great?”

[22:37]  236 tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[22:37]  237 tn Grk “You will love.” The future indicative is used here with imperatival force (see ExSyn 452 and 569).

[22:37]  238 sn A quotation from Deut 6:5. The threefold reference to different parts of the person says, in effect, that one should love God with all one’s being.

[22:38]  237 tn Grk “the great and first.”

[22:39]  238 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.

[22:40]  239 tn Grk “hang.” The verb κρεμάννυμι (kremannumi) is used here with a figurative meaning (cf. BDAG 566 s.v. 2.b).

[22:41]  240 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[22:41]  241 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[22:41]  242 tn Grk “asked them a question, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is somewhat redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[22:42]  241 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[22:42]  242 sn It was a common belief in Judaism that Messiah would be the son of David in that he would come from the lineage of David. On this point the Pharisees agreed and were correct. But their understanding was nonetheless incomplete, for Messiah is also David’s Lord. With this statement Jesus was affirming that, as the Messiah, he is both God and man.

[22:44]  242 sn The Lord said to my Lord. With David being the speaker, this indicates his respect for his descendant (referred to as my Lord). Jesus was arguing, as the ancient exposition assumed, that the passage is about the Lord’s anointed. The passage looks at an enthronement of this figure and a declaration of honor for him as he takes his place at the side of God. In Jerusalem, the king’s palace was located to the right of the temple to indicate this kind of relationship. Jesus was pressing the language here to get his opponents to reflect on how great Messiah is.

[22:44]  243 sn A quotation from Ps 110:1.

[22:45]  243 tn Grk “how is he his son?”

[22:46]  244 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[23:2]  245 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[23:2]  246 tn Or “The scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:2]  247 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[23:3]  246 tn Grk “for they say and do not do.”

[23:4]  247 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[23:5]  248 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[23:5]  249 sn Phylacteries were small leather cases containing OT scripture verses, worn on the arm and forehead by Jews, especially when praying. The custom was derived from such OT passages as Exod 13:9; 16; Deut 6:8; 11:18.

[23:5]  250 tn The term κράσπεδον (kraspedon) in some contexts could refer to the outer fringe of the garment (possibly in Mark 6:56). This edge could have been plain or decorated. L&N 6.180 states, “In Mt 23:5 κράσπεδον denotes the tassels worn at the four corners of the outer garment (see 6.194).”

[23:6]  249 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[23:6]  250 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.

[23:7]  250 sn There is later Jewish material in the Talmud that spells out such greetings in detail. See H. Windisch, TDNT 1:498.

[23:10]  251 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[23:11]  252 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[23:13]  253 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:13]  254 tn Grk “Woe to you…because you…” The causal particle ὅτι (Joti) has not been translated here for rhetorical effect (and so throughout this chapter).

[23:13]  255 tn Grk “because you are closing the kingdom of heaven before people.”

[23:14]  254 tc The most important mss (א B D L Z Θ Ë1 33 892* pc and several versional witnesses) do not have 23:14 “Woe to you experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ property, and as a show you pray long prayers! Therefore you will receive a more severe punishment.” Part or all of the verse is contained (either after v. 12 or after v. 13) in W 0102 0107 Ë13 Ï and several versions, but it is almost certainly not original. The present translation follows NA27 in omitting the verse number as well, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations. Note also that Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47 are very similar in wording and are not disputed textually.

[23:15]  255 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:15]  256 tn Or “one proselyte.”

[23:15]  257 tn Grk “when he becomes [one].”

[23:15]  258 tn Grk “a son of Gehenna.” Expressions constructed with υἱός (Juios) followed by a genitive of class or kind denote a person belonging to the class or kind specified by the following genitive (L&N 9.4). Thus the phrase here means “a person who belongs to hell.”

[23:16]  256 tn Grk “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing.”

[23:18]  257 tn Grk “Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing.”

[23:23]  258 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:23]  259 tn Or “you tithe mint.”

[23:23]  260 sn Cumin (alternately spelled cummin) was an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean region. Its seeds were used for seasoning.

[23:23]  261 tc ‡ Many witnesses (B C K L W Δ 0102 33 565 892 pm) have δέ (de, “but”) after ταῦτα (tauta, “these things”), while many others lack it (א D Γ Θ Ë1,13 579 700 1241 1424 pm). Since asyndeton was relatively rare in Koine Greek, the conjunction may be an intentional alteration, and is thus omitted from the present translation. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[23:24]  259 tn Grk “Blind guides who strain out a gnat yet who swallow a camel!”

[23:25]  260 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:26]  261 tc A very difficult textual problem is found here. The most important Alexandrian and Byzantine, as well as significant Western, witnesses (א B C L W 0102 0281 Ë13 33 Ï lat co) have “and the dish” (καὶ τῆς παροψίδος, kai th" paroyido") after “cup,” while few important witnesses (D Θ Ë1 700 and some versional and patristic authorities) omit the phrase. On the one hand, scribes sometimes tended to eliminate redundancy; since “and the dish” is already present in v. 25, it may have been deleted in v. 26 by well-meaning scribes. On the other hand, as B. M. Metzger notes, the singular pronoun αὐτοῦ (autou, “its”) with τὸ ἐκτός (to ekto", “the outside”) in some of the same witnesses that have the longer reading (viz., B* Ë13 al) hints that their archetype lacked the words (TCGNT 50). Further, scribes would be motivated both to add the phrase from v. 25 and to change αὐτοῦ to the plural pronoun αὐτῶν (aujtwn, “their”). Although the external evidence for the shorter reading is not compelling in itself, combined with these two prongs of internal evidence, it is to be slightly preferred.

[23:27]  262 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:27]  263 sn This was an idiom for hypocrisy – just as the wall was painted on the outside but something different on the inside, so this person was not what he appeared or pretended to be (for discussion of a similar metaphor, see L&N 88.234; BDAG 1010 s.v. τοῖχος). See Deut 28:22; Ezek 13:10-16; Acts 23:3.

[23:29]  263 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:29]  264 tn Grk “Because you.” Here ὅτι (Joti) has not been translated.

[23:29]  265 tn Or perhaps “the monuments” (see L&N 7.75-76).

[23:30]  264 tn Grk “fathers” (so also in v. 32).

[23:33]  265 tn Grk “the judgment of Gehenna.”

