In the text, the subject of said is singular, referring to John, but in most languages it will be more natural to make “his disciples” of verse 2 the subject.

In all probability he who is to come is a technical term for the expected Messiah (see 3.11; also note Dan 7.13; Heb 10.37; Rev 1.4). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch makes this identification explicit, “Are you the Savior, the one who is to come…?” TOB’s footnote also indicates that this is a Messianic title.

The question Are you he who is to come is a little awkward in many languages. Some have rendered it “Are you the one who we were told would come (to save us)?” or “Are you the one we know God is going to send (to save us)?” Since John the Baptist had proclaimed such a person (see 3.11-12), some translations have followed Good News Translation and said “are you the one John said was going to come.”

Or shall we look for another? may be rendered “or have we got to wait for someone else?” (Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). In Acts 3.5 Good News Bible renders the same verb with the meaning “expect (something),” and in Acts 10.24 with the meaning “wait (for someone).” Elsewhere in Matthew the verb is found in 24.50.

Note that we does not refer only to John’s disciples but means the Jewish people in general. To avoid misunderstanding, some translators have said “we all” or “we Jews.”

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 .