Matthew 2:16

2:16 When Herod ¹  saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men ²  to kill all the children in Bethlehem ³  and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men.

Matthew 17:25

17:25 He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, ⁴  “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes – from their sons ⁵  or from foreigners?”

Matthew 19:12

19:12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, ⁶  and some who were made eunuchs ⁷  by others, ⁸  and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

[2:16]  ¹ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. Note the fulfillment of the prophecy given by the angel in 2:13.

[2:16]  ² tn Or “soldiers.”

[2:16]  ³ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[17:25]  ⁴ tn Grk “spoke first to him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[17:25]  ⁵ 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.

[19:12]  ⁷ tn Grk “from the womb of the mother” (an idiom).

[19:12]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ tn Grk “people.”