Then represents the beginning of a new passage. Translators should probably not use a word that would make readers think this dispute with the Pharisees followed straight on from the discussion with the chief priests that ended at verse 14. In English many translations drop it, for example Good News Translation and Barclay. Others say “Some time after that.”
The Pharisees contrasts with Mark, who has “Some Pharisees and some members of Herod’s party” (12.13). Moreover, for Matthew the chief priests of verses 21.23, 45 are now forgotten. Of course, probably not all the Pharisees were involved as the Pharisees could indicate. Most translators have “some Pharisees.” For Pharisees see 3.7.
Went has been translated as “went off” by Good News Translation. The meaning is not that they went to some particular place, but rather that they got together for a meeting. Translators might say “met together” or “left to meet.”
Took counsel how to entangle him: in keeping with its translation principles, Good News Translation substitutes the proper name “Jesus” for the pronoun him when a new section is introduced. In the Greek text he is last mentioned by name in verse 1.
Took counsel translates a Greek expression which implies mutual participation in the making of a plan (see New Jerusalem Bible “to work out between them”), which is most simply expressed in English as “made a plan” (Good News Translation; New English Bible “agreed on a plan,” and New International Version “laid plans”). Since the plans are against someone, it may be more appropriate to translate “made a plot” (An American Translation) or “plotted” (Moffatt). New American Bible focuses upon the initiation of the action: “began to plot.”
Entangle (Good News Translation “trap”) translates a verb which literally means “lay a snare”; in the New Testament it is used only here, and obviously in a figurative sense. Mark narrates the same event by the use of a different verb. It can be rendered also as “catch him out” or “trick him into saying something that would be bad for him.”
In his talk is more literally “by a word.” The reference may be either to the verbal attacks (that is, questions) which will be directed against Jesus, or to the answers which Jesus will give to these questions. Good News Translation, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New International Version suggest that the trap relates to Jesus’ answers to their questions. Others choose to be ambiguous: “in argument” (An American Translation, Phillips), “in talk” (Moffatt), and “a verbal trap” (Barclay). On the other hand, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is in agreement with the exegesis of Good News Bible: “how they could entice Jesus into a trap with a leading (or, a catching) question.” Those translators who follow the exegesis of Good News Bible and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch can use an expression such as “how they could use questions to catch Jesus out” or “how they could ask questions that would trap Jesus.” On the other hand, those who understand in his talk to refer to Jesus’ reply may have “trap him so he would say something wrong” or “trick him into saying something wrong.” An ambiguous rendering is “trap him in an argument.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .