Discovery BoxMatthew 11:7 
Context11:7 While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness 1 to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 2
Matthew 13:54
Context13:54 Then 3 he came to his hometown 4 and began to teach the people 5 in their synagogue. 6 They 7 were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?
Matthew 15:36
Context15:36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds. 8
1 tn Or “desert.”
2 tn There is a debate as to whether one should read this figuratively (“to see someone who is easily blown over?”) or literally (Grk “to see the wilderness vegetation?… No, to see a prophet”). Either view makes good sense, but the following examples suggest the question should be read literally and understood to point to the fact that a prophet drew them to the desert.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”
4 sn Jesus’ hometown (where he spent his childhood years) was Nazareth, about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Capernaum.
5 tn Grk “them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23. Jesus undoubtedly took the opportunity on this occasion to speak about his person and mission, and the relation of both to OT fulfillment.
7 tn Grk “synagogue, so that they.” Here ὥστε (Jwste) has not been translated. Instead a new sentence was started in the translation.
8 tn Grk “was giving them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowd.”
