Matthew 7:29

7:29 because he taught them like one who had authority, ¹  not like their experts in the law. ² 

Matthew 9:3

9:3 Then ³  some of the experts in the law ⁴  said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” ⁵ 

Matthew 11:13

11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. ⁶ 

Matthew 15:1

Breaking Human Traditions

15:1 Then Pharisees ⁷  and experts in the law ⁸  came from Jerusalem ⁹  to Jesus and said, ¹⁰ 

Matthew 22:35

22:35 And one of them, an expert in religious law, ¹¹  asked him a question to test ¹²  him:

Matthew 22:40

22:40 All the law and the prophets depend ¹³  on these two commandments.”

Matthew 23:2

23:2 “The ¹⁴  experts in the law ¹⁵  and the Pharisees ¹⁶  sit on Moses’ seat.

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¹ sn Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim; he taught with authority. A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding.

² tn Or “their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

³ tn Grk “And behold.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1). Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events in the narrative.

⁴ tn Or “some of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

⁵ sn Blaspheming meant to say something that dishonored God. To claim divine prerogatives or claim to speak for God when one really does not would be such an act of offense. The remark raised directly the issue of the nature of Jesus’ ministry.

⁶ tn The word “appeared” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

⁷ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

⁸ tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

⁹ map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

¹⁰ tn The participle λέγοντες (legontes) has been translated as a finite verb so that its telic (i.e., final or conclusive) force can be more easily detected: The Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus in order to speak with him.

¹¹ tn Traditionally, “a lawyer.” This was an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law.

¹² tn Grk “testing.” The participle, however, is telic in force.

¹³ tn Grk “hang.” The verb κρεμάννυμι (kremannumi) is used here with a figurative meaning (cf. BDAG 566 s.v. 2.b).

¹⁴ tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

¹⁵ tn Or “The scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

¹⁶ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.