Matthew 16
The Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign
Then the aPharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 aA wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 Now awhen His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, a“Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 aDo you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 aNor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, a“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, a“Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or bone of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do ayou say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, a“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, afor flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but bMy Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that ayou are Peter, and bon this rock I will build My church, and cthe gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 aAnd I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 aThen He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time Jesus began ato show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, aSatan! bYou are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
24 aThen Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and bfollow Me. 25 For awhoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what aprofit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or bwhat will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For athe Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father bwith His angels, cand then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, athere are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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