Matthew 16

1 The Separators and Zadokians came, and testing Him, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘The weather will be nice, because the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning you say, ‘There will be a storm today, because the sky is red and dark. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times! 4 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. 5 The apprentices came to the other side and had forgotten to bring bread. 6 Joshua said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from the fermented dough of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 They discussed among themselves, saying, “We didn’t bring any bread!”

8 Joshua, perceiving it, said, You of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that you didn’t bring any bread?’ 9 Don’t you yet understand or remember the five loaves for the 5,000, and how many baskets you picked up? 10 Or the seven loaves for the 4,000, and how many large baskets you picked up? 11 How is it that you don’t understand that I wasn’t talking to you about bread? But to guard against the fermented dough of the Separators and Zadokians.”

12 Then they understood that He didn’t tell them to guard against the fermented dough of bread, but of the teaching of the Separators and Zadokians. 13 Now when Joshua came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His apprentices, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

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

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

16 Shimon Peter answered, “You are the Anointed, the Son of the living God.”

17 Joshua answered Him,“Blessed are you, Shimon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also tell you that you are Peter,* and on this Rock* I will build My Assembly, and the gates of the grave will not prevail against it. 19 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.” 20 Then He commanded the apprentices not to tell anyone that He was Joshua the Anointed. 21 From that time, Joshua began to show His apprentices that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scholars, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.

22 Peter took Him aside, and began to rebuke Him, saying, “May God favor You, Master! This will never happen to You!”

23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Go away 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.” 24 Then Joshua said to His apprentices, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, and pick up his execution-stake, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake will find it. 26 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? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will repay everyone according to his deeds. 28 Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.”*


Next: Chapter 17

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