< Matthew 16 >
1 [Some] Pharisees and Sadducees came to [