Even as indicates that Matthew introduces the saying about the Son of Man as a pattern for Christian discipleship, as distinguished from Mark (10.45), where the saying serves to indicate the reason for the coming of the Son of Man (“For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve…”). This distinction between the two accounts is completely obliterated by Living Bible, which translates “For I, the Messiah, did not come to be served….”

Even as the Son of man may better be formulated as a complete statement: “He must be like the Son of Man,” “He must do as the Son of Man did,” or “It is just the same with the Son of Man. He did not come to….” For Son of man, see comments at 8.20.

Came not to be served may be translated as an active construction: “did not come so that others would serve him.”

To serve may require an object: “others” or “other people.” Care must be taken that the verb chosen to translate serve does not imply service at the table.

To give his life means simply “to die voluntarily.” Of course, a literal translation is often understood perfectly.

The Greek noun construction, as a ransom for many, has become a verb construction in Good News Translation: (“to redeem many people”). It is extremely important that the word chosen to translate ransom not imply a payment of some sort. The Hebrew background of the term focuses upon the act of setting free, not upon the payment of a ransom. Moreover, if the idea of a ransom (as for hostages) is maintained, then some languages will require mention of the person or persons to whom the payment is made. This question cannot be answered on the basis of the Greek text, since there is no assumption here of a payment. One may best translate “to set many people free,” or even “to set many people free from their sins.”

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 .