Matthew 16

Jesus Is Asked for a Sign 1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. They asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He replied, “In the evening you look at the sky. You say, ‘It will be good weather. The sky is red.’ 3And in the morning you say, ‘Today it will be stormy. The sky is red and cloudy.’ You know the meaning of what you see in the sky. But you can’t understand the signs of what is happening right now.

4An evil and unfaithful people look for a sign. But none will be given to them except the sign of Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees 5The disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake. They had forgotten to take bread.

6“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7The disciples talked about this among themselves. They said, “He must be saying this because we didn’t bring any bread.” 8Jesus knew what they were saying. So he said, “Your faith is so small! Why are you talking to each other about having no bread? 9Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000? Don’t you remember how many baskets of pieces you gathered? 10Don’t you remember the seven loaves for the 4,000? Don’t you remember how many baskets of pieces you gathered? 11How can you possibly not understand? I wasn’t talking to you about bread. But watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12Then the disciples understood that Jesus was not telling them to watch out for the yeast used in bread. He was warning them against what the Pharisees and Sadducees taught.

Peter Says That Jesus Is the Messiah 13Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. There he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

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

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah. You are the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! No mere human showed this to you. My Father in heaven showed it to you. 18Here is what I tell you. You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church. The gates of hell will not be strong enough to destroy it. 19I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.”

20Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Speaks About His Coming Death 21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples what would happen to him. He told them he must go to Jerusalem. There he must suffer many things from the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law. He must be killed and on the third day rise to life again.

22Peter took Jesus to one side and began to scold him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are standing in my way. You do not have in mind the things God cares about. Instead, you only have in mind the things humans care about.” 24Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must say no to themselves. They must pick up their cross and follow me. 25Whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses their soul? Or what can anyone trade for their soul?

27The Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory. His angels will come with him. And he will reward everyone in keeping with what they have done. 28“What I’m about to tell you is true. Some who are standing here will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”