UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES

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.

PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES AND THEIR INFLUENCE
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.

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH
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.

JESUS FORETELLS HIS DEATH
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.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
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.

1The Pharises also, with the Sadduces, came, and tempting, desired him that hee would shew them a signe from heauen.

2He answered, and said vnto them, When it is euening, yee say, It will bee faire weather: for the skie is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foule weather to day: for the skie is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, yee can discerne the face of the skie, but can ye not discerne the signes of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a signe, and there shall no signe be giuen vnto it, but the signe of the Prophet Ionas. And hee left them, and departed.

5And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6 Then Iesus said vnto them, Take heed and beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces.

7And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is because we haue taken no bread.

8Which when Iesus perceiued, he said vnto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among your selues, because ye haue brought no bread?

9 Doe ye not yet vnderstand, neither remember the fiue loaues of the fiue thousand, and how many baskets ye tooke vp?

10 Neither the seuen loaues of the foure thousand, and how many baskets ye tooke vp?

11 How is it that ye doe not vnderstand, that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces?

12Then vnderstood they how that he bade them not beware of the leauen of bread: but of the doctrine of the Pharisees, and of the Sadduces.

13 When Iesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom doe men say, that I, the sonne of man, am?

14And they said, Some say that thou art Iohn the Baptist, some Elias, and others Ieremias, or one of þe Prophets.

15He saith vnto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16And Simon Peter answered, and said, Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God

17And Iesus answered, and said vnto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar Iona: for flesh and blood hath not reueiled it vnto thee, but my Father which is in heauen.

18 And I say also vnto thee, that thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke I will build my Church: and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it.

19 And I will giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen: and whatsoeuer thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heauen: whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heauen.

20Then charged hee his disciples that they should tel no man that he was Iesus the Christ.

21 From that time foorth began Iesus to shew vnto his disciples, how that he must goe vnto Hierusalem, and suffer many things of the Elders and chiefe Priests & Scribes, and be killed, and be raised againe the third day.

22Then Peter tooke him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it farre from thee Lord: This shal not be vnto thee.

23But he turned, and said vnto Peter, Get thee behind mee, Satan, thou art an offence vnto me: for thou sauourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24 Then said Iesus vnto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him denie himselfe, and take vp his crosse, and follow me.

25 For whosoeuer will saue his life, shall lose it: and whosoeuer will lose his his life for my sake, shall finde it.

26For what is a man profited, if hee shal gaine the whole world, and lose his owne soule? Or what shall a man giue in exchange for his soule?

27For the sonne of man shall come in the glory of his father, with his Angels: and then he shall reward euery man according to his works.

28Uerely I say vnto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Sonne of man comming in his Kingdome.

I == Matt 12:38 ; Mark 8:11 ; Luke 11:16 ; 12:54-56 ; 1st Cor 1:22

IV == Matt 12:39 ; John 3:4-5

V == Mark 8:14

VI == Luke 12:1

VIII == Matt 6:30 ; 8:26 ; 14:31

IX == Matt 14:17-21 ; John 6:9

X == Matt 15:34-38

XIII == Mark 8:27 ; Luke 9:18

XIV == Matt 14:2 ; Mark 6:15 ; Luke 9:7-9 ; John 1:21

XVI == Matt 1:16 ; 14:33 ; Mark 8:29 ; Luke 9:20 ; John 1:49 ; 6:69 ; 11:27

XVII == 1st Cor 2:10 ; 15:50 ; Gal 1:16 ; Eph 2:8 ; 6:12 ; Heb 2:14

XVIII == Isa 38:10 ; JOhn 1:40-42 ; 21:15-17 ; 1st Cor 15:5 ; Eph 2:20 ; Rev 21:14

XIX == Is 22:22 ; Matt 18:18 ; John 20:23 ; Rev 1:18

XX == Matt 17:9 ; 8:4 ; Mark 3:12 ; 5:43 ; 7:36 ; 8:30 ; 9:9 ; Luke 9:21

XXI == Matt 17:12 , 22-23 ; 20:17-19 ; 22:12 ; Mark 8:31 ; 9:31 ; 10:33 ; Luke 9:22 ; 18:31 ; 24:6-7

XXIII == Matt 4:10

XXIV == Matt 10:38 ; Mark 8:34 ; Luke 9:23 ; 14:27 ; 2nd Tim 3:12

XXV == Luke 17:33 ; John 12:25

XXVI == Ps 49:7-8

XXVII == Dan 7:10 ; Zech 14:5 ; Matt 10:33 ; 25:31 ; 26:64 ; Mark 8:38 ; Luke 9:26 ; 12:9 ; Rom 2:6 ; 1st Peter 1:17 ; 1st John 2:28 ; Jude 1:14 ; Rev 2:23 ; 22:12

XXVIII == Matt 10:23 ; Mark 9:1 ; Luke 9:27 ; 1st Cor 16:22 ; 1st Thess 4:15-18 ; Rev 1:7 ; James 5:7

