Matthew — Chapter 16

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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,’

3and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times.

4A 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.

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.

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! 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.

21From that time on Jesus 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.”

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.”

1The 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.

3And 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?

4A 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.

5And 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.

8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11How 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.

13When 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.

18And 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.

19And 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.

21From 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.

24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26For 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?

27For 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.

28Verily 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.

1And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

2But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the heaven is red.

3And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot [discern] the signs of the times.

4An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.

5And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread.

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

7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread.

8And Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread?

9Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

12Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven 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 the Son of man is?

14And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

15He saith unto them, But who 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 Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

18And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

19I 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 the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.

21From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.

22And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.

23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.

24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?

27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.

28Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

1Now when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

2He said, “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be fair weather because the sky is red,’

3and in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today because the sky is red and darkening.’ You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times.

4A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.

5When the disciples went to the other side, they forgot to take bread.

6“Watch out,” Jesus said to them, “beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7So they began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “It is because we brought no bread.”

8When Jesus learned of this, he said, “You who have such little faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves about having no bread?

9Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000, and how many baskets you took up?

10Or the seven loaves for the 4,000 and how many baskets you took up?

11How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

12Then they understood that he had not told them to be on guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others 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.”

17And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but 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 overpower it.

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 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 instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

21From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed and on the third day be raised.

22So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!”

23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

26For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

27For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

28I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

10Nor 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, and 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.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

The Pharisees and Sadducees demand a sign from heaven, but Jesus refuses and warns his disciples instead to beware the leaven — the corrupting teaching — of the Pharisees and Sadducees (vv. 1-12). At Caesarea Philippi he asks who people say he is, and Peter declares him the Christ, the Son of the living God; Jesus blesses Peter for this Father-given revelation and says he will build his church on this confession, giving Peter the keys of the kingdom (vv. 13-20). From that point Jesus begins telling his disciples plainly that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise on the third day, and when Peter objects, Jesus sharply rebukes him for thinking merely human thoughts rather than God's (vv. 21-23). He then tells all his disciples that anyone who would follow him must deny himself and take up his cross, warning that whoever tries to save his life will lose it, and asking what it profits a person to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul, before promising that some standing there will see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom (vv. 24-28).

Authorship & Background

Author: Matthew (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 16 is the turning point of Matthew's Gospel. It contains Peter's great confession ("Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"), Jesus' first prediction of His death and resurrection, and the call to take up the cross. From this point forward, Jesus turns His face toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Caesarea Philippi: A city at the base of Mount Hermon, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. It was a center of pagan worship — a massive rock cliff with a cave dedicated to the Greek god Pan, and temples to Caesar. Against this backdrop of false gods and false worship, Jesus asks "Who do you say that I am?"
Classification: Gospel — Narrative
Key Themes: Pharisees and Sadducees together demanding a sign answered by mocking their own competence at reading weather, a warning about leaven that the disciples take as a comment on forgotten bread until Matthew supplies what they missed, a question asked in two stages at a city built around pagan worship, first what men say and then whom say ye, an answer that goes further than any rumor, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, credited immediately to revelation rather than insight, and a rebuke within minutes of that same confession, get thee behind me, Satan, the harshest thing said to any disciple in the whole Gospel
A Sign, and the Leaven of the Pharisees (vv.1-12): Pharisees and Sadducees together ask for a sign from heaven, and the answer mocks the request using their own competence, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times? No sign is given but the sign of the prophet Jonas. Then in the boat a warning about the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, which the disciples take as a comment on bread, having forgotten to bring any. The rebuke works through the arithmetic of both feedings before Matthew supplies the answer they missed, then understood they that he spake not of bread, but of the doctrine.
Whom Say Ye That I Am (vv.13-17,19-20): The question is asked at Caesarea Philippi and in two stages, first what men say, which produces a list, and then whom say ye that I am. Peter's answer goes further than any of the reported rumours, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. The reply credits the source rather than the insight, flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Then the keys and the binding and loosing, and finally the charge that closes the scene and sits oddly against everything just granted, he charged his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
The Rock (v.18): One of the most debated verses in Scripture. "Thou art Peter (Petros — a stone), and upon this rock (petra — bedrock) I will build my church." Interpretations: (1) the rock is Peter himself, (2) the rock is Peter's confession of faith, (3) the rock is Christ Himself. The wordplay suggests Peter's confession is the foundation — the truth that Jesus is the Christ.
Get Thee Behind Me, Satan (vv.21-28): From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples how he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things. Matthew marks it as a beginning, so the confession is what makes the disclosure possible. Peter's objection is a rebuke, be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto thee, and the answer to it is the harshest thing said to any disciple, get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence unto me. The reason given is a matter of perspective rather than loyalty, thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then the terms for followers, and the question that measures them, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
From Confession to Cross: Within minutes of his greatest confession, Peter rebukes Jesus for predicting His death — and Jesus calls him "Satan." The same man who received divine revelation (v.17) immediately became a mouthpiece for the enemy (v.23). This is a warning about how quickly we can move from spiritual insight to spiritual blindness.

Map & Geography

  • Caesarea Philippi (v.13): A pagan city at the foot of Mount Hermon, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Built near a cave shrine to Pan. Jesus chose this pagan setting to ask "Who do you say I am?"
  • The region was far from Jerusalem — Jesus was withdrawing northward with His disciples for private teaching before turning toward Jerusalem.

Places on this map

  • Caesarea PhilippiBanias, Golan HeightsAt the foot of Mount Hermon, where a spring bursts out of a cliff beside a grotto of Pan, about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Peter's confession is made here, in the most conspicuously pagan place in the region. Wikipedia
  • Mount HermonSyria / Lebanon / Golan borderThe 9,200-foot southern end of the Anti-Lebanon range, snow-covered most of the year and visible from much of Galilee. Its snowmelt feeds the springs that become the Jordan, and it marked the northern limit of Israel's conquests. Wikipedia
  • Sea of GalileeLake Kinneret, IsraelA freshwater lake 13 miles by 8, sunk 700 feet below sea level in a bowl of hills. Cold air spilling over the rim onto warm water is what produces the sudden violent squalls the Gospels keep describing. Wikipedia
  • JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the leaven of the Pharisees, the significance of Caesarea Philippi as the location for Peter's confession, the meaning of "the rock," the keys of the kingdom, and the call to take up the cross.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

What does “upon this rock I will build my church” mean in Matthew 16:18? | GotQuestions.org
Got Questions Ministries

Matthew 16:13-17:13 | Who is Jesus? | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

The Gates Of Hell - Matthew 16:18
David Guzik

A Little Mistake Can Mean A Lot - Matthew 16:6
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Matthew -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Beware Subtle Corrupting Influence (v.6) — Jesus warns the disciples to watch for the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees — teaching that quietly spreads and corrupts. What subtle influences are shaping your thinking that you haven't examined closely?
  • The Personal Question (vv.15-16) — Jesus moves from asking what others say about Him to asking Peter directly, and Peter answers that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Have you settled who Jesus is for yourself, apart from what others believe?
  • Christ Builds His Church (v.18) — On the foundation of that confession, Jesus promises to build His church so that even the forces of death cannot overcome it. Does your confidence rest in the durability of Christ's church, or in your own effort to hold things together?
  • From Revelation to Rebuke (v.23) — Minutes after receiving divine insight, Peter argues with Jesus over the cross and is sharply corrected. How do you guard against pride or presumption right after a moment of spiritual clarity?
  • The Cost and the Gain (vv.25-26) — Jesus says the one who tries to save his life will lose it, and asks what it profits a man to gain the world but forfeit his soul. What are you building your life around, and is it worth trading your soul for?