The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 16 -

(Mark 8:11–13; Luke 12:54–56)

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.

But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’

and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times.(a)

A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

(Mark 8:14–21; Luke 12:1–3)

When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread.

“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”

Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?

Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter’s Confession of Christ

(Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20; John 6:67–71)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

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

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!(b) For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

Christ’s Passion Foretold

(Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:21–22)

From that time on Jesus

(c)

began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Take Up Your Cross

(Mark 8:34–38; Luke 9:23–27)

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.

Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Footnotes

(a)16:3 Several manuscripts do not include When evening comes... of the times. from verses 2 and 3.

(b)16:17 Greek Simon Bar-Jonah

(Mark 8:11–13; Luke 12:54–56)

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

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

In 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!

An 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.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

(Mark 8:14–21; Luke 12:1–3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

How 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.”

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

Peter’s Confession of Christ

(Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20; John 6:67–71)

Now 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?”

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

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

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

Jesus 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.

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

I 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.”

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

Christ’s Passion Foretold

(Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:21–22)

From 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.

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

But 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.”

Take Up Your Cross

(Mark 8:34–38; Luke 9:23–27)

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

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

For 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?

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

Most 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.”

Footnotes

(a)16:18 Peter’s name, Petros in Greek, is the word for a specific rock or stone.

(b)16:18 Greek, petra, a rock mass or bedrock.