Matthew 16 · WEB
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Matthew 16

A demand for a sign

The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ In 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! An 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.

Pharisees and Sadducees test Jesus by asking for a sign from heaven. He replies that they can read the weather from the colour of the sky but not the signs of the times, and repeats that this generation will get no sign except the sign of Jonah. Then he leaves them.

What does this mean?

A 'sign from heaven' meant an unmistakable proof from God.

Historical context

Pharisees and Sadducees disagreed on much, including resurrection and the authority of tradition; Matthew shows them joining forces against Jesus. A red evening sky as a sign of fair weather is ancient weather lore found in many cultures.

Why does it matter?

The words about reading the sky are missing from some early manuscripts, though both the KJV and WEB include them. The repeated 'sign of Jonah' (12:39) points ahead to Jesus' death and resurrection.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Beware the yeast of the Pharisees

The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread. Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”

Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread? Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? How 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.”

Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Crossing the lake, the disciples realise they have forgotten to bring bread. When Jesus warns them about the 'yeast' of the Pharisees and Sadducees, they think he means food. He reminds them of the two feedings, and they understand he means the teaching of those groups.

What does this mean?

'Leaven' (KJV) or 'yeast' (WEB) is here an image of a small influence that spreads and corrupts, as often in Jewish thought, unlike the positive image in 13:33.

Why does it matter?

In Matthew the disciples have 'little faith' but come to understand; Mark's version ends with Jesus' question, 'Do you not yet understand?'. Only Matthew explains the yeast as teaching; in Luke it is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Peter's confession

Now 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?”

They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus 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. 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. I 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.” Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

Near Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks who people say he is, and then who the disciples say he is. Peter answers that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus calls him blessed, says this was revealed by his Father, and declares that on this 'rock' he will build his church and give Peter the keys of the kingdom. He orders them to tell no one.

What does this mean?

'Peter' (Petros) and 'rock' (petra) are a wordplay in Greek, as in Aramaic, where Peter's name was Kepha (Cephas). 'Church' (KJV) or 'assembly' (WEB) translates ekklesia, found in the Gospels only here and in 18:17. Keys symbolise authority over a household (Isaiah 22:22); 'bind' and 'loose' were terms Jewish teachers used for forbidding and permitting.

Historical context

Caesarea Philippi lay at the foot of Mount Hermon, by a source of the Jordan, with a shrine to the Greek god Pan. Herod's son Philip rebuilt it and named it after Caesar.

Why does it matter?

What the 'rock' means is among the most debated questions in Christian history. Catholic teaching sees Peter himself, with authority continued in the bishops of Rome; many Protestant and some early interpreters understand it as Peter's confession of faith, or Christ himself; others, including many modern Protestant scholars, take it to mean Peter without implying a line of successors.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Told in three Gospels

How Matthew tells it

Only Matthew records Jesus' blessing of Peter, the 'rock' saying, the building of the church and the keys. Peter's confession is fullest in Matthew: 'the Christ, the Son of the living God', where Mark has 'the Christ' and Luke 'the Christ of God'. Matthew alone adds Jeremiah to the people's guesses; Luke notes that Jesus had been praying.

Jesus foretells his death

From 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.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.”

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.”

From this point Jesus begins to tell his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes, be killed, and be raised on the third day. Peter protests, and Jesus rebukes him sharply as 'Satan', a stumbling block who is thinking in human terms rather than God's.

What does this mean?

'Satan' means 'adversary': Jesus treats Peter's protest as the same kind of temptation he faced in the wilderness (4:8–10). 'An offence' (KJV) or 'a stumbling block' (WEB) translates skandalon, a trap or obstacle; many interpreters see a deliberate contrast with the 'rock' of the previous scene.

Historical context

Elders, chief priests and scribes together made up the Sanhedrin, the governing council in Jerusalem.

Why does it matter?

'From that time' echoes 4:17 and marks a new phase: from here the story moves towards Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus predicts his death again in 17:22–23 and 20:17–19.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Told in two Gospels

How Matthew tells it

Matthew opens with 'From that time', marking a turning point, and alone has Peter's words 'Far be it from you, Lord' and Jesus calling him a stumbling block. Matthew says Jesus will be raised 'the third day' where Mark has 'after three days'. Luke records the prediction but not Peter's protest or Jesus' rebuke.

Luke joins this prediction to Peter's confession in a single sentence (Luke 9:18–22), so it is listed with that account.

Taking up the cross

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. 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? For 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. Most 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.”

Jesus tells his disciples that anyone who would follow him must deny himself and take up his cross. Those who try to save their life will lose it, and those who lose it for his sake will find it. The Son of Man will come in glory to judge, and some standing there will see him coming in his kingdom before they die.

What does this mean?

'Life' and 'soul' (KJV) translate the same Greek word (psyche), meaning a person's life or self. To 'deny himself' means to set aside self-interest, not merely to give up particular things.

Why does it matter?

Verse 28 is much debated. Some interpreters connect it with the Transfiguration, which follows immediately; others with the resurrection, the coming of the Spirit, the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 or the final coming; others conclude that Jesus expected the end soon. Matthew's wording, 'the Son of Man coming in his kingdom', is more personal than Mark's 'the kingdom of God come with power'.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

Chapters

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28

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Reading

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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