The Leaders Ask for a Miracle^(A)

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus, wanting to ·trick [test] him. So they asked him to show them a ·miracle [sign] from ·God [^Lheaven; ^Cpossibly a sign in the sky, but more likely a Jewish way of saying “from God”].

² Jesus answered,^[a] “·At sunset [In the evening] you say we will have good weather, because the sky is red. ³ And in the morning you say that it will be ·a rainy day [stormy; bad weather], because the sky is red and ·dark [threatening; overcast]. You see ·these signs in [the appearance of] the sky and know ·what they mean [how to interpret them]. ·In the same way [or However; On the other hand], you ·see the things that I am doing now, but you don’t know their meaning [^Lcannot interpret the signs of the times]. ⁴ ·Evil and sinful people [^LAn evil/wicked and adulterous generation] ·ask for [seek; demand] a miracle as a sign, but they will not be given any sign, except the sign of Jonah [see 12:40; Jon. 1:17].” Then Jesus left them and went away.

Guard Against Wrong Teachings^(B)

⁵ Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] went ·across the lake [^Lto the other side], but they had forgotten to bring bread. ⁶ Jesus said to them, “·Be careful [Watch out]! Beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees [^Cyeast or leaven refers here to the dangerous permeating power of their influence].”

⁷ ·His followers [^LThey] discussed the meaning of this, saying, “He said this because we forgot to bring bread.”

⁸ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, “Why are you ·talking [discussing; arguing] about not having bread? ·Your faith is small [What little faith you have!; ^TYou of little faith]. ⁹ Do you still not understand? Remember the five loaves of bread that fed the five thousand? And remember that you filled many baskets with the leftovers? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves of bread that fed the four thousand and the many [large] baskets you filled then also? ¹¹ Why don’t you understand that I was not talking to you about bread? I am telling you to beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” ¹² Then ·the followers [^Lthey] understood that Jesus was not telling them to beware of the ·yeast [leaven] used in bread but to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Peter Says Jesus Is the Christ^(C)

¹³ When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi [^C25 miles north of Lake Galilee near Mount Hermon], he asked his ·followers [disciples], “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah [^Csome Jews expected Elijah to return in the end times; Mal. 4:5], and still others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets [Deut. 18:15].”

¹⁵ Then Jesus asked them, “·And [But] who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the ·Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because ·no person taught you that [^Lflesh and blood did not reveal this to you]. [^LBut; Rather] My Father in heaven ·showed you who I am [revealed it]. ¹⁸ So I tell you, you are Peter [^Cthe Greek petros, like the Aramaic cephas, means “rock” or “stone”]. On this rock I will build my church, and the ·power of death [^Lgates of Hades/the underworld] will not be able to ·defeat [overpower; conquer; prevail against] it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; ·the things [and whatever] you ·don’t allow [forbid; ^Lbind] on earth will be ·the things that God does not allow [forbidden/^Lbound in heaven], and ·the things [whatever] you ·allow [permit; ^Lloose] on earth will be ·the things that God allows [permitted/^Lloosed in heaven].” ²⁰ Then Jesus [sternly] warned his ·followers [disciples] not to tell anyone he was the ·Christ [Messiah].

Jesus Says that He Must Die^(D)

²¹ From that time on Jesus began ·telling [showing; making it clear to] his ·followers [disciples] that he must go to Jerusalem, where the Jewish elders, the leading priests, and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] would make him suffer ·many things [greatly]. He told them he must be killed and then be raised from the dead on the third day.

²² Peter took Jesus aside and ·told him not to talk like that [^Lbegan to reprimand/rebuke him]. He said, “·God save you from those things [God forbid; May it never be; ^L(God) Be merciful], Lord! Those things ·will never [must certainly not] happen to you!”

²³ Then Jesus turned and said to Peter, “·Go away from [Get behind] me, Satan! You are ·not helping [an obstacle/stumbling block to] me! You ·don’t care about [are not setting your mind on/thinking about] the things of God, but only ·about the things people think are important [on/about human concerns].”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his ·followers [disciples], “If ·people want [^Lanyone wants] to follow me, they must ·give up the things they want [deny themselves; turn from selfishness; set aside their own interests]. They must ·be willing even to give up their lives to [^Ltake up their cross and] follow me. ²⁵ Those who want to save their lives will ·give up true life [^Llose their life/soul; ^CGreek psychē can mean “life” or “soul,” producing this play on words], and those who ·give up [lose; sacrifice] their lives for ·me [my sake] will ·have true life [find life]. ²⁶ ·It is worthless [What good/profit/benefit is it…?] to ·have [gain] the whole world if they ·lose [forfeit] their souls. ·They could never pay enough [^LOr what could they give…?] ·to buy back [in exchange for] their souls. ²⁷ [^LFor] The Son of Man will come again with his Father’s glory and with his angels. At that time, he will ·reward [repay; give back; judge] them for what they have done [Ps. 62:12; Prov. 24:12]. ²⁸ I tell you the truth, some people standing here will not ·die [^Ltaste death] before they see the Son of Man [Dan. 7:13–14] coming with his kingdom.” [^CThis may refer to the Transfiguration which follows (17:1–8), Jesus’ resurrection, or the destruction of Jerusalem in ad 70.]