Matthew 16WEB
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Matthew16

World English Bible · Public Domain

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 or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up,

10or 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, 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.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 16.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The Pharisees and Sadducees ask a sign. (1–4). Jesus cautions against the doctrine of the Pharisees. (5–12). Peter's testimony that Jesus was the Christ. (13–20). Christ foretells his sufferings, and rebukes Peter. (21–23). The necessity of self-denial. (24–28).

vv1-4

The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other in principles and in conduct; yet they joined against Christ. But they desired a sign of their own choosing: they despised those signs which relieved the necessity of the sick and sorrowful, and called for something else which would gratify the curiosity of the proud. It is great hypocrisy, when we slight the signs of God's ordaining, to seek for signs of our own devising.

vv5-12

Christ speaks of spiritual things under a similitude, and the disciples misunderstand him of carnal things. He took it ill that they should think him as thoughtful about bread as they were; that they should be so little acquainted with his way of preaching. Then understood they what he meant. Christ teaches by the Spirit of wisdom in the heart, opening the understanding to the Spirit of revelation in the word.

vv13-20

Peter, for himself and his brethren, said that they were assured of our Lord's being the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God. This showed that they believed Jesus to be more than man. Our Lord declared Peter to be blessed, as the teaching of God made him differ from his unbelieving countrymen. Christ added that he had named him Peter, in allusion to his stability or firmness in professing the truth. The word translated “rock,” is not the same word as Peter, but is of a similar meaning. Nothing can be more wrong than to suppose that Christ meant the person of Peter was the rock. Without doubt Christ himself is the Rock, the tried foundation of the church; and woe to him that attempts to lay any other! Peter's confession is this rock as to doctrine. If Jesus be not the Christ, those that own him are not of the church, but deceivers and deceived. Our Lord next declared the authority with which Peter would be invested. He spoke in the name of his brethren, and this related to them as well as to him. They had no certain knowledge of the characters of men, and were liable to mistakes and sins in their own conduct; but they were kept from error in stating the way of acceptance and salvation, the rule of obedience, the believer's character and experience, and the final doom of unbelievers and hypocrites. In such matters their decision was right, and it was confirmed in heaven. But all pretensions of any man, either to absolve or retain men's sins, are blasphemous and absurd. None can forgive sins but God only. And this binding and loosing, in the common language of the Jews, signified to forbid and to allow, or to teach what is lawful or unlawful.

Cross References

Matthew 16
v4Matthew 12:39thematic

Jesus repeats his standard rebuke refusing to grant a sign to an adulterous generation except Jonah.

Supported by Matthew Poole, Matthew Henry

v1John 6:30thematic

The Jews demand a sign, comparing Jesus' miracles to Moses giving manna from heaven.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Luke 12:54-56thematic

Parallel rebuke concerning the crowd's ability to discern weather signs but not spiritual times.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Luke 12:1thematic

Explicitly defines the leaven of the Pharisees as hypocrisy.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Mark 8:15thematic

Parallel caution warning against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.

Supported by JFB

v10Matthew 15:34thematic

Direct historical reference to the seven loaves used in feeding the four thousand.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Matthew 15:37thematic

Direct reference to the baskets of fragments taken up after feeding the four thousand.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Mark 8:27thematic

Parallel passage where Jesus asks His disciples who men say He is at Caesarea Philippi.

Supported by JFB

v13Luke 9:18-20thematic

Parallel account of the disciples' confession of Jesus as the Christ of God.

Supported by JFB

v14Malachi 4:5fulfillment

Prophetic identification of Elijah preparing the way, whom the crowds mistook Jesus for.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v18John 1:42allusion

Jesus' original naming of Simon as Cephas (a stone), anticipating his confession here.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v19Isaiah 22:22allusion

The keys of the house of David given to Eliakim, symbolizing administrative authority to open and shut.

Supported by Matthew Poole, Matthew Henry

v23Mark 8:33thematic

Parallel rebuke of Peter for focusing on human desires rather than God's plan.

Supported by JFB

v24Mark 8:34thematic

Parallel instruction on self-denial and taking up one's cross to follow Jesus.

Supported by JFB

v24Luke 9:23thematic

Parallel call to take up the cross daily and follow Him.

Supported by JFB

v24Matthew 10:38thematic

Earlier instance of Jesus teaching that anyone not taking their cross is not worthy of Him.

Supported by JFB

v26Mark 8:36thematic

Parallel rhetorical question on the vanity of gaining the world but losing one's soul.

Supported by JFB

v28Luke 9:27thematic

Parallel statement regarding some standing present not tasting death before seeing God's kingdom.

Supported by JFB

v28Mark 9:1thematic

Parallel prediction of some witnessing the kingdom of God coming with power.

Supported by JFB

Paul uses leaven to illustrate corrupting influences and malice versus sincerity and truth.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v13Daniel 7:13allusion

The messianic title 'Son of man' used by Jesus, originating in Daniel's heavenly vision.

Supported by JFB

v19Revelation 3:7allusion

Christ Himself described as holding the ultimate key of David to open and shut.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v23Matthew 4:10thematic

Verbal link in Jesus' commanding rebuke 'Get thee hence, Satan' used during the wilderness temptation.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v25Matthew 10:39thematic

Consistent paradox of finding life by losing it for Christ's sake.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v27Psalms 62:12thematic

Old Testament source declaring that God renders to every man according to his work.

Supported by Matthew Poole