[23:34]  266 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]  267 tn Or “scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[23:34]  268 sn See the note on crucified in 20:19.

[23:34]  269 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]  270 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.

[23:35]  267 sn Spelling of this name (Βαραχίου, Baraciou) varies among the English versions: “Barachiah” (RSV, NRSV); “Berechiah” (NASB); “Berachiah” (NIV).

[23:36]  268 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[23:36]  269 tn Grk “all these things will come on this generation.”

[23:37]  269 sn The double use of the city’s name betrays intense emotion.

[23:37]  270 tn Although the opening address (“Jerusalem, Jerusalem”) is direct (second person), the remainder of this sentence in the Greek text is third person (“who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her”). The following sentences then revert to second person (“your… you”), so to keep all this consistent in English, the third person pronouns in the present verse were translated as second person (“you who kill… sent to you”).

[23:37]  271 sn How often I have longed to gather your children. Jesus, like a lamenting prophet, speaks for God here, who longed to care tenderly for Israel and protect her.

[23:37]  272 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[23:37]  273 tn Grk “you were not willing.”

[23:39]  270 sn A quotation from Ps 118:26.

[24:1]  271 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[24:1]  272 sn The Jerusalem temple was widely admired around the world. See Josephus, Ant. 15.11 [15.380-425]; J. W. 5.5 [5.184-227] and Tacitus, History 5.8, who called it “immensely opulent.” Josephus compared it to a beautiful snowcapped mountain.

[24:2]  272 tn Grk “answering, he said to them.” The participle ἀποκριθείς (ajpokriqei") is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[24:2]  273 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[24:2]  274 sn With the statement not one stone will be left on another Jesus predicted the total destruction of the temple, something that did occur in a.d. 70.

[24:2]  275 tn Grk “not one stone will be left here on another which will not be thrown down.”

[24:3]  273 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:3]  274 sn Because the phrase these things is plural, more than the temple’s destruction is in view. The question may presuppose that such a catastrophe signals the end.

[24:4]  274 tn Grk “answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[24:4]  275 tn Or “Be on guard.”

[24:5]  275 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[24:6]  276 tn Grk “it is not yet the end.”

[24:7]  277 tn For the translation “rise up in arms” see L&N 55.2.

[24:7]  278 sn See Isa 5:13-14; 13:6-16; Hag 2:6-7; Zech 14:4.

[24:7]  279 tc Most witnesses (C Θ 0102 Ë1,13 Ï) have “and plagues” (καὶ λοιμοί, kai loimoi) between “famines” (λιμοί, limoi) and “earthquakes” (σεισμοί, seismoi), while others have “plagues and famines and earthquakes” (L W 33 pc lat). The similarities between λιμοί and λοιμοί could explain how καὶ λοιμοί might have accidentally dropped out, but since the Lukan parallel has both terms (and W lat have the order λοιμοὶ καὶ λιμοί there too, as they do in Matthew), it seems more likely that scribes added the phrase here. The shorter reading does not enjoy overwhelming support ([א] B D 892 pc, as well as versional witnesses), but it is nevertheless significant; coupled with the internal evidence it should be given preference.

[24:8]  278 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:9]  279 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “nations” or “Gentiles”).

[24:9]  280 sn See Matt 5:10-12; 1 Cor 1:25-31.

[24:10]  280 tn Or “many will fall away.” This could also refer to apostasy.

[24:11]  281 tn Or “and lead many astray.”

[24:13]  282 sn But the person who endures to the end will be saved. Jesus was not claiming here that salvation is by works. He was simply arguing that genuine faith evidences itself in persistence through even the worst of trials.

[24:14]  283 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “nations” or “Gentiles”).

[24:15]  284 sn The reference to the abomination of desolation is an allusion to Dan 9:27. Though some have seen the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy in the actions of Antiochus IV (or a representative of his) in 167 b.c., the words of Jesus seem to indicate that Antiochus was not the final fulfillment, but that there was (from Jesus’ perspective) still another fulfillment yet to come. Some argue that this was realized in a.d. 70, while others claim that it refers specifically to Antichrist and will not be fully realized until the period of the great tribulation at the end of the age (cf. Mark 13:14, 19, 24; Rev 3:10).

[24:16]  285 sn Fleeing to the mountains is a key OT image: Gen 19:17; Judg 6:2; Isa 15:5; Jer 16:16; Zech 14:5.

[24:17]  286 sn On the roof. Most of the roofs in the NT were flat roofs made of pounded dirt, sometimes mixed with lime or stones, supported by heavy wooden beams. They generally had an easy means of access, either a sturdy wooden ladder or stone stairway, sometimes on the outside of the house.

[24:17]  287 sn The swiftness and devastation of the judgment will require a swift escape. There will be no time to come down from the roof and pick up anything from inside one’s home.

[24:19]  287 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:20]  288 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:21]  289 tn Traditionally, “great tribulation.”

[24:21]  290 sn Suffering unlike anything that has happened. Some refer this event to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. While the events of a.d. 70 may reflect somewhat the comments Jesus makes here, the reference to the scope and severity of this judgment strongly suggest that much more is in view. Most likely Jesus is referring to the great end-time judgment on Jerusalem in the great tribulation.

[24:23]  290 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[24:24]  291 tn Or “false christs”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[24:25]  292 tn Or “Pay attention!” Grk “Behold.”

[24:26]  293 tn Grk “they say.” The third person plural is used here as an indefinite and translated “someone” (ExSyn 402).

[24:26]  294 tn Or “in the desert.”

[24:27]  294 sn The Son of Man’s coming in power will be sudden and obvious like lightning. No one will need to point it out.

[24:28]  295 tn The same Greek term can refer to “eagles” or “vultures” (L&N 4.42; BDAG 22 s.v. ἀετός), but in this context it must mean vultures because the gruesome image is one of dead bodies being consumed by scavengers.

[24:28]  296 tn Grk “will be gathered.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one in English.

[24:29]  296 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:29]  297 tn Traditionally, “tribulation.”

[24:29]  298 sn An allusion to Isa 13:10, 34:4 (LXX); Joel 2:10. The heavens were seen as the abode of heavenly forces, so their shaking indicates distress in the spiritual realm. Although some take the powers as a reference to bodies in the heavens (like stars and planets, “the heavenly bodies,” NIV) this is not as likely.

[24:30]  297 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[24:30]  298 tn Or “in the sky”; the Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context.