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came and, to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He said to them in reply, "(In the evening you say, 'Tomorrow will be fair, for the sky is red'; 3 and, in the morning, 'Today will be stormy, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to judge the appearance of the sky, but you cannot judge the signs of the times.) 4 An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away. 5 In coming to the other side of the sea, the disciples had forgotten to bring bread. 6 Jesus said to them, "Look out, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 They concluded among themselves, saying, "It is because we have brought no bread." 8 When Jesus became aware of this he said, "You of little faith, why do you conclude among yourselves that it is because you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, and do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many wicker baskets you took up? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 11 How do you not comprehend that I was not speaking to you about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. 21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 22 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." 23 He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. 28 Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

v 1-4. When Jesus got into Galilee the Pharisees were waiting for Him. They demanded a sign from heaven, though they had been surrounded by signs from Christ. They were rejecting all His miracles and wanted something more spectacular. Jesus condemned their being good readers of weather signs but not of the signs relating to Him. He had given them the sign of Jonah, Matt. 12:38-42. They would get no more signs.

v 5-12. When Jesus told the disciples to beware of the leaven etc., they thought it was because they had neglected to bring bread. (The seven baskets full had probably been given away.) He reminded them of the feeding miracles and in Mark asked them in each case how many baskets full were left over. So they were not to be concerned about bread, but the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood.

v 13-16. As they approached Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked his disciples who men thought He was. Some thought John the Baptist (resurrected), Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. When He asked their opinion, Peter quickly called Him the Christ, the Son of the living God, that is Messiah. In Mk 8:30 and Lk. 19:21 He told them not to tell anyone that. Comment in verse 20 below.
Prediction of the Savior concerning the Church Mt 16:18-19

v 17-20. Jesus commended Peter, telling him that the Father had revealed it to him. This is the first mention of the Church, and it would be built on Christ the Rock, Jews would have understood that “gates of hades would not prevail against it” to mean death wouldn’t stop it. Christ’s death would not prevent, but prepare the way for it. Christian profession, is seen in the authority given him. He opened the door of Christian opportunity to Israel on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:38-42, (he and John) to Samaritans, Acts 8:14-17, and to Gentiles at Cornelius’s home, Acts 10: 34-38. The power of binding and loosing was shared by the Apostles, Mt. 18:18; and others, Jn. 20:22-23. Peter merely got this first because he proclaimed Christ first. The disciples had been proclaiming that Jesus was the Messiah, but now they were to not preach it,

v 20. Jewish leaders and many others had rejected Christ, so till He gave them the Great Commission, there was no point in pushing it.
Prediction of the Savior concerning His resurrection Mt 16:21

THOU ART PETER: As Peter, by divine revelation, here made a solemn profession of his faith of the divinity of Christ; so in recompense of this profession and faith, out Lord here declares to him the dignity to which he is pleased to raise him: that he to whom he had already given the name of Peter, signifying a rock, John 1:42 should be a rock indeed, of invincible strength, for the support of the building of the church; in which building he should be, next to Christ himself, the chief foundation stone, in quality of chief paster, ruler, and governor; and should have accordingly all fullness of ecclesiastical power, signified by the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

UPON THIS ROCK: The words of Christ to Peter, spoken in the vulgar language of the Jews which our Lord made use of, were the same as if he had said in English, Thou art a Rock, and upon his rock I will build my church. By building his house/church upon a rock it has thereby secured to against all floods and storms, like the wise builder, Matt 7:24-25

THE GATES OF HELL: What ever Satan and his followers can do, the church is here to stay. By his promise we are fully assured, that no matter what comes the church will not be stopped.

LOOSE UPON EARTH: Due to sins, the loosing the bands of temporal punishments is called an indulgence; the power of which is here granted.

v 21-23. This is Jesus’ first mention of His death and resurrection in Matthew, but Peter rebuked Him, thinking that couldn’t happen to Messiah. Jesus turned to Peter and rebuked Satan directly for using Peter as an instrument to have Him avoid the cross. Peter was led by his own emotion and had not been able to see God’s plan. V 23 SATAN: Jesus rebukes Satan in contrast to the blessing of Peter in 16:17 Peter's confession in 16:16 was inspired by the Father. Peter's natural instincts object to a suffering messiah, with out the Father and on his own he cannot see the spiritual necessity of Jesus' passion for sinners.

AND PETER TAKING HIM: Out of a tender love, took him aside, and out of tender love, respect and zeal for his Lord and Master's honor, began to expostulate with him, as it were to rebuke him, saying Lord, far be it from thee to suffer death; The Lord then spoke to Peter, verse 23 Get behind me Satan. These words may signify, Away from me, or follow me; and with these words the Lord would have Peter to follow him in his suffering, and not to oppose the divine will by contradiction; in Hebrew Satan means an adversary, or one that opposes.

V 24-28 TAKE UP HIS CROSS: Jesus' callenge (16:21) indicates that suffering and self denial are central to the Christians life (Rom 8:17 Col 1:24 Mt 10:38)v 25-28. The cost of discipleship is giving up all one’s own ambitions, even losing his life, because he will gain a better life. All the possessions of the world would be meaningless if it meant we lost our soul.
Jesus spoke prophetically of His second coming in the glory given by the Father and with angels. Those ashamed to unite with Christ will have judgment at that time. Actually the rewards will be at the first stage of His coming when He catches Church Age believers up to be with Him. Three would not see death before seeing Christ in glory. That is explained by the Transfiguration in chapter 17.