The Bible — World English Bible
Matthew 16
In brief
Matthew 16 is a turning point in the Gospel. Jesus refuses to give a sign to those who want to test him, except the sign of Jonah, and warns his disciples against the Pharisees' leaven. At Caesarea Philippi, he asks who people think he is, then who he is for them. Peter answers: the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus then declares that he will build his Church, then he reveals he must suffer and die. Peter protests and is rebuked. The chapter ends with a call: deny yourself, take your cross, and follow me.
The chapter in 5 parts
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, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
10Nor 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, and 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 render 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.”
Key verses
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Peter's answer is the central confession of the Gospel: Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah, and the Son of the living God. Everything else in the chapter flows from this question: who do you say that I am?
I 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.
Jesus promises to build his assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. The meaning of "this rock" is debated: Peter himself, his confession of faith, or Christ. Catholic and Protestant traditions interpret it differently.
But 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.”
Moments after his confession, Peter is rebuked hard by Jesus, who tells him his thoughts are human, not those of God. The verse shows you can speak rightly and think wrongly at close distance.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus' call is demanding: deny yourself, take your cross, and follow him. It describes a path of dependence on Jesus rather than assured comfort.
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?
Jesus poses a question that relativizes all ambitions: what good would it be to gain the whole world if you lost your soul? He invites you to discern what truly matters.
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Frequently asked questions about Matthew 16
What does the sign of Jonah mean?
Jesus says the only sign he will give is the sign of Jonah. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish; Jesus will spend three days in the belly of the earth. It is a sign of resurrection. The Old Testament pattern points to the Gospel.
What is the leaven of the Pharisees?
Leaven spreads through dough; so does influence. The Pharisees' leaven is their teaching: that righteousness comes through rules and human achievement. Jesus warns his disciples not to let this spread in their hearts. He is the source of righteousness, not rules.
What does Jesus mean by building his Church on this rock?
Jesus plays on Peter's name, which means rock. He will build his Church on the foundation of confession: that Jesus is the Messiah. The rock is not Peter's person but his faith, his confession. All who confess Jesus become part of this Church.
What does it mean to take your cross?
Taking your cross does not mean a daily inconvenience. It means accepting the consequence of following Jesus: rejection, misunderstanding, sacrifice. It might cost your comfort, your reputation, your security. But the promise is that losing your life for Jesus' sake means finding true life.
Articles quoting Matthew 16
World English Bible translation — public domain.