10:14a

And if anyone will not welcome you: This clause refers to someone or even the whole town (10:14b) refusing to give hospitality to the disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

And if some home or town will not welcome you (Good News Translation)
-or-
Whoever does not take care of you
-or-
And whoever refuses to give you hospitality

or heed your words: This phrase is the second thing that the household or town refuses to do: they will not listen to what the disciples say. It refers to these people not listening to the good news about Jesus. It does not refer to words in general. For example:

listen to your message (Contemporary English Version)

10:14b

shake the dust off your feet: Here Jesus told his disciples to shake or remove the dust that was on their feet (and sandals). They probably did this by shaking their feet or brushing off the dust with their hands.

This was a cultural gesture that had a symbolic meaning. When a Jewish person shook the dust of a place off of his feet, it indicated that he did not have any relationship with the people in that place. It showed that he rejected those people.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Explain it in the text. For example:

shake the dust off your feet ⌊to show that you reject them⌋

• Explain it in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

When the Jews wanted to show that they had rejected a place, they had a custom of shaking the dust off their feet.

when you leave that home or town: In Greek, this clause occurs before the command to “shake the dust off your feet.” This clause may also be translated as part of that command. For example:

leave that house or city, and shake its dust off your feet (God’s Word)

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

12:6

I tell you: The words I tell you emphasize the words that follow.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Use a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:

I say to you
-or-
I assure you
-or-
I can guarantee (God’s Word)

• Include an emphatic word or phrase such as “certainly” within the following statement. For example:

something greater than the temple is certainly here

that something greater than the temple is here: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as something probably refers to Jesus. In some languages, it is possible for Jesus to refer to himself as something. In other languages, it will be more natural to say:

one greater than the temple is here (New International Version)
-or-
someone more important than the temple is here

greater: In this context, the word greater refers to higher in status and not to bigger in size. Jesus was more important than the temple.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

more important (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
more valuable

-or-

with/of greater authority

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Section 12:38–45

Jesus rebuked those who asked for a sign

In this section, the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders increases. Jesus had already said several times that he was someone special. He said that he was greater than the temple (12:6). He said that he was Lord of the Sabbath (12:8). In this section, the religious leaders wanted to see a miraculous sign to confirm that he was really from God.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for asking for a sign, and he refused to give them an immediate sign. A sign would come later. It would be the sign of Jonah. By referring to the sign of Jonah, Jesus meant that he would be in the grave three days (12:40) before God resurrected him. He then told two stories and said that he was greater than Jonah and Solomon. Jesus warned them that if they did not recognize God’s work among them, they would be condemned.

Finally, Jesus told a story to warn the religious leaders of the spiritual dangers that faced them if they did not have the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The religious leaders ask for a sign/miracle
-or-
The sign of Jonah

There is a parallel passage for 12:38–42 in Luke 11:29–32. There is a parallel passage for 12:43–45 in Luke 11:24–26.

Paragraph 12:38–42

12:38a

Then: The events in this section probably happened soon after the events in the previous section. The Greek indicates how closely these events happened with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then.

Here are some other ways to begin this section:

After that
-or-
Next

scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribes can also be translated as “teacher of the law” (as in the New International Version). This word also occurs in 9:3a. You should translate it here as you did there. For help in translating this word, see the note at 2:4a.

Pharisees: This word also occurs in 12:24a.

said to Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated here means “answered.” It indicates that the scribes and Pharisees responded to Jesus’ words in 12:34–37. It does not indicate that they were answering a question.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

answered him, saying (English Standard Version)
-or-
said (Contemporary English Version)

12:38b

Teacher: Here, the word Teacher refers to a religious teacher. It was a polite title for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. Use a title that is an appropriate way to address a religious teacher in your culture. It should not refer only to a school teacher.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Sir
-or-
Master

This word also occurs in 8:19b.

we want to see a sign from You: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sign refers to a special miracle which is regarded as having some special meaning. (This is the first time in Matthew that this word occurs.) The Pharisees and scribes had already seen Jesus heal many sick people. So they were not just asking Jesus to do another miracle of healing. They wanted Jesus to do a special miracle to make it plain that God had sent him.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

we want you to show us a sign from heaven (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God (New Living Translation (1996))

-or-

please do a miracle that will show us that God has sent you

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

13:20a

The seed sown on rocky ground: This clause indicates that another explanation is coming. It is the explanation of what happened when some seed fell on rocky ground. Be careful not to imply that the seed is being compared to a person. The comparison is to the entire situation.

This clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

⌊The meaning of what happened to⌋ the seeds that were planted on rocky places is this:

• Use an active verb. For example:

As for the seeds that ⌊the farmer⌋ planted on bedrock, that is like

• Use another type of verb. For example:

As for the shallow ground where some seeds fell, that is like

sown: Some English translations (like the New International Version and Good News Translation) translate sown here as “fell.” This indicates that the farmer did not sow the seeds on the rocky ground on purpose.

rocky ground: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rocky ground is the same word that occurs in 13:5a. It refers to ground that has a layer of solid rock underneath. There is not much soil on top of the solid rock. This clause does not refer to soil and rocks mixed together.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

shallow soil with underlying rock
-or-

⌊solid⌋ rock with a thin layer of soil
-or-
bedrock where there is only a little soil on top

13:20b

is: The word is indicates a comparison. It means “the situation in 13:20a represents….” In other words, sowing on rocky ground “is like” or “represents” someone who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. For example:

represents (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
stand for (Good News Translation)

the one who hears the word: The word one refers to a certain type of person. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural word here. For example:

the people who gladly hear the message (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
those who hear the message (New Living Translation (2004))

the word: This word refers to the “message,” “talk,” or “news” of the kingdom. You should translate the word in the same way as you translated it in 13:19a (Berean Standard Bible: “the message”).

13:20c

at once: Here are some other ways to translate this word:

without hesitation
-or-
immediately (English Standard Version)
-or-
as soon as they hear it (Good News Translation)

receives it with joy: The word receives indicates that the person accepts the message about God’s kingdom. He accepts it and is happy.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

welcomes it…with joy (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
accepts it…with joy (Revised English Bible)

-or-

believes it and is happy

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

13:52a

Then: In this verse, Jesus responded to the disciples’ answer.

Here are some other ways to begin this verse:

And… (English Standard Version)
-or-
So… (Good News Translation)

For this reason: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For this reason usually indicates a conclusion. However, in this context, 13:52 is more a result of the disciples’ understanding. They understood what Jesus was teaching, so they are teachers who are like the master of a house.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

So (New Century Version)
-or-
That is why (God’s Word)
-or-

⌊Since/Because you understand,⌋ then

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it may not be necessary to translate it either.

every scribe: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scribe probably refers to a person who is a disciple/follower of Jesus. He is also a person who has received some training in the things of God.

In the book of Matthew, the word scribe normally refers to the teachers of the law whom Jesus criticized. But in this context, Jesus probably used this term in the more general sense of “religious scholar” or “learned one.”

Jesus’ twelve disciples were some of this group of “scribes.” As Jewish men, they had some education in God’s law. Jesus had also taught them many additional things about God and his rule.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

• Use your normal term for scribe. This word last occurred in 12:38a. For example:

teacher of the law (New International Version)

• Translate the term scribe in a more general way. For example:

one who knows the Law (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
person learned in the law ⌊of Moses⌋
-or-
person who knows ⌊God’s⌋ law

13:52b

who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven: This clause describes the particular type of scribe (teacher of the law) who is like the master of a house. He is a scribe who:

(a) has received training about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus taught his disciples about the kingdom through the parables in this chapter.

(b) has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven. This is the basic meaning of the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as discipled. This verb has the same root as “disciple.”

In addition, this clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

who is made a disciple in the kingdom of heaven
-or-
who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven (New Century Version)

• Use an active or reflexive verb. For example:

who has submitted himself to the kingdom of heaven
-or-
who has committed himself to God’s rule/chieftaincy

• Use another type of verb. For example:

who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of heaven (Good News Translation)

13:52c

is like a homeowner: This is a simile. In this simile, a scribe is compared to a homeowner. The way that they are similar is that both people share things. The owner of a house shares his possessions. The scribe shares what he has learned about the kingdom.

homeowner: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as homeowner refers to a man who owns and manages his own house and land. This includes his own family, slaves, and other workers. The fact that he brings things out of his treasure (13:52d) indicates that he is probably rich.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

owner of a household
-or-
a rich man

13:52d

This part of 13:52 contains the second relative (who) clause in this verse. In many languages, it will be natural to divide this verse into several sentences and begin a new sentence here.

who brings out of: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brings out implies that the man takes/removes some of his possessions to share them or give them away. He brings them out to help his family and others. He does not bring out his possessions simply to look at them. This is like the teacher sharing his knowledge with others.

