The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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- Chapter 16 -

(Mark 8:11–13; Luke 12:54–56)

And Pharisees and Sadducees approached him to test him, and they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

But he responded by saying to them: “When evening arrives, you say, ‘It will be calm, for the sky is red,’(a)

and in the morning, ‘Today there will be a storm, for the sky is red and gloomy.’ So then, you know how to judge the appearance of the sky, but you are unable to know the signs of the times?

An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. And a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And leaving them behind, he went away.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

(Mark 8:14–21; Luke 12:1–3)

And when his disciples went across the sea, they forgot to bring bread.

And he said to them, “Consider and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

But they were thinking within themselves, saying, “It is because we have not brought bread.”

Then Jesus, knowing this, said: “Why do you consider within yourselves, O little in faith, that it is because you have no bread?

Do you not yet understand, nor remember, the five loaves among the five thousand men, and how many containers you took up?

Or the seven loaves among the four thousand men, and how many baskets you took up?

Why do you not understand that it was not because of bread that I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?”

Then they understood that he was not saying that they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Peter’s Confession of Christ

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

Then Jesus went into parts of Caesarea Philippi. And he questioned his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?”

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

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

Simon Peter responded by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And in response, Jesus said to him: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father, who is in heaven.

And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound, even in heaven. And whatever you shall release on earth shall be released, even in heaven.”(f)

Then he instructed his disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Christ.

Christ’s Passion Foretold

(Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:21–22)

From that time, Jesus began to reveal to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer much from the elders and the scribes and the leaders of the priests, and to be killed, and to rise again on the third day.

And Peter, taking him aside, began to rebuke him, saying, “Lord, may it be far from you; this shall not happen to you.”(g)

And turning away, Jesus said to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan; you are an obstacle to me. For you are not behaving according to what is of God, but according to what is of men.”(h)

Take Up Your Cross

(Mark 8:34–38; Luke 9:23–27)

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

For whoever would save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have lost his life for my sake, shall find it.

For how does it benefit a man, if he gains the whole world, yet truly suffers damage to his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of man will arrive in the glory of his Father, with his Angels. And then he will repay each one according to his works.

Amen I say to you, there are some among those standing here, who shall not taste death, until they see the Son of man arriving in his reign.”

Footnotes

(a)16:2 This verse has an eschatological meaning, in that, prior to Christ’s return, the sky will appear red and the impious will claim that calm has arrived on earth. The evening is symbolic of a time of darkness on earth, when sinfulness reigns; yet they say about the evening that it will bring serenity. The morning is symbolic of a time of true light on earth, especially when Christ, the morning star, returns; yet they say about the morning that it brings trouble.(Conte)

(b)16:18 The word ‘will’ is used when God or Christ ‘will’ do something. The word ‘shall’ has something of the meaning of ‘should’ to it, but God does not do things because He should, but because He Is Who Is.(Conte)

(c)16:18 You are Peter, etc:As St. Peter, by divine revelation, here made a solemn profession of his faith of the divinity of Christ; so in recompense of this faith and profession, our Lord here declares to him the dignity to which he is pleased to raise him: viz., that he to whom he had already given the name of Peter, signifying a rock, St. John 1. 42, should be a rock indeed, of invincible strength, for the support of the building of the church; in which building he should be, next to Christ himself, the chief foundation stone, in quality of chief pastor, ruler, and governor; and should have accordingly all fulness of ecclesiastical power, signified by the keys of the kingdom of heaven.(Challoner)

(d)16:18 Upon this rock, etc:The words of Christ to Peter, spoken in the vulgar language of the Jews which our Lord made use of, were the same as if he had said in English, You are a Rock, and upon this rock I will build my church. So that, by the plain course of the words, Peter is here declared to be the rock, upon which the church was to be built: Christ himself being both the principal foundation and founder of the same. Where also note, that Christ, by building his house, that is, his church, upon a rock, has thereby secured it against all storms and floods, like the wise builder, St. Matt. 7. 24, 25.(Challoner)

(e)16:18 The gates of hell, etc:That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself, or his agents. For as the church is here likened to a house, or fortress, built on a rock; so the adverse powers are likened to a contrary house or fortress, the gates of which, that is, the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the church of Christ.(Challoner)

(f)16:19 Loose on earth:The loosing the bands of temporal punishments due to sins, is called an indulgence; the power of which is here granted.(Challoner)

(g)16:22 And Peter taking him:That is, taking him aside, out of a tender love, respect and zeal for his Lord and Master’s honour, began to expostulate with him, as it were to rebuke him, saying, Lord, far be it from you to suffer death; but the Lord said to Peter, ver. 23, Go behind me, Satan. These words may signify, Begone from me; but the holy Fathers expound them otherwise, that is, come after me, or follow me; and by these words the Lord would have Peter to follow him in his suffering, and not to oppose the divine will by contradiction; for the word satan means in Hebrew an adversary, or one that opposes.(Challoner)

(h)16:23 Jesus literally turned his back to Peter at this point, according to the Latin text ‘Qui conversus.’(Conte)

(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.