[24:30]  299 tn Here τότε (tote, “then”) has not been translated to avoid redundancy in English.

[24:30]  300 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[24:30]  301 sn An allusion to Dan 7:13. Here is Jesus returning with full authority to judge.

[24:31]  298 tn Or “of the sky”; the Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context.

[24:32]  299 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:33]  300 tn The verb γινώσκετε (ginwskete, “know”) can be parsed as either present indicative or present imperative. In this context the imperative fits better, since the movement is from analogy (trees and seasons) to the future (the signs of the coming of the kingdom) and since the emphasis is on preparation for this event.

[24:34]  301 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[24:34]  302 sn This is one of the hardest verses in the gospels to interpret. Various views exist for what generation means. (1) Some take it as meaning “race” and thus as an assurance that the Jewish race (nation) will not pass away. But it is very questionable that the Greek term γενεά (genea) can have this meaning. Two other options are possible. (2) Generation might mean “this type of generation” and refer to the generation of wicked humanity. Then the point is that humanity will not perish, because God will redeem it. Or (3) generation may refer to “the generation that sees the signs of the end” (v. 30), who will also see the end itself. In other words, once the movement to the return of Christ starts, all the events connected with it happen very quickly, in rapid succession.

[24:35]  302 sn The words that Jesus predicts here will never pass away. They are more stable and lasting than creation itself. For this kind of image, see Isa 40:8; 55:10-11.

[24:36]  303 tc ‡ Some important witnesses, including early Alexandrian and Western mss (א*,2 B D Θ Ë13 pc it vgmss Irlat Hiermss), have the additional words οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός (oude Jo Juios, “nor the son”) here. Although the shorter reading (which lacks this phrase) is suspect in that it seems to soften the prophetic ignorance of Jesus, the final phrase (“except the Father alone”) already implies this. Further, the parallel in Mark 13:32 has οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός, with almost no witnesses lacking the expression. Hence, it is doubtful that the absence of “neither the Son” is due to the scribes. In keeping with Matthew’s general softening of Mark’s harsh statements throughout his Gospel, it is more likely that the absence of “neither the Son” is part of the original text of Matthew, being an intentional change on the part of the author. Further, this shorter reading is supported by the first corrector of א as well as L W Ë1 33 Ï vg sy co Hiermss. Admittedly, the external evidence is not as impressive for the shorter reading, but it best explains the rise of the other reading (in particular, how does one account for virtually no mss excising οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός at Mark 13:32 if such an absence here is due to scribal alteration? Although scribes were hardly consistent, for such a theologically significant issue at least some consistency would be expected on the part of a few scribes). Nevertheless, NA27 includes οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός here.

[24:37]  304 sn Like the days of Noah, the time of the flood in Gen 6:5-8:22, the judgment will come as a surprise as people live their day to day lives.

[24:38]  305 tn Grk “they,” but in an indefinite sense, “people.”

[24:39]  306 sn Like the flood that came and took them all away, the coming judgment associated with the Son of Man will condemn many.

[24:39]  307 tn Grk “So also will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

[24:40]  307 sn There is debate among commentators and scholars over the phrase one will be taken and one left about whether one is taken for judgment or for salvation. If the imagery is patterned after the rescue of Noah from the flood, as some suggest, the ones taken are the saved (as Noah was) andthose left behind are judged. The imagery, however, is not directly tied to theidentification of the two groups. Its primary purposein context is topicture the sudden, surprisingseparation of the righteous and the judged (i.e., condemned) at the return of the Son of Man.

[24:41]  308 tn According to L&N 46.16, this refers to a hand mill normally operated by two women.

[24:42]  309 tc Most later mss (L 0281 Ï lat) have here ὥρᾳ ({wra, “hour”) instead of ἡμέρα (Jemera, “day”). Although the merits of this reading could be argued either way, in light of the overwhelming and diverse early support for ἡμέρᾳ ({א B C D W Δ Θ Ë13 33 892 1424, as well as several versions and fathers}), the more general term is surely correct.

[24:43]  310 sn On Jesus pictured as a returning thief, see 1 Thess 5:2, 4; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15.

[24:44]  311 sn Jesus made clear that his coming could not be timed, and suggested it would take some time – so long, in fact, that some will not be looking for him any longer (at an hour when you do not expect him).

[24:45]  312 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[24:45]  313 tn Grk “give them.”

[24:46]  313 tn That is, doing his job, doing what he is supposed to be doing.

[24:47]  314 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[24:47]  315 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the master) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:48]  315 tn In the Greek text this is a third class condition that for all practical purposes is a hypothetical condition (note the translation of the following verb “should say”).

[24:48]  316 tn Grk “should say in his heart.”

[24:51]  316 tn The verb διχοτομέω (dicotomew) means to cut an object into two parts (L&N 19.19). This is an extremely severe punishment compared to the other two later punishments. To translate it simply as “punish” is too mild. If taken literally this servant is dismembered, although it is possible to view the stated punishment as hyperbole (L&N 38.12).

[25:2]  317 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:2]  318 tn Grk “Five of them.”

[25:3]  318 tn Grk “For when.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

[25:3]  319 tn The word “extra” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The point is that the five foolish virgins had only the oil in their lamps, but took along no extra supply from which to replenish them. This is clear from v. 8, where the lamps of the foolish virgins are going out because they are running out of oil.

[25:3]  320 tn On the use of olive oil in lamps, see L&N 6.202.

[25:5]  319 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:6]  320 tc ‡ Most witnesses have αὐτοῦ (autou, “[with] him”) after ἀπάντησιν (apanthsin, “meeting”), a reading which makes explicit what is already implied in the shorter text (as found in א B 700). The translation likewise adds “him” for clarity’s sake even though the word is not considered part of the original text. NA27 has αὐτοῦ in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[25:8]  321 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:9]  322 tn Grk “The wise answered, saying, ‘No.’”

[25:10]  323 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[25:11]  324 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:11]  325 tn Grk “Open to us.”

[25:12]  325 tn Grk “But answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[25:12]  326 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[25:13]  326 tc Most later mss (C3 Ë13 1424c Ï) also read here “in which the Son of Man is coming” (ἐν ᾗ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται, en |h Jo Juio" tou anqrwpou ercetai), reproducing almost verbatim the last line of Matt 24:44. The longer reading thus appears to be an explanatory expansion and should not be considered authentic. The earlier and better witnesses ({Ì35 א A B C* D L W Δ Θ Ë1 33 565 892 1424* lat co}) lack this phrase.

