Matthew 16: All the News That Is Fit to Print

 Think on these things?

The Demand for a Sign 1Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus  by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ 3  and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’  Y ou know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times.a  [Ed. note: "Sistah killed her baby cuz she couldn't afford to feed it  and we're sending $33 billion to Ukraine for more destructive wars...  Why, oh why? Sign o' the Times."  ~Prince Rodgers Nelson.  Sing it! ]   4 A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”   Then He left them and went away. The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees 5When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread.   6“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.” 8Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves  about having no bread? 9Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves  for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand,  and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread?  But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread,  but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Peter’s Confession of Christ 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples:   “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah;  and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!b For this was not revealed  to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,  and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.   19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth  will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. Christ’s Passion Foretold 21From that time on Jesusc began to show His disciples that He must go  to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests,  and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.   "Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” 23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things  of God, but the things of men.” Take Up Your Cross  24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me,  he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25For whoever  wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake  will find it. 26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,  yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?   27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels,  and then He will repay each one according to what he has done. 28Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death  before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”