¹ tn Grk “cast.”

² tn Or “city.”

³ tn The Greek conjunction ὥστε (Jwste) here indicates their purpose.

⁴ sn The attempt to throw him down the cliff looks like “lynch law,” but it may really be an indication that Jesus was regarded as a false prophet who was worthy of death (Deut 13:5). Such a sentence meant being thrown into a pit and then stoned.

⁵ tn Or “The scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

⁶ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

⁷ sn The term translated watched…closely is emotive, since it carries negative connotations. It means they were watching him out of the corner of their eye or spying on him.

⁸ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁹ tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text; Jesus’ opponents anticipated he would do this.

¹⁰ sn The background for this is the view that only if life was endangered should one attempt to heal on the Sabbath (see the Mishnah, m. Shabbat 6.3; 12.1; 18.3; 19.2; m. Yoma 8.6).

¹¹ tn Here and in v. 49 the Greek text reads ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), while the parallel account in Matt 7:24-27 uses ἀνήρ (anhr) in vv. 24 and 26.

¹² tn There are actually two different Greek verbs used here: “who dug (ἔσκαψεν, eskayen) and dug deep (ἐβάθυνεν, ebaqunen).” Jesus is placing emphasis on the effort to which the man went to prepare his foundation.

¹³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

¹⁴ sn The picture here is of a river overflowing its banks and causing flooding and chaos.

¹⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in the context.

¹⁶ tc Most mss, especially later ones (A C D Θ Ψ Ë^1,13 Ï latt), read “because he built [it] on the rock” rather than “because it had been well built” (Ì^75vid א B L W Ξ 33 579 892 1241 2542 pc sa). The reading of the later mss seems to be a harmonization to Matt 7:25, rendering it most likely secondary.

¹⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

¹⁸ tn Or “could not remain unnoticed” (see L&N 28.83).

¹⁹ tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. The order of the clauses in the remainder of the verse has been rearranged to reflect contemporary English style.

²⁰ tn Grk “told for what reason.”

²¹ tn Grk “it”; the referent (the meaning of the statement) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

²² sn The passive verb had been concealed probably indicates that some force was preventing them from responding. It is debated whether God or Satan is meant here. By 24:25 it is clear that their lack of response is their own responsibility. The only way to reverse this is to pay careful attention as v. 44a urges.

²³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate that in spite of their lack of understanding, the disciples were afraid to ask about it. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

²⁴ tn Grk “but answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “but he answered.”

²⁵ tn Or simply, “have served,” but in the emotional context of the older son’s outburst the translation given is closer to the point.

²⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to bring out the contrast indicated by the context.

²⁷ sn You never gave me even a goat. The older son’s complaint was that the generous treatment of the younger son was not fair: “I can’t get even a little celebration with a basic food staple like a goat!”

²⁸ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.

²⁹ tn Grk “said.”

³⁰ tn This is a mixed condition, with ἄν (an) in the apodosis.

³¹ tn Grk “faith as,” “faith like.”

³² sn A black mulberry tree is a deciduous fruit tree that grows about 20 ft (6 m) tall and has black juicy berries. This tree has an extensive root system, so to pull it up would be a major operation.

³³ tn The passives here (ἐκριζώθητι and φυτεύθητι, ekrizwqhti and futeuqhti) are probably a circumlocution for God performing the action (the so-called divine passive, see ExSyn 437-38). The issue is not the amount of faith (which in the example is only very tiny), but its presence, which can accomplish impossible things. To cause a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea is impossible. The expression is a rhetorical idiom. It is like saying a camel can go through the eye of a needle (Luke 18:25).

³⁴ tn The verb is aorist, though it looks at a future event, another rhetorical touch to communicate certainty of the effect of faith.

³⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

³⁶ tn Grk “righteous,” but in this context the point is their false sincerity.

³⁷ tn Grk “so that they might catch him in some word.”

³⁸ tn This word is often translated “authority” in other contexts, but here, in combination with ἀρχή (arch), it refers to the domain or sphere of the governor’s rule (L&N 37.36).