[25:14]  327 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[25:15]  328 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:15]  329 sn A talent was equal to 6000 denarii. See the note on this term in 18:24.

[25:16]  329 tn Grk “traded with them.”

[25:19]  330 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:20]  331 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:20]  332 tn Grk Or “Lord; or “Master” (and so throughout this paragraph).

[25:21]  332 tn Grk “His master said to him.”

[25:22]  333 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:25]  334 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:26]  335 tn Grk “But answering, his master said to him.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[25:27]  336 tn For the translation “deposited my money with the bankers,” see L&N 57.216.

[25:27]  337 sn That is, “If you really feared me you should have done a minimum to get what I asked for.”

[25:28]  337 tn Grk “the ten talents.”

[25:29]  338 tn Grk “to everyone who has, he will be given more.”

[25:29]  339 sn The one who has nothing has even what he seems to have taken from him, ending up with no reward at all (see also Luke 8:18). The exact force of this is left ambiguous, but there is no comfort here for those who are pictured by the third slave as being totally unmoved by the master. Though not an outright enemy, there is no relationship to the master either.

[25:31]  339 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:32]  340 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:33]  341 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:37]  342 tn Grk “answer him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[25:38]  343 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:39]  344 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[25:40]  345 tn Grk “answering, the king will say to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[25:40]  346 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[25:40]  347 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). In this context Jesus is ultimately speaking of his “followers” (whether men or women, adults or children), but the familial connotation of “brothers and sisters” is also important to retain here.

[25:41]  346 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:44]  347 tn Grk “Then they will answer, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[25:45]  348 tn Grk “answer them, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[25:45]  349 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[26:1]  349 tn Grk “And it happened when.” The introductory phrase καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[26:2]  350 tn Or “will be delivered up.”

[26:2]  351 sn See the note on crucified in 20:19.

[26:4]  351 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:5]  352 sn The suggestion here is that Jesus was too popular to openly arrest him.

[26:7]  353 sn A jar made of alabaster stone was normally used for very precious substances like perfumes. It normally had a long neck which was sealed and had to be broken off so the contents could be used.

[26:7]  354 tn Μύρον (muron) was usually made of myrrh (from which the English word is derived) but here it is used in the sense of ointment or perfumed oil (L&N 6.205).

[26:7]  355 tn Grk “as he was reclining at table.”

[26:8]  354 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:9]  355 tn Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

[26:9]  356 tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied (as the proceeds from the sale of the perfumed oil).

[26:10]  356 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:10]  357 tn Grk “For she.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

[26:11]  357 tn In the Greek text of this clause, “me” is in emphatic position (the first word in the clause). To convey some impression of the emphasis, an exclamation point is used in the translation.

[26:12]  358 tn Grk “For when.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

[26:13]  359 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[26:15]  360 tn Grk “What will you give to me, and I will betray him to you?”

[26:16]  361 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:16]  362 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[26:17]  362 tn The words “the feast of” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied for clarity.

[26:17]  363 tn Grk “the disciples came to Jesus, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) has been translated as a finite verb to make the sequence of events clear in English.

[26:17]  364 sn This required getting a suitable lamb and finding lodging in Jerusalem where the meal could be eaten. The population of the city swelled during the feast, so lodging could be difficult to find. The Passover was celebrated each year in commemoration of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt; thus it was a feast celebrating redemption (see Exod 12). The Passover lamb was roasted and eaten after sunset in a family group of at least ten people (m. Pesahim 7.13). People ate the meal while reclining (see the note on table in 26:20). It included, besides the lamb, unleavened bread and bitter herbs as a reminder of Israel’s bitter affliction at the hands of the Egyptians. Four cups of wine mixed with water were also used for the meal. For a further description of the meal and the significance of the wine cups, see E. Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 523-24.

[26:18]  363 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:19]  364 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[26:20]  365 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:20]  366 tn Grk “he was reclining at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

[26:20]  367 tc Many witnesses, some of them important, have μαθητῶν (maqhtwn, “disciples”; א A L W Δ Θ 33 892 1241 1424 pm lat) or μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ (maqhtwn autou, “his disciples”; 0281 pc it) after δώδεκα (dwdeka, “twelve”). However, such clarifications are typical scribal expansions to the text. Further, the shorter reading (the one that ends with δώδεκα) has strong support in Ì37vid,45vid B D K Γ Ë1,13 565 579 700 pm. Thus both internally and externally the reading that ends the verse with “the twelve” is to be preferred.

[26:21]  366 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[26:21]  367 tn Or “will hand me over.”

[26:22]  367 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:22]  368 tn The participle λυπούμενοι (lupoumenoi) has been translated as a finite verb to make the sequence of events clear in English.

[26:23]  368 tn Grk “answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:23]  369 sn The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me. The point of Jesus’ comment here is not to identify the specific individual per se, but to indicate that it is one who was close to him – somebody whom no one would suspect. His comment serves to heighten the treachery of Judas’ betrayal.

[26:25]  369 tn Grk “answering, Judas.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to reflect the sequence of events in the narrative.

[26:25]  370 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[26:26]  370 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:28]  371 tn Grk “for this is my blood of the covenant that is poured out for many.” In order to avoid confusion about which is poured out, the translation supplies “blood” twice so that the following phrase clearly modifies “blood,” not “covenant.”

[26:28]  372 tc Although most witnesses read καινῆς (kainhs, “new”) here, this is evidently motivated by the parallel in Luke 22:20. Apart from the possibility of homoioteleuton, there is no good reason for the shorter reading to have arisen later on. But since it is found in such good and diverse witnesses (e.g., Ì37,45vid א B L Z Θ 0298vid 33 pc mae), the likelihood of homoioteleuton becomes rather remote.

[26:29]  372 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:29]  373 tn Grk “produce” (“the produce of the vine” is a figurative expression for wine).

[26:30]  373 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:30]  374 sn After singing a hymn. The Hallel Psalms (Pss 113-118) were sung during the meal. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung just before the second cup and 115-118 were sung at the end of the meal, after the fourth, or hallel cup.

[26:31]  374 sn A quotation from Zech 13:7.

