Mat 16 | Comm | STEP | Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

Matthew 16

1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered 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 stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 7 And they discussed among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But 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 teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And 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. 18 And I tell you, that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 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 Then he strictly charged his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

21 From that time Jesus began to 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 on the third day. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each man according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."