Matthew 9:14

The Superiority of the New

9:14 Then John’s ¹  disciples came to Jesus ²  and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees ³  fast often, ⁴  but your disciples don’t fast?”

Matthew 11:7

11:7 While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness ⁵  to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁶ 

Matthew 11:12

11:12 From ⁷  the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. ⁸ 

Matthew 14:3

14:3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, ⁹  and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

Matthew 14:8

14:8 Instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”

Matthew 17:1

The Transfiguration

17:1 Six days later ¹⁰  Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, ¹¹  and led them privately up a high mountain.

[9:14]  ¹ sn John refers to John the Baptist.

[9:14]  ² tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[9:14]  ³ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[9:14]  ⁴ sn John’s disciples and the Pharisees followed typical practices with regard to fasting and prayer. Many Jews fasted regularly (Lev 16:29-34; 23:26-32; Num 29:7-11). The zealous fasted twice a week on Monday and Thursday.

[11:7]  ⁵ tn Or “desert.”

[11:7]  ⁶ tn There is a debate as to whether one should read this figuratively (“to see someone who is easily blown over?”) or literally (Grk “to see the wilderness vegetation?… No, to see a prophet”). Either view makes good sense, but the following examples suggest the question should be read literally and understood to point to the fact that a prophet drew them to the desert.

[11:12]  ⁹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[11:12]  ¹⁰ tn Or “the kingdom of heaven is forcibly entered and violent people take hold of it.” For a somewhat different interpretation of this passage, see the note on the phrase “urged to enter in” in Luke 16:16.

[14:3]  ¹³ tc ‡ Most witnesses (א² C D L W Z Θ 0106 Ë^1,13 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.

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

[17:1]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “John his brother” with “his” referring to James.