Demanding Signs and the Leaven Warning
Study note
The Pharisees and Sadducees -- unlikely allies united against Jesus -- demand a sign from heaven. Jesus rebukes their inability to read the spiritual 'signs of the times' while they can easily read weather patterns. His warning about the 'leaven' of the Pharisees and Sadducees is misunderstood by the disciples as being about bread, revealing their slow spiritual comprehension despite having witnessed two miraculous feedings.
1 Some Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. They demanded that he perform a sign from heaven to prove himself. The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 Jesus answered, "At sunset you look at the sky and say, 'The red sky means nice weather tomorrow.'" 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 you say, 'Red and cloudy — a storm is coming.' You know exactly how to read the sky, but you are completely unable to read what God is doing in your own time. What fakes!" 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 "Only an evil and faithless generation begs for a miraculous sign. The only sign you will get is the sign of the prophet Jonas." Then Jesus walked away and left them standing there. 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 When his followers crossed to the far side of the lake, they realized they had forgotten to pack any bread. And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Jesus warned them, "Keep your eyes open and watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 They whispered among themselves, "He must be saying that because we forgot to bring bread." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said, "Why are you talking about not having bread? You have such little faith!" 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 "Have you already forgotten? What about the five loaves that fed five thousand people? How many baskets of leftovers did you collect?" Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 "Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand? How many baskets of leftovers that time?" Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 "Why can't you see that I was not talking about actual bread? I told you to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 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 it finally clicked — he was not warning them about bread yeast. He was warning them about the dangerous teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 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.
Peter's Confession and the Church's Foundation
Study note
At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks the pivotal question: 'Who do you say that I am?' Peter's Spirit-revealed answer -- 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' -- represents the climax of the disciples' growing understanding. Jesus responds by declaring that on this rock he will build his church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. The giving of the 'keys of the kingdom' establishes the apostolic authority to bind and loose on earth with heavenly sanction.
13 Jesus came to the area near Caesarea Philippi. He asked his followers, "Who do people say the Son of man is?" 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 They answered, "Some people think you are John the Baptist. Others say Elias. Others say Jeremias or one of the other old prophets." And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 Then he asked, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ — the Son of the living God." And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 Jesus told him, "Simon Bar-jona, what a blessing is on you! No human being revealed this to you. My Father in heaven showed it to you himself." 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 tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 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 "I am handing you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven." 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 Jesus gave his followers strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
The First Passion Prediction and the Call to the Cross
Study note
Immediately after Peter's confession, Jesus reveals the shocking path ahead: suffering, rejection by the religious leaders, death, and resurrection on the third day. Peter's rebuke of Jesus draws one of the harshest responses in the Gospels: 'Get behind me, Satan!' Jesus then extends the call to every follower: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. The rhetorical question about gaining the whole world but losing one's soul remains one of the most penetrating challenges in all of Scripture.
21 From that point on, Jesus began to tell his followers what was ahead. He had to go to Jerusalem. There the elders, chief priests, and scribes would make him suffer terribly. He would be killed, and on the third day he would come back to life. 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 Peter pulled him aside and pushed back hard, saying, "Certainly not, Lord! That will never happen to you!" Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But Jesus spun around and said to Peter, "Get out of my way, Satan! You are trying to trip me up. You are seeing things from a human angle, not from God's angle." 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 Jesus told all of his followers: "If anyone wants to walk my path, they must stop putting themselves first. They must pick up their cross and come follow me." 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 "Whoever tries to protect their own life will end up losing it. But whoever gives up their life because of me will end up truly finding it." For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what does it profit someone to gain the whole world and lose their own soul? Or what shall a person give in exchange for their soul? 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 "Because the Son of man is going to return in his Father's glory along with his angels. When that happens, he will pay back every person based on what they have done." 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 "I am telling you honestly. Some people standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." 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.