[26:33]  375 tn Grk “answering, Peter said to him.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:34]  376 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[26:39]  377 tn Grk “ground, praying and saying.” Here the participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[26:39]  378 tn Grk “if it is possible.”

[26:39]  379 sn This cup alludes to the wrath of God that Jesus would experience (in the form of suffering and death) for us. See Ps 11:6; 75:8-9; Isa 51:17, 19, 22 for this figure.

[26:40]  378 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:42]  379 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[26:42]  380 tn Grk “this”; the referent (the cup) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[26:43]  380 tn Grk “because their eyes were weighed down,” an idiom for becoming extremely or excessively sleepy (L&N 23.69).

[26:46]  381 tn Grk “the one who betrays me.”

[26:47]  382 tn Grk “behold, Judas.” 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).

[26:48]  383 tn Grk “the one who betrays him.”

[26:48]  384 tn Grk “The one I kiss is he.”

[26:48]  385 sn This remark is parenthetical within the narrative and has thus been placed in parentheses.

[26:49]  384 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:49]  385 sn Judas’ act of betrayal when he kissed Jesus is especially sinister when it is realized that it was common in the culture of the times for a disciple to kiss his master when greeting him.

[26:50]  385 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:50]  386 tn Grk “and put their hands on Jesus.”

[26:51]  386 tn Grk “And behold one.” 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).

[26:51]  387 tn Grk “extending his hand, drew out his sword, and struck.” Because rapid motion is implied in the circumstances, the translation “grabbed” was used.

[26:51]  388 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.

[26:52]  387 tn The translation “put your sword back in its place” for this phrase is given in L&N 85.52.

[26:53]  388 sn A legion was a Roman army unit of about 6,000 soldiers, so twelve legions would be 72,000.

[26:55]  389 tn Or “a revolutionary.” This term can refer to one who stirs up rebellion: BDAG 594 s.v. λῃστής 2 has “revolutionary, insurrectionist, guerrilla” citing evidence from Josephus (J. W. 2.13.2-3 [2.253-254]). However, this usage generally postdates Jesus’ time. It does refer to a figure of violence. Luke uses the same term for the highwaymen who attack the traveler in the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30).

[26:55]  390 tn Grk “and” (καί, kai), a conjunction that is elastic enough to be used to indicate a contrast, as here.

[26:56]  390 tn Grk “But so that”; the verb “has happened” is implied.

[26:57]  391 tn Grk “where.”

[26:57]  392 tn Or “where the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[26:58]  392 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:58]  393 sn The guards would have been the guards of the chief priests who had accompanied Judas to arrest Jesus.

[26:59]  393 tn Grk “Now the.” Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:60]  394 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:61]  395 tn Grk “This one.”

[26:62]  396 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the false testimony.

[26:63]  397 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:63]  398 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[26:64]  398 sn An allusion to Ps 110:1. This is a claim that Jesus shares authority with God in heaven. Those present may have thought they were his judges, but, in fact, the reverse was true.

[26:64]  399 sn The expression the right hand of the Power is a circumlocution for referring to God. Such indirect references to God were common in 1st century Judaism out of reverence for the divine name.

[26:64]  400 sn An allusion to Dan 7:13 (see also Matt 24:30).

[26:65]  399 tn Grk “the high priest tore his clothes, saying.”

[26:65]  400 tn Grk “Behold now.” 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).

[26:66]  400 tn Grk “What do you think?”

[26:66]  401 tn Grk “answering, they said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:66]  402 tn Grk “he is guilty of death.” L&N 88.313 states, “pertaining to being guilty and thus deserving some particular penalty – ‘guilty and deserving, guilty and punishable by.’ οἱ δὲ ἀποκριθέντες εἶπαν, ᾿Ενοχος θανάτου ἐστίν ‘they answered, He is guilty and deserves death’ Mt 26:66.”

[26:68]  401 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[26:68]  402 tn Grk “Who is the one who hit you?”

[26:69]  402 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[26:69]  403 tn The Greek term here is παιδίσκη (paidiskh), referring to a slave girl or slave woman.

[26:70]  403 tn Grk “he denied it…saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[26:71]  404 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:71]  405 tn The words “slave girl” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the feminine singular form ἄλλη (allh).

[26:73]  405 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[26:73]  406 tn Grk “your speech.”

[26:74]  406 tn It seems most likely that this refers to a real rooster crowing, although a number of scholars have suggested that “cockcrow” is a technical term referring to the trumpet call which ended the third watch of the night (from midnight to 3 a.m.). This would then be a reference to the Roman gallicinium (ἀλεκτοροφωνία, alektorofwnia; the term is used in Mark 13:35 and is found in some mss [Ì37vid,45 Ë1] in Matt 26:34) which would have been sounded at 3 a.m.; in this case Jesus would have prophesied a precise time by which the denials would have taken place. For more details see J. H. Bernard, St. John (ICC), 2:604. However, in light of the fact that Mark mentions the rooster crowing twice (Mark 14:72) and in Luke 22:60 the words are reversed (ἐφώνησεν ἀλέκτωρ, efwnhsen alektwr), it is more probable that a real rooster is in view. In any event natural cockcrow would have occurred at approximately 3 a.m. in Palestine at this time of year (March-April) anyway.

[26:75]  407 sn When Peter went out and wept bitterly it shows he really did not want to fail here and was deeply grieved that he had.

[27:1]  408 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:2]  409 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:2]  410 tc Most mss (A C W Θ 0250 Ë1,13 Ï latt) have Ποντίῳ (Pontiw, “Pontius”) before Πιλάτῳ (Pilatw, “Pilate”), but there seems to be no reason for omitting the tribal name, either intentionally or unintentionally. Adding “Pontius,” however, is a natural expansion on the text, and is in keeping with several other NT and patristic references to the Roman governor (cf. Luke 3:1; Acts 4:27; 1 Tim 6:13; Ign. Magn. 11.1; Ign. Trall. 9.1; Ign. Smyrn. 1.2; Justin Martyr, passim). The shorter reading, supported by א B L 0281 33 pc co, is thus strongly preferred.

[27:2]  411 sn The Jews most assuredly wanted to put Jesus to death, but they lacked the authority to do so. For this reason they handed him over to Pilate in hopes of securing a death sentence. The Romans kept close control of the death penalty in conquered territories to prevent it from being used to execute Roman sympathizers.

