Matthew 16:1-28 King James Version

Demand for a Sign, Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Peter’s Confession of Christ, Jesus Predicts His Death, The Way of the Cross

Matthew 16:1-28 King James Version. Matthew 16 addresses key aspects of Christian faith and discipleship, including the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, the foundation of the Church, the necessity of Jesus’ sacrificial death, and the call to self-denial and wholehearted commitment to following Jesus.

It underscores the tension between human understanding and God’s redemptive plan and invites believers to align themselves with divine purposes.

The Demand for a Sign

Matthew 16:1-4. The Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven to test Him. Jesus rebukes them, saying that they can interpret the weather but cannot interpret the signs of the times. He tells them that the only sign they will receive is the sign of Jonah, referring to His future death and resurrection.

This passage highlights the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders and their inability to recognize Jesus as the Messiah despite the miracles He performed. The “sign of Jonah” foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Matthew 16:5-12. Jesus warns His disciples to beware of the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The disciples misunderstand, thinking Jesus is talking about bread. Jesus clarifies that He is warning them about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The “yeast” symbolizes the corrupt and hypocritical teachings of the religious leaders, which can spread and influence others negatively.

Peter’s Confession of Christ

Matthew 16:13-20. In the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks His disciples who people say He is. They respond with various answers. Then, Jesus asks who they think He is. Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus blesses Peter, saying that this revelation came from God, and declares that Peter is the rock on which He will build His church, promising that the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

This passage emphasizes the recognition of Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah and Son of God. Peter’s confession is foundational to the Christian faith, and Jesus’ statement about building His church on this “rock” signifies the establishment of the Christian community.

Jesus Predicts His Death

Matthew 16:21-23. Jesus begins to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and be raised on the third day. Peter rebukes Him, saying this should never happen. Jesus rebukes Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan!” and tells him that he is a stumbling block, thinking in human terms rather than God’s.

This passage reveals the necessity of Jesus’ suffering and death as part of God’s redemptive plan. Peter’s rebuke reflects a misunderstanding of the nature of the Messiah’s mission.

The Way of the Cross

Matthew 15:24-28. Jesus tells His disciples that anyone who wants to follow Him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. He explains that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for His sake will find it. Jesus speaks about the coming judgment and the reward for those who follow Him.

This passage calls for self-denial and complete commitment to Jesus, even to the point of suffering. It emphasizes the paradox of losing one’s life to find true life in Christ and points to the eternal rewards for those who are faithful.

Matthew 16:1-28 King James Version

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.