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Matthew 16

World English Bible

WEB

1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3In 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! 4An 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. 5The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread. 6Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread? 9Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, 10or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 11How 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.” 12Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13Now 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?” 14They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus 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. 18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I 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.” 20Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21From 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. 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.” 23But 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.” 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. 26For 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? 27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to his deeds. 28Most 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.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Matthew Chapter 16 presents a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus Christ, where He begins to reveal His true identity and mission to His disciples. The chapter opens with the Pharisees and Sadducees demanding a sign from heaven to test Jesus. In response, He rebukes them for their inability to interpret the signs of the times, emphasizing the importance of faith over mere signs. Jesus warns His disciples to beware of the 'leaven' of these religious leaders, which symbolizes their corrupt teachings and hypocrisy (#Pharisees, #Sadducees).

As the chapter progresses, Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13). They respond with various opinions, but Peter boldly declares, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Jesus affirms Peter's declaration, stating that this revelation was given to him by God the Father. He then establishes Peter as the rock upon which He will build His church, promising that the gates of hell will not prevail against it (#Peter, #Church). This moment signifies the foundation of the Christian faith and the authority given to the apostles.

The chapter concludes with Jesus predicting His suffering, death, and resurrection, which Peter struggles to accept. Jesus rebukes Peter, stating, "Get behind me, Satan!" (Matthew 16:23), highlighting the necessity of His sacrificial mission. He then teaches His disciples about the cost of discipleship, urging them to take up their cross and follow Him, emphasizing that true life is found in losing it for His sake. This chapter encapsulates the essence of faith, the establishment of the church, and the call to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

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Referenced by

  1. Psalms 49:7-8v26Psalm 49:7-8 emphasizes that no one can redeem another's life with wealth, paralleling Jesus' teaching in Matthew 16:26 about the futility of gaining the world at the cost of one's soul.
  2. Ecclesiastes 2:11v26Ecclesiastes 2:11 reflects on the vanity of labor and achievements, similar to Matthew 16:26 where Jesus questions the profit of gaining the world but losing one's soul.
  3. Matthew 14:33v16The disciples' confession of Jesus as the Son of God after He calms the storm parallels Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
  4. Matthew 17:22-23v21Matthew 17:22-23 records Jesus predicting His death and resurrection, a theme He previously introduced in Matthew 16:21, highlighting the centrality of His sacrificial mission.
  5. Mark 8:12v4In Mark 8:12, Jesus sighs deeply and declares that no sign will be given to this generation, similar to Matthew 16:4, emphasizing the theme of unbelief and the demand for signs.
  6. Mark 8:29v16Mark 8:29 records Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ, which is also found in Matthew 16:16, underscoring the recognition of Jesus' true identity.
  7. Luke 9:23v24Both passages record Jesus' teaching on the necessity of self-denial and taking up one's cross to follow Him, emphasizing the cost of discipleship.
  8. John 13:8v22In John 13:8, Peter initially refuses Jesus' act of washing his feet, similar to his earlier rebuke of Jesus' prediction of His suffering in Matthew 16:22-23, showing Peter's misunderstanding of Jesus' mission.
  9. John 21:22v27In John 21:22, Jesus tells Peter to focus on following Him, regardless of what happens to John. This aligns with Matthew 16:27, where Jesus emphasizes individual accountability and following Him, underscoring the personal nature of discipleship.
  10. Revelation 22:12v27Revelation 22:12 speaks of Jesus coming soon to reward each according to their deeds, similar to Matthew 16:27 where Jesus speaks of coming in glory to reward each person.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

  • Mark 8Caesarea PhilippiPeter's ConfessionLeaven
  • Luke 9Take Up Your CrossPassion PredictionSelf-Denial
  • Matthew 17Passion PredictionDivinityLent
  • Matthew 12Sign of JonahReligious LeadersPharisees
  • Acts 2ApostlesPeterThe Church
  • Luke 14Self-DenialFollow JesusKingdom Values
  • John 1ChristologyDivinityCreed
  • John 6PeterLifeDiscipleship
  • Ephesians 2FoundationIdentity in ChristThe Church
  • Luke 12LeavenConfession of FaithPharisees
  • 1 Peter 2ChristologyFoundationPeter
  • Mark 10Passion PredictionFollow JesusKingdom Values

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