[27:3]  410 tn Grk “Then when.” Here τότε (tote) has been translated as “now” to indicate a somewhat parenthetical interlude in the sequence of events.

[27:3]  411 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:5]  411 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the leaders’ response to Judas.

[27:6]  412 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:7]  413 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:9]  414 tc The problematic citing of Jeremiah for a text which appears to come from Zechariah has prompted certain scribes to alter it. Codex 22 has Ζαχαρίου (Zacariou, “Zechariah”) while Φ 33 omit the prophet’s name altogether. And codex 21 and the Latin ms l change the prophet’s name to “Isaiah,” in accordance with natural scribal proclivities to alter the text toward the most prominent OT prophet. But unquestionably the name Jeremiah is the wording of the original here, because it is supported by virtually all witnesses and because it is the harder reading. See D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” EBC 8:562-63, for a discussion of the textual and especially hermeneutical problem.

[27:9]  415 tn Grk “the sons of Israel,” an idiom referring to the people of Israel as an ethnic entity (L&N 11.58).

[27:10]  415 sn The source of this citation is debated (see the tc note on Jeremiah in v. 9 above for a related discussion). The quotation is most closely related to Zech 11:12-13, but the reference to Jeremiah in v. 9 as the source leads one to look there as well. There is no exact match for this text in Jeremiah, but there are some conceptual parallels: In Jer 18:2-6 the prophet visits a potter, and in Jer 32:6-15 he buys a field. D. A. Carson argues that Jer 19:1-13 is the source of the quotation augmented with various phrases drawn from Zech 11:12-13 (“Matthew,” EBC 8:563). W. D. Davies and D. C. Allison argue that the reference to Jeremiah is not meant to refer to one specific text from that prophet, but instead to signal that his writings as a whole are a source from which the quotation is drawn (Matthew [ICC], 3:568-69). Although the exact source of the citation is uncertain, it is reasonable to see texts from the books of Jeremiah and Zechariah both coming into play here.

[27:11]  416 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[27:11]  417 tn Grk “asked him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[27:11]  418 snAre you the king of the Jews?” Pilate was interested in this charge because of its political implications of sedition against Rome.

[27:11]  419 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:11]  420 sn The reply “You say so” is somewhat enigmatic, like Jesus’ earlier reply to the Jewish leadership in 26:64.

[27:15]  417 sn The custom of Pilate to release one prisoner is unknown outside the gospels in Jewish writings, but it was a Roman custom at the time and thus probably used in Palestine as well (cf. Matt 27:15; John 18:39).

[27:16]  418 tc Although the external evidence for the inclusion of “Jesus” before “Barabbas” (in vv. 16 and 17) is rather sparse, being restricted virtually to the Caesarean text (Θ Ë1 700* pc sys), the omission of the Lord’s name in apposition to “Barabbas” is such a strongly motivated reading that it can hardly be original. There is no good explanation for a scribe unintentionally adding ᾿Ιησοῦν (Ihsoun) before Βαραββᾶν (Barabban), especially since Barabbas is mentioned first in each verse (thus dittography is ruled out). Further, the addition of τὸν λεγόμενον Χριστόν (ton legomenon Criston, “who is called Christ”) to ᾿Ιησοῦν in v. 17 makes better sense if Barabbas is also called “Jesus” (otherwise, a mere “Jesus” would have been a sufficient appellation to distinguish the two).

[27:17]  419 tc Again, as in v. 16, the name “Jesus” is supplied before “Barabbas” in Θ Ë1 700* pc sys Ormss (Θ 700* lack the article τόν [ton] before Βαραββᾶν [Barabban]). The same argument for accepting the inclusion of “Jesus” as original in the previous verse applies here as well.

[27:17]  420 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[27:18]  420 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.

[27:19]  421 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:19]  422 tn Or “the judge’s seat.”

[27:19]  423 tn The word “message” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[27:19]  424 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγουσα (legousa) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[27:19]  425 tn The Greek particle γάρ (gar, “for”) has not been translated here.

[27:19]  426 tn Or “suffered greatly in a dream.” See the discussion on the construction κατ᾿ ὄναρ (katonar) in BDAG 710 s.v. ὄναρ.

[27:21]  422 tn Grk “answering, the governor said to them.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:22]  423 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[27:22]  424 tn Grk “Him – be crucified!” The third person imperative is difficult to translate because English has no corresponding third person form for the imperative. The traditional translation “Let him be crucified” sounds as if the crowd is giving consent or permission. “He must be crucified” is closer, but it is more natural in English to convert the passive to active and simply say “Crucify him.”

[27:24]  424 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:24]  425 sn You take care of it yourselves! Compare the response of the chief priests and elders to Judas in 27:4. The expression is identical except that in 27:4 it is singular and here it is plural.

[27:25]  425 tn Grk “answering, all the people said.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.

[27:26]  426 tn The Greek term φραγελλόω (fragellow) refers to flogging. BDAG 1064 s.v. states, “flog, scourge, a punishment inflicted on slaves and provincials after a sentence of death had been pronounced on them. So in the case of Jesus before the crucifixion…Mt 27:26; Mk 15:15.”

[27:26]  427 tn Or “delivered him up.”

[27:26]  428 sn See the note on crucified in 20:19.

[27:27]  427 tn Or “into their headquarters”; Grk “into the praetorium.”

[27:27]  428 sn A Roman cohort was a tenth of a legion, about 500-600 soldiers.

[27:28]  428 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:28]  429 sn The scarlet robe probably refers to a military garment which had the color of royal purple, and thus resembled a king’s robe. The soldiers did this to Jesus as a form of mockery in view of the charges that he was a king.

[27:29]  429 tn Or “weaving.”

[27:29]  430 sn The crown may have been made from palm spines or some other thorny plant common in Israel. In placing the crown of thorns on his head, the soldiers were unwittingly symbolizing God’s curse on humanity (cf. Gen 3:18) being placed on Jesus. Their purpose would have been to mock Jesus’ claim to be a king; the crown of thorns would have represented the “radiant corona” portrayed on the heads of rulers on coins and other artifacts in the 1st century.

[27:29]  431 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:29]  432 tn Or “a reed.” The Greek term can mean either “staff” or “reed.” See BDAG 502 s.v. κάλαμος 2.

[27:29]  433 tn Grk “they mocked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant and has not been translated.

[27:29]  434 tn Or “Long live the King of the Jews!”

