Matthew 7:14

7:14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 8:10

8:10 When ¹  Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “I tell you the truth, ²  I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel!

Matthew 12:43-44

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

12:43 “When ³  an unclean spirit ⁴  goes out of a person, ⁵  it passes through waterless places ⁶  looking for rest but ⁷  does not find it. 12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ ⁸  When it returns, ⁹  it finds the house ¹⁰  empty, swept clean, and put in order. ¹¹ 

Matthew 16:25

16:25 For whoever wants to save his life ¹²  will lose it, ¹³  but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 18:13

18:13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, ¹⁴  he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

Matthew 20:6

20:6 And about five o’clock that afternoon ¹⁵  he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why are you standing here all day without work?’

Matthew 21:2

21:2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. ¹⁶  Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

Matthew 22:10

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.

Matthew 26:40

26:40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He ¹⁷  said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour?

[8:10]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[8:10]  ² tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[12:43]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[12:43]  ² sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.

[12:43]  ³ tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females. This same use occurs in v. 45.

[12:43]  ⁴ sn The background for the reference to waterless places is not entirely clear, though some Jewish texts suggest spirits must have a place to dwell, but not with water (Luke 8:29-31; Tob 8:3). Some suggest that the image of the desert or deserted cities as the places demons dwell is where this idea started (Isa 13:21; 34:14).

[12:43]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[12:44]  ¹ tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”

[12:44]  ² tn Grk “comes.”

[12:44]  ³ tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.

[12:44]  ⁴ sn The image of the house empty, swept clean, and put in order refers to the life of the person from whom the demon departed. The key to the example appears to be that no one else has been invited in to dwell. If an exorcism occurs and there is no response to God, then the way is free for the demon to return. Some see the reference to exorcism as more symbolic; thus the story’s only point is about responding to Jesus. This is possible and certainly is an application of the passage.

[16:25]  ¹ tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 25-26).

[16:25]  ² 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.

[18:13]  ¹ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[20:6]  ¹ tn Grk “about the eleventh hour.”

[21:2]  ¹ tn Grk “the village lying before you” (BDAG 530 s.v. κατέναντι 2.b).

[26:40]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.