A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Matthew 16
Matthew 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. The 28-verse chapter contains the pivotal moment when Peter recognizes Jesus as the Christ, followed by Jesus's first prediction of his death and the cost of discipleship.
The chapter opens with the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to Jesus to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus replies that they can read the appearance of the sky but cannot interpret the signs of the times. He tells them a wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given except the sign of Jonah.
The disciples then realize they have forgotten to bring bread. Jesus warns them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They think he is talking about literal bread. He reminds them of the feedings of the five thousand and the four thousand and tells them he meant the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Jesus then arrives at Caesarea Philippi and asks the disciples who people say the Son of Man is. They report various answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. He asks who they themselves say he is. Simon Peter answers: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus blesses Peter, saying this was revealed to him by the Father in heaven. He tells Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." He gives Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. He then warns the disciples not to tell anyone he is the Christ.
From that time, Jesus begins to explain to the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and on the third day be raised to life. Peter takes him aside and rebukes him: "Far be it from You, Lord! This shall never happen to You." Jesus turns and says to Peter: "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me."
The chapter closes with Jesus telling the disciples that anyone who would come after him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow him. Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; whoever loses his life for Jesus will find it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul?
Verse 1. Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
Verse 2. But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’
Verse 3. and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times.
Verse 4. A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.
Verse 5. When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread.
Verse 6. “Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Verse 7. They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”
Verse 8. Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?
Verse 9. Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
Verse 10. Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
Verse 11. How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Verse 12. Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Verse 13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Verse 14. They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Verse 15. “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Verse 16. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Verse 17. Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
Verse 18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Verse 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Verse 20. Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.
Verse 21. From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Verse 22. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”
Verse 23. But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Verse 24. Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Verse 25. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Verse 26. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Verse 27. For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
Verse 28. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
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