Matthew 16

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 16

1¶ The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2He 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.

6Then Jesus said unto them, ‹Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.›

7And 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?›

12Then 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 Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, ‹Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?›

14And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15He saith unto them, ‹But whom say ye that I am?›

16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17And Jesus answered and said unto him, ‹Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: 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.›

20Then 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.

22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23But 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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees for seeking a sign, offering only the sign of Jonas. He then warns his disciples against the "leaven" of their doctrine, reminding them of his power to provide. Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, leading Jesus to declare Peter as the rock upon which he will build his church and entrust him with the keys of the kingdom. Finally, Jesus foretells his suffering and resurrection, teaching his disciples the necessity of self-denial and cross-bearing for true followers.

Medium Summary

In Matthew 16, Jesus first confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees who demand a sign from heaven, calling them hypocrites for discerning weather but not "the signs of the times," and refusing them any sign but that of Jonas. Later, he warns his disciples to beware of the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees," which they initially misunderstand as a lack of bread, prompting Jesus to remind them of his miraculous feedings and clarify he meant their false doctrine. Journeying to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples who men say he is, and then directly asks them. Simon Peter declares, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," for which Jesus blesses him, names him Peter, and states that upon this "rock" he will build his church, giving him the keys of the kingdom. Immediately after, Jesus foretells his impending suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem. When Peter attempts to rebuke him for this prophecy, Jesus sharply rebukes Peter, calling him "Satan" for focusing on human desires over divine will. Jesus then instructs his disciples on the cost of following him, emphasizing self-denial, taking up one's cross, and the paradox of losing one's life to save it, concluding with a warning about the Son of Man's future coming in glory to judge all.

Long Summary

Matthew chapter 16 opens with the Pharisees and Sadducees approaching Jesus, demanding a sign from heaven to test him. Jesus rebukes their hypocrisy, noting their ability to discern weather patterns but not "the signs of the times," and declares that no sign will be given to their "wicked and adulterous generation" except the sign of the prophet Jonas, before departing from them. Later, as his disciples cross to the other side, they realize they have forgotten bread. Jesus uses this occasion to warn them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." The disciples, misunderstanding, reason among themselves that he is speaking of their lack of bread. Jesus gently chides their "little faith," reminding them of his past miracles where he fed thousands with a few loaves and gathered many baskets of fragments. He clarifies that he was not speaking of literal bread, but of the "doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees," which they then understood. Moving to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus initiates a pivotal conversation by asking his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" They offer various popular opinions, such as John the Baptist, Elias, or Jeremias. Jesus then presses them directly, "But whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter boldly confesses, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus pronounces Peter blessed, attributing this revelation not to human insight but to his Father in heaven. He then declares, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," further granting Peter "the keys of the kingdom of heaven" with authority to bind and loose. Following this profound revelation, Jesus strictly charges his disciples to keep his identity as the Christ a secret. From this point, Jesus begins to explicitly teach his disciples about his impending journey to Jerusalem, where he must suffer many things from the religious leaders, be killed, and be raised again on the third day. Peter, unable to accept this, takes Jesus aside and rebukes him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." Jesus turns and sharply rebukes Peter, calling him "Satan" and an "offence," for "savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Finally, Jesus lays out the conditions of true discipleship to all his followers: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." He explains that those who seek to save their life will lose it, but those who lose their life for his sake will find it, questioning the value of gaining the whole world at the cost of one's soul. He concludes by speaking of the Son of man's future coming in the glory of his Father with his angels to reward every man according to his works, adding that some present will not die until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Core Concepts

  • Signs of the TimesJesus criticizes the religious leaders for their inability to interpret spiritual and prophetic signs, despite being able to predict weather. He offers only the "sign of Jonas" as a true indicator of his divine mission.
  • Leaven of DoctrineJesus warns his disciples to beware of the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which the disciples initially misunderstand as literal bread. Jesus clarifies that he is referring to their corrupting and hypocritical doctrines.
  • Peter's Confession and the RockSimon Peter confesses Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God," a revelation from God the Father. Jesus declares Peter blessed and states that upon "this rock" (understood as Peter's confession or Peter himself) he will build his church, giving him the keys of the kingdom.
  • Prophecy of Suffering and ResurrectionJesus explicitly begins to reveal to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer greatly, be killed, and be raised on the third day. This marks a significant shift in his teaching, preparing them for his ultimate sacrifice.
  • Rebuke of PeterWhen Peter attempts to dissuade Jesus from his predicted suffering, Jesus sternly rebukes him, calling him "Satan" for thinking like a man rather than according to God's will. This highlights the conflict between human understanding and divine purpose.
  • Cost of DiscipleshipJesus teaches that following him requires self-denial, taking up one's cross, and being willing to lose one's life for his sake. He emphasizes that gaining the whole world is worthless if one loses their soul.
  • The Son of Man's ComingJesus speaks of his future return in glory with his angels to reward everyone according to their works. This serves as a powerful motivation for faithful discipleship and a reminder of ultimate divine judgment.