As is often the case, And shows some continuity with the previous passage but at the same time marks a new episode. The again is more important for the translator, however, since Jesus has just been teaching with parables in the previous chapter. Barclay begins the chapter “Once again.” Another possibility is “Jesus continued teaching with parables.”

Them is translated “the people” by Good News Translation, but this is one instance where Good News Bible seems to have misidentified the pronominal referent. The reference is surely to the Jewish religious leaders who are identified both as “the chief priests and the elders” (21.23) and “the chief priests and the Pharisees” (21.45). If it is necessary to be specific in translation, one will do better to translate “those people who had questioned his authority.”

Parables is a typical Matthean expression; in context it refers back to the two immediately preceding parables. For parables see 13.3.

Saying translates a Greek structure which is literally “answering … he said” (the same formula used in 21.24), and so may indicate that Jesus is using this parable as a specific reply to the question regarding his authority (21.23). If they choose this interpretation, translators will have something like “Jesus continued to answer those people with parables. He said….” On the other hand, the construction “answering … he said” may mean merely “he said” (as it does in 11.25), but the former alternative is probably 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 .