Matthew 2:8

2:8 He ¹  sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.”

Matthew 7:21-22

Judgment of Pretenders

7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ ²  will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 7:22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do ³  many powerful deeds?’

Matthew 9:9

The Call of Matthew; Eating with Sinners

9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. ⁴  “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him.

Matthew 11:27

11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. ⁵  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides ⁶  to reveal him.

Matthew 16:24

16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ⁷  he must deny ⁸  himself, take up his cross, ⁹  and follow me.

Matthew 17:17

17:17 Jesus answered, ¹⁰  “You ¹¹  unbelieving ¹²  and perverse generation! How much longer ¹³  must I be with you? How much longer must I endure ¹⁴  you? ¹⁵  Bring him here to me.”

Matthew 19:21

19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money ¹⁶  to the poor, and you will have treasure ¹⁷  in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 21:24

21:24 Jesus ¹⁸  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.

Matthew 25:20

25:20 The ¹⁹  one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, ²⁰  you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

[2:8]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[7:21]  ² sn The double use of the vocative is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little.

[7:22]  ³ tn Grk “and in your name do.” This phrase was not repeated here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[9:9]  ⁴ tn While “tax office” is sometimes given as a translation for τελώνιον (telwnion, so L&N 57.183), this could give the modern reader a false impression of an indoor office with all its associated furnishings.

[11:27]  ⁵ sn This verse has been noted for its conceptual similarity to teaching in John’s Gospel (10:15; 17:2). The authority of the Son and the Father are totally intertwined.

[11:27]  ⁶ tn Or “wishes”; or “intends”; or “plans” (cf. BDAG 182 s.v. βούλομαι 2.b). Here it is the Son who has sovereignty.

[16:24]  ⁶ tn Grk “to come after me.”

[16:24]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ 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.

[17:17]  ⁷ tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[17:17]  ⁸ tn Grk “O.” The marker of direct address, ὦ (w), is functionally equivalent to a vocative and is represented in the translation by “you.”

[17:17]  ⁹ tn Or “faithless.”

[17:17]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “how long.”

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

[17:17]  ¹² sn The pronouns you…you are plural, indicating that Jesus is speaking to a group rather than an individual.

[19:21]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ 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.

[21:24]  ⁹ 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.

[25:20]  ¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[25:20]  ¹¹ tn Grk Or “Lord; or “Master” (and so throughout this paragraph).