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New Testament

Matthew 16

World English Bible

Overview

Pharisees and Sadducees demand a sign from heaven, and Jesus rebukes their inability to discern the times, granting only "the sign of the prophet Jonas." Warning the disciples against "the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees," He must clarify that He means their teaching, not literal bread. The chapter then reaches its great turning point at Caesarea Philippi: when Jesus asks who men say He is, Peter confesses, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," and Jesus declares this revealed by the Father, promising to build His church on this rock and to give the keys of the kingdom. Immediately Jesus begins to foretell His suffering, death, and resurrection at Jerusalem, and when Peter rebukes Him, Jesus answers, "Get thee behind me, Satan." The chapter closes with the call to take up the cross and follow, for whoever would save his life will lose it.

1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

2But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’

3In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times!

4An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them and departed.

5The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread.

6Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”

8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?

9Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up,

10or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

11How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”

20Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

21From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.

22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.”

23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to his deeds.

28Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

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