You have a guard (so also New American Bible) is translated “You may have your guard” by New Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible. Accompanying the translation in Jerusalem Bible is a footnote which states the meaning as “I now put one at your disposal” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “I am giving you a guard”). But as the RSV footnote notes, the text may also be translated “Take a guard” (New International Version, Moffatt, An American Translation). One should avoid the faulty assumption that the words mean “You already have your own guard.”

As discussed at the heading at verse 62, guard is a collective term referring to a group, not to just one person. “A group of soldiers to guard” may be necessary.

Make … secure is the same verb used in verse 64.

As you can, as the RSV footnote indicates, is literally “as you know”; the meaning may also be expressed “as you know how” (New International Version).

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 .