Chapter 16

1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. They asked him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.

2Jesus answered, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair because the sky is red.’”

3Jesus continued, “In the morning you say, ‘Today will be stormy because the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the present time.”

4Jesus continued, “The people of this generation are evil and unfaithful to God, like an unfaithful spouse. They keep demanding a sign, but they will receive no sign except the sign of Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.

5When the disciples reached the other side, they realized that they had forgotten to bring bread.

6Jesus told them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7The disciples discussed this among themselves. “It must be because we did not bring any bread,” they said.

8Jesus knew what they were saying and asked, “Why is your trust so weak? Why are you talking among yourselves about not bringing bread?”

9Jesus continued, “Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand people and how many baskets you collected afterward?”

10He added, “Or the seven loaves for the four thousand people and how many baskets you collected afterward?”

11Jesus continued, “How can you fail to understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12Then the disciples understood that Jesus was not warning them about yeast used in bread. He was warning them about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They answered, “Some say John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

15Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, God’s appointed king, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus replied, “How fortunate you are, Simon son of Jonah! No human being revealed this to you. My Father in heaven did.”

18Jesus continued, “I also tell you that you are Peter—a name that means ‘rock’—and on this rock I will build my community. Even the gates of the realm of the dead will not overpower it.”

19Jesus continued, “I will give you the keys to God’s kingdom. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven.”

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

21From that time on, Jesus began explaining to his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would suffer greatly at the hands of the elders, leading priests, and experts in Jewish law. He would be killed and raised to life on the third day.

22Peter took Jesus aside and began correcting him sharply. “May God keep this from happening to you, Lord!” Peter said. “This will never happen to you!”

23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block in my path. You have human concerns in mind, not God’s.”

24Then Jesus told his disciples, “Anyone who wants to follow me must turn away from living for themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.”

25Jesus continued, “Whoever tries to hold on to their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life because of me will find it.”

26Jesus continued, “What good will it do someone to gain the whole world but lose their life? What could anyone give in exchange for their life?”

27Jesus continued, “The Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s radiant majesty with his angels. Then he will give each person what their actions deserve.”

28Jesus concluded, “I assure you: some people standing here will certainly not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his royal power.”