[27:30]  430 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:30]  431 tn Or “the reed.”

[27:30]  432 tn The verb here has been translated as an iterative imperfect.

[27:31]  431 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:31]  432 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[27:32]  432 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:32]  433 tn Or “conscripted”; or “pressed into service.”

[27:32]  434 sn Jesus was beaten severely with a whip before this (the prelude to crucifixion, known to the Romans as verberatio, mentioned in Matt 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1), so he would have been weak from trauma and loss of blood. Apparently he was unable to bear the cross himself, so Simon was conscripted to help (in all probability this was only the crossbeam, called in Latin the patibulum, since the upright beam usually remained in the ground at the place of execution). Cyrene was located in North Africa where Tripoli is today. Nothing more is known about this Simon. Mark 15:21 names him as father of two people apparently known to Mark’s audience.

[27:33]  433 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:33]  434 tn This is an Aramaic name; see John 19:17.

[27:33]  435 sn A place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). This location is north and just outside of Jerusalem. The hill on which it is located protruded much like a skull, giving the place its name. The Latin word for the Greek term κρανίον (kranion) is calvaria, from which the English word “Calvary” is derived (cf. Luke 23:33 in the KJV).

[27:34]  434 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:34]  435 sn It is difficult to say for certain who gave Jesus this drink of wine mixed with gall (e.g., the executioner, or perhaps women from Jerusalem). In any case, whoever gave it to him most likely did so in order to relieve his pain, but Jesus was unwilling to take it.

[27:35]  435 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:35]  436 sn See the note on crucified in 20:19.

[27:35]  437 tn Grk “by throwing the lot” (probably by using marked pebbles or broken pieces of pottery). A modern equivalent, “throwing dice,” was chosen here because of its association with gambling. According to L&N 6.219 a term for “dice” is particularly appropriate.

[27:37]  436 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:37]  437 sn Mention of the inscription is an important detail, because the inscription would normally give the reason for the execution. It shows that Jesus was executed for claiming to be a king. It was also probably written with irony from the executioners’ point of view.

[27:37]  438 tn Grk “was written.”

[27:39]  437 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:40]  438 sn There is rich irony in the statements of those who were passing by, “save yourself!” and “come down from the cross!” In summary, they wanted Jesus to come down from the cross and save his physical life, but it was indeed his staying on the cross and giving his physical life that led to the fact that they could experience a resurrection from death to life.

[27:40]  439 tc ‡ Many important witnesses (א* A D pc it sy[s],p) read καί (kai, here with the force of “then”) before κατάβηθι (katabhqi, “come down”). The shorter reading may well be due to homoioarcton, but judging by the diverse external evidence (א2 B L W Θ 0250 Ë1,13 33 Ï lat) it is equally possible that the shorter reading is original (and is so considered for this translation). NA27 puts the καί in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[27:41]  439 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:41]  440 tn Or “with the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[27:41]  441 tn Only “chief priests” is in the nominative case; this sentence structure attempts to capture this emphasis.

[27:41]  442 tn Grk “Mocking him, the chief priests…said.”

[27:42]  440 tn Here the aorist imperative καταβάτω (katabatw) has been translated as a conditional imperative. This fits the pattern of other conditional imperatives (imperative + καί + future indicative) outlined by ExSyn 489.

[27:43]  441 sn An allusion to Ps 22:8.

[27:44]  442 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:44]  443 sn Matthew’s wording suggests that both of the criminals spoke abusively to him. If so, one of them quickly changed his attitude toward Jesus (see Luke 23:40-43).

[27:45]  443 tn Grk “from the sixth hour to the ninth hour.”

[27:45]  444 sn This imagery has parallels to the Day of the Lord: Joel 2:10; Amos 8:9; Zeph 1:15.

[27:46]  444 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:46]  445 tn Grk “with a loud voice, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[27:46]  446 sn A quotation from Ps 22:1.

[27:47]  445 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:48]  446 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:48]  447 sn Sour wine refers to cheap wine that was called in Latin posca, a cheap vinegar wine diluted heavily with water. It was the drink of slaves and soldiers, and was probably there for the soldiers who had performed the crucifixion.

[27:48]  448 tn Grk “a reed.”

[27:49]  447 tc Early and important mss (א B C L Γ pc) have another sentence at the end of this verse: “And another [soldier] took a spear and pierced him in the side, and water and blood flowed out.” This comment finds such a strong parallel in John 19:34 that it was undoubtedly lifted from the Fourth Gospel by early, well-meaning scribes and inserted into Matt 27:49. Consequently, even though the support for the shorter reading (A D W Θ Ë1,13 33 Ï lat sy sa bo) is not nearly as impressive, internal considerations on its behalf are compelling.

[27:51]  448 tn Grk “And behold.”

[27:51]  449 tn The referent of this term, καταπέτασμα (katapetasma), is not entirely clear. It could refer to the curtain separating the holy of holies from the holy place (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.5 [5.219]), or it could refer to one at the entrance of the temple court (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.4 [5.212]). Many argue that the inner curtain is meant because another term, κάλυμμα (kalumma), is also used for the outer curtain. Others see a reference to the outer curtain as more likely because of the public nature of this sign. Either way, the symbolism means that access to God has been opened up. It also pictures a judgment that includes the sacrifices.

[27:51]  450 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:52]  449 tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaw) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.

[27:53]  450 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:54]  451 sn See the note on the word centurion in Matt 8:5.

[27:55]  452 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:55]  453 tn Grk “and ministered to him.”

[27:57]  453 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[27:57]  454 sn Though some dispute that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, his actions regarding Jesus’ burial suggest otherwise.

[27:58]  454 sn Asking for the body of Jesus was indeed a bold move on the part of Joseph of Arimathea, for it clearly and openly identified him with a man who had just been condemned and executed, namely, Jesus. His faith is exemplary, especially for someone who was a member of the council that handed Jesus over for crucifixion (cf. Mark 15:43, Luke 23:51). He did this because he sought to give Jesus an honorable burial.

[27:59]  455 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:59]  456 tn The term σινδών (sindwn) can refer to a linen cloth used either for clothing or for burial.

[27:60]  456 tcαὐτό (auto, “it”) is found after ἔθηκεν (eqhken, “placed”) in the majority of witnesses, including many important ones, though it seems to be motivated by a need for clarification and cannot therefore easily explain the rise of the shorter reading (which is read by א L Θ Ë13 33 892 pc). Regardless of which reading is original (though with a slight preference for the shorter reading), English style requires the pronoun. NA27 includes αὐτό here, no doubt due to the overwhelming external attestation.