In some languages, it will be natural to make this explicit. For example:

brings out ⌊to share⌋
-or-
takes out ⌊to help others⌋

his storeroom: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his storeroom can refer to the place where treasure is stored, or to the treasure itself (as in 13:44a). Here it refers to the place where the treasure is stored.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

his treasure chest (God’s Word)
-or-
the place where he stores/keeps his valuable things

new treasures as well as old: The phrase new treasures refers to the man’s new possessions/things. The phrase as well as old refers to the man’s old possessions/things. For example:

new and old things (Good News Translation)

-or-

new things and old things (New Century Version)

In the context of the parable, the word new represents the teachings of Jesus (13:51a). The word old represents the teachings in the Old Testament. Both are good. As a translator, you should not put this information into the text. You may put it in a footnote.

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

14:26a

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated simply indicates a change from one participant to another. Here the change is from Jesus to the disciples. In this context, it does not indicate a contrast, although some English versions translate it as “But.” Many English versions do not translate this word. In many languages, it will not be necessary to translate this word either.

14:26b

they were terrified: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were terrified means “frightened.” The disciples were in great fear and distress.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they were afraid (New Century Version)
-or-
they were panicked

14:26c

It’s a ghost: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ghost refers to the spirit of someone who had died. Or it can refer to someone’s spirit who has left his body.

Here is another way to translate this:

It is a spirit

cried out in fear: This clause refers to yelling or shouting because of their great fear. The phrase cried out does not refer to weeping.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

screamed with fear (Good News Translation)

-or-

began to scream because they were afraid (God’s Word)

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

15:22a

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated focuses attention on what follows. It indicates that what follows is important, unexpected, or amazing. Here a person who is not a Jew, and who is a woman, is an example to the disciples of someone with great faith.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Unexpectedly
-or-
Suddenly (Contemporary English Version)

Many English versions do not translate this phrase. In some languages, it will not be natural to translate this phrase either.

a Canaanite woman: The word Canaanite refers to a person whose ancestors lived in the area that the Old Testament called Canaan. Canaan was the land that God promised to give to Abraham’s descendants. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God told them to destroy all the people of Canaan because of their great sin. A few Canaanites survived. They and the Jews were enemies.

In this passage, instead of acting like an enemy, the Canaanite woman called to Jesus using a Jewish title for the Christ. That was very different from the religious leaders of the Jews. Those leaders should have accepted Jesus as the Christ, but they did not (15:1–20). In some languages, it may be necessary to put some of this information in a footnote.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

A Gentile woman (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a woman who was not a Jew

from that region: This phrase means that the Canaanite woman was from the area of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus had crossed the border between Israel and Phoenicia and was likely still close to the border. The woman was from that local area.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

from there
-or-
from that area (New Century Version)
-or-
who lived there

15:22b

came to Him: This phrase probably indicates that the woman came to Him from out of her house or her village, wanting to talk with Jesus. In some languages, it is more natural to simply say “came.” For example:

A Canaanite woman from that area came to Jesus (New Century Version)

crying out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crying out means “shouting” or “calling out with a loud voice” It does not mean “weeping.” The Greek tense of this verb indicates that the woman probably shouted the following words several times.

The woman was urgently seeking Jesus’ attention. The words she used show that she was respectful to him. She was not trying to be rude.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

pleading (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
started shouting (New Revised Standard Version)

15:22c

Before you translate 15:22c, think about the most natural order in your language for the parts of this verse. In the Greek, the phrase “Lord, Son of David” comes after the phrase “have mercy on me.” The Berean Standard Bible puts “Lord, Son of David” first because it is more natural in English. In some languages, it will be more natural to follow the Greek order. For example:

Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David (English Standard Version)

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Lord means “owner,” “master,” or “ruler.” It refers to someone who has authority over something. The woman probably used this word to politely speak to Jesus. She also showed that she saw him as someone of higher status and greater authority than she had.

Here are some other ways to translate Lord:

Sir
-or-
Master

The Berean Standard Bible translates this same Greek term as “Sir” in 13:27b.

Son of David: This is a title that the Jews used for the Christ (the Messiah). They used that title because God promised that the Christ would be a descendant of David. The woman probably learned some things about the Christ from her Jewish neighbors. She used this title to show her respect for Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this title:

the descendant of ⌊King⌋ David
-or-

⌊you⌋ grandson of David

See how you translated this same term in 9:27b.

have mercy on me: The woman used these words to politely and indirectly ask Jesus to help her. She did not just want Jesus to pity her. She wanted him to help her by healing her daughter.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

have pity/mercy on me
-or-

⌊please⌋ pity me ⌊and help me⌋

15:22d

My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon: These words indicate that a demon strongly controlled the daughter and was causing her to suffer.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

My daughter has a demon, and she is suffering very much. (New Century Version)

-or-

⌊Please help⌋ my daughter. A demon is making her suffer greatly.

© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.