Then indicates that the narrative is continuing. It can mean that the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus shortly after he began healing in the Gennesaret region (chapter 14), but translators should use some general word or phrase, such as “After that” or “Some time later.”

For Pharisees, see comments at 3.7. Scribes or “teachers of the Law” was discussed at 2.4.

It is significant that these Pharisees and scribes originated from Jerusalem, since they could have as easily come from any other Palestinian town. The implication is that they were an official delegation from Jerusalem, the acknowledged headquarters of Judaism. Pharisees and scribes were last mentioned together in 12.38 (“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him”). Except for the present verse, scribes are always listed first when the two groups are mentioned together (5.20; 12.38; 23.3, 13, 14, 15). However, there seems to be no particular emphasis intended by the reversal of the usual order.

As we have shown previously, came in many languages can only be used for approaching the place where the readers of this translation are or, in other languages, where the writer of the narrative is, so that in any case “went” would be better.

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 .