[27:60]  457 tn That is, cut or carved into an outcropping of natural rock, resulting in a cave-like structure (see L&N 19.25).

[27:60]  458 tn Or “to the door,” “against the door.”

[27:62]  457 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:62]  458 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[27:64]  458 tn Grk “him.”

[27:65]  459 tn Grk “You have a guard.”

[27:66]  460 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Pilate’s order.

[27:66]  461 tn Grk “with the guard.” The words “soldiers of the” have been supplied in the translation to prevent “guard” from being misunderstood as a single individual.

[28:2]  461 tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.

[28:3]  462 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[28:4]  463 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[28:5]  464 tn Grk “But answering, the angel said.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.

[28:5]  465 tn Grk “for I know.”

[28:5]  466 sn See the note on crucified in 20:19.

[28:6]  465 tn The verb here is passive (ἠγέρθη, hgerqh). This “divine passive” (see ExSyn 437-38) points to the fact that Jesus was raised by God.

[28:6]  466 tc Expansions on the text, especially when the Lord is the subject, are a common scribal activity. In this instance, since the subject is embedded in the verb, three major variants have emerged to make the subject explicit: ὁ κύριος (Jo kurio", “the Lord”; A C D L W 0148 Ë1,13 Ï lat), τὸ σῶμα τοῦ κυρίου (to swma tou kuriou, “the body of the Lord”; 1424 pc), and ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς (Jo Ihsou", “Jesus”; Φ). The reading with no explicit subject, however, is superior on both internal and external grounds, being supported by א B Θ 33 892* pc co.

[28:7]  466 tn Grk “And behold he.” 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).

[28:8]  467 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s instructions to tell the disciples.

[28:9]  468 tn Grk “And behold.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate that the return of the women from the tomb was interrupted by this appearance of Jesus. 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).

[28:9]  469 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[28:11]  469 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[28:11]  470 tn Grk “behold, some of the guard.” 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).

[28:12]  470 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[28:13]  471 tn Grk “him.”

[28:14]  472 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[28:14]  473 tn Here ἐπί (epi) followed by the genitive = “before,” especially in the language of lawsuits (BDAG 363 s.v. 3).

[28:14]  474 tcαὐτόν (auton, “him”) is found after πείσομεν (peisomen, “we will satisfy”) in the majority of witnesses, though it seems to be motivated by a need for clarification and cannot therefore easily explain the rise of the shorter reading (which is found in א B Θ 33 pc). Nevertheless, English style requires the pronoun. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[28:14]  475 tn Grk “and you will not have to be worried” = “we will keep you out of trouble.”

[28:15]  473 tc ‡ The word ἡμέρας (Jhmeras, “day”) is found after σήμερον (shmeron, “today, this [day]”) in some early and important witnesses (B D L Θ lat), but may be a clarifying (or perhaps redundant) note. The shorter reading (found in א A W 0148vid Ë1,13 33 Ï) is thus preferred. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations about its authenticity.

[28:16]  474 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ instructions in v. 10.

[28:17]  475 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[28:17]  476 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[28:17]  477 tn The Greek text reads here οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν (Joi de edistasan). Some scholars argue that the article is functioning like a personal pronoun, thus “they doubted” (e.g., D. A. Hagner, Matthew [WBC], 2:884). If so, then all the disciples would be in view. The translation of the text takes οἱ as an alternative pronoun which has a partitive notion (i.e., some of the disciples doubted, but not all). The difficulty with the personal pronoun view is that there are no examples of it in Matthew in which the same subject immediately precedes with its own verb (as would be the case in “they worshiped…they doubted”). Such, in fact, would be quite awkward, for the article would be unnecessary since the pronominal referent is already embedded in the verb. The only reason for the article here would be to distinguish the subject in some way; but if the same subject is in view, no distinction is being made.

[28:18]  476 tn Grk “coming, Jesus spoke to them, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn, “saying”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[28:19]  477 tn “Go…baptize…teach” are participles modifying the imperative verb “make disciples.” According to ExSyn 645 the first participle (πορευθέντες, poreuqentes, “Go”) fits the typical structural pattern for the attendant circumstance participle (aorist participle preceding aorist main verb, with the mood of the main verb usually imperative or indicative) and thus picks up the mood (imperative in this case) from the main verb (μαθητεύσατε, maqhteusate, “make disciples”). This means that semantically the action of “going” is commanded, just as “making disciples” is. As for the two participles that follow the main verb (βαπτίζοντες, baptizontes, “baptizing”; and διδάσκοντες, didaskontes, “teaching”), these do not fit the normal pattern for attendant circumstance participles, since they are present participles and follow the aorist main verb. However, some interpreters do see them as carrying additional imperative force in context. Others regard them as means, manner, or even result.

[28:19]  478 tc Although some scholars have denied that the trinitarian baptismal formula in the Great Commission was a part of the original text of Matthew, there is no ms support for their contention. F. C. Conybeare, “The Eusebian Form of the Text of Mt. 28:19,” ZNW 2 (1901): 275-88, based his view on a faulty reading of Eusebius’ quotations of this text. The shorter reading has also been accepted, on other grounds, by a few other scholars. For discussion (and refutation of the conjecture that removes this baptismal formula), see B. J. Hubbard, The Matthean Redaction of a Primitive Apostolic Commissioning (SBLDS 19), 163-64, 167-75; and Jane Schaberg, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (SBLDS 61), 27-29.

[28:20]  478 tn The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has been translated here as “remember” (BDAG 468 s.v. 1.c).

[28:20]  479 sn I am with you. Matthew’s Gospel begins with the prophecy that the Savior’s name would be “Emmanuel, that is, ‘God with us,’” (1:23, in which the author has linked Isa 7:14 and 8:8, 10 together) and it ends with Jesus’ promise to be with his disciples forever. The Gospel of Matthew thus forms an inclusio about Jesus in his relationship to his people that suggests his deity.

[28:20]  480 tc Most mss (Ac Θ Ë13 Ï it sy) have ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”) at the end of v. 20. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, no good reason exists for the omission of the particle in significant and early witnesses such as א A* B D W Ë1 33 al lat sa.



created in 0.07 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA