Matius 10:23

10:23 Whenever ¹  they persecute you in one place, ²  flee to another. I tell you the truth, ³  you will not finish going through all the towns ⁴  of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matius 12:43

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

12:43 “When ⁵  an unclean spirit ⁶  goes out of a person, ⁷  it passes through waterless places ⁸  looking for rest but ⁹  does not find it.

Matius 16:25

16:25 For whoever wants to save his life ¹⁰  will lose it, ¹¹  but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matius 18:13

18:13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, ¹²  he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

[10:23]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[10:23]  ² tn The Greek word here is πόλις (polis), which can mean either “town” or “city.”

[10:23]  ³ tn Grk “For truly (ἀμήν, amhn) I say to you.” Here γάρ (gar, “for”) has not been translated.

[10:23]  ⁴ tn The Greek word here is πόλις (polis), which can mean either “town” or “city.” “Town” was chosen here to emphasize the extensive nature of the disciples’ ministry. The same word is translated earlier in the verse as “place.”

[12:43]  ⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[12:43]  ⁶ sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.

[12:43]  ⁷ tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females. This same use occurs in v. 45.

[12:43]  ⁸ sn The background for the reference to waterless places is not entirely clear, though some Jewish texts suggest spirits must have a place to dwell, but not with water (Luke 8:29-31; Tob 8:3). Some suggest that the image of the desert or deserted cities as the places demons dwell is where this idea started (Isa 13:21; 34:14).

[12:43]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[16:25]  ¹⁰ tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 25-26).

[16:25]  ¹¹ sn The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.

[18:13]  ¹² tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”