Then the disciples came and said to him implies the beginning of a private session between Jesus and his disciples, as do the similar statements in 13.10 and 14.15 (see also 5.1), which suggest a movement of Jesus and his disciples away from the crowds. This conversation breaks off in verse 20, following which Jesus departs to the territory near the towns of Tyre and Sidon.

In this context came may better be “approached Jesus” or “went near him.”

Pharisees was discussed in 3.7.

Were offended translates the passive form of the verb first used in 5.29. Good News Translation has “had their feelings hurt”; New Jerusalem Bible and Barclay “were shocked”; New English Bible “have taken great offence.” “Were upset” is also good.

This saying is literally “this word”; the phrase may refer either to verse 11 (which may be taken as a proverbial saying), as Revised Standard Version might imply, or more generally to all that Jesus has just said: “what you said” (Good News Translation, Barclay, New Jerusalem Bible) and “what you have been saying” (New English Bible).

There are various ways this question can be restructured, including “Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked by what you said?” “Do you know that what you said upset the Pharisees (when they heard it)?” and “Do you know that the Pharisees were really upset when you said that?”

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 .