Matthew 16
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
[Some] Pharisees and Sadducees came to [Jesus] and asked him [to perform] a miracle that would prove [that] [had sent him].
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the sky is red.
He answered them, “[In this country], in the evening you say, ‘[It will be] good weather [tomorrow], because 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?
[Early] in the morning [you say], ‘It will be stormy weather today, because the sky is red, and dark clouds have formed.’ You understand how to predict [the weather by looking at the sky], but you cannot [seem to look at what is happening] now, [and by that] understand [what God is doing].
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.
[You] evil people have seen me [perform miracles] but you do not faithfully worship God [MET]. You want to see [me perform] a miracle [that would prove that God has sent me]. But [God] will [enable you to see] only one miracle. It will be [like] what happened [MET] to Jonah, [the prophet, who was inside a huge fish for three days and then came out of it to live again].” Then Jesus left them and sailed away, [along with us disciples].
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
[We] forgot to take bread when [we] sailed to another edge of [the lake].
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
[Then] Jesus said to us, “Beware [that you do not accept] the yeast [MET] that the Pharisees and Sadducees [distribute].”
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, [It is] because we have taken no bread.
Then, [not realizing that he was speaking figuratively], [we] said to one another, “[He must have said that] because we forgot to bring any 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?
Because Jesus knew what [we were saying], he said [to us], “(I am disappointed that you are discussing among yourselves, [thinking] that [it was because] you did not bring any bread [that I talked about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees]./Why are you discussing among yourselves thinking that it was because you did not bring any bread [that I talked about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees]?) [RHQ] You believe only a little [what I am able to do for you].
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
(You should understand [that I can continue to do miracles to provide for what you need./] you not yet understand [that I can provide miraculously for you if you need food]?) [RHQ] Do you not remember that 5,000 [people ate when I multiplied the] five small loaves [and the two fish? And after everyone had enough to eat], you collected [twelve] baskets [of left-over pieces] [RHQ]!
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
[Do you not remember] [RHQ] [that] 4,000 [people ate when I multiplied the] seven small loaves [and a few fish]? And [after everyone had enough to eat], you collected [seven] large baskets [of left-over pieces]
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?
(You should have understood that I was not speaking about [real] bread [that contains yeast]./Why have you not understood that I was not speaking about [real] bread [that contains yeast?]) [RHQ] What I [was saying] was that you should [not accept what] the Pharisees and Sadducees [say, because it would affect you like] yeast [affects] [MET] [dough].”
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.
Then we understood that he was not talking about the yeast that is [in] bread. Instead, [he was talking] about the [wrong] teaching of the Pharisees and 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?
When Jesus came with [us] disciples to the region near Caesarea Philippi [town], he asked us, “Who do people say that I, the one who came from heaven, [really] am?”
14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
We answered, “Some [people say that you are] John the Baptizer, [who has come back to life again]. Others say [that you are the prophet] Elijah, [who has returned from heaven as God promised]. [Still] others [say that you are the prophet] Jeremiah or one of the [other] prophets [who lived long ago, who has come back to life again].”
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Jesus said to us, “[What about] you? Who do you say that I am?”
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Simon Peter said to him, “You are the Messiah! You are the Son of the all-powerful 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.
Then Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of Jonah, [God] is pleased with you. What you just said was not [SYN] revealed to you by any human. Instead, [it was] my Father [who lives] in heaven [who revealed this to you].
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. (Hadēs g86)
I will also tell you this: You are Peter, [which means rock]. [You are like] a rock. What you [and your fellow apostles teach] (OR, [what] you [do]) [will be like a foundation on which I] will create congregations of people who [believe in] me. And the demons [PRS], [who live] where the dead people who lived evil lives are, will not be able to [come and] prevent [MET] [me from doing] that.” (Hadēs g86)
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.
[Then, speaking to all of us, he said], “I will enable you [(pl)] to have authority [MTY] over the groups of people over whose lives [God] rules. Whatever you forbid regarding those people [MTY], it will have been forbidden by God. Whatever you permit [MET] regarding them, it will have been permitted by God.”
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Then Jesus warned [us] disciples strongly not to tell anyone [at that time] that he is the Messiah.
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.
From that time Jesus began to teach [us] disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem [city]. There the ruling elders, the chief priests, and the men who taught the [Jewish] laws would cause him to suffer and (be killed/die). Then on the third day [after that], he would become alive again.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
[Because Peter assumed that the Messiah would not suffer and die], he took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him [for talking about suffering and dying]. He said, “Lord, may [God] never permit that to happen to you! That must certainly not happen!”
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.
Then Jesus turned [to look at] Peter, and he said to him, “Stop talking to me [like that] [MTY]! [Stop saying what] Satan [MET] [would say, and stop] trying to prevent [from happening what God has planned]! You are a hindrance to me, because you are not thinking like God thinks. Instead, [you are thinking] like people [think]!”
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.
Then Jesus said to [us] disciples, “If any one [of you] wants to be my disciple, you must not do [only] what you yourself want [to do]. [You] must be willing to [let people hurt you and disgrace you. That is like what they do to criminals whom they force to] carry a cross [MET] [to the place where the criminals will be executed. That is what anyone who wants to] be my disciple [must do].
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
[You must do that], because those who try to save their lives [by denying that they belong to me when people want to kill them for believing in me] will not live [eternally], but those who are killed [because of being my disciples] will live [with God eternally].
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?
People [might] get everything [they want] in this world, but ([if they do not become my disciples], they would really be gaining nothing [because] they would not get eternal life!/what would they gain [if they do not become my disciples and thus] do not get eternal life?) [RHQ] (There is absolutely nothing that people can give [to God] that would enable them to gain eternal life./What can people give [to God] that could enable them to gain eternal life?) [MTY, RHQ]
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.
[Listen carefully: I], the one who came from heaven, [will leave this earth, but] I will return, and the angels of heaven will accompany me. At that time I will have the glorious [radiance] that my Father has, and I will reward everyone according to what they did [when they were living on earth].
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.
Listen carefully! Some of you who are here now will see [me], the one who came from heaven, when I return to rule. You will see this before you die!”
