All this (Good News Translation “these things”) refers back to the teaching in parables contained in this chapter.

They are the disciples and perhaps should be made explicit, since they are last identified in verse 36. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates with considerable restructuring: “ ‘Have you understood all this?’ Jesus asked his disciples, and they answered, ‘Yes!’ ”

In fact, many translators will need to restructure somewhat as Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has done, to make clear who is asking the question of whom. An example is “Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Do you understand all these things?’ and they answered, ‘Yes.’ ” It may be better to use indirect speech, as in “Jesus asked his disciples if they had understood all these things, and they said they had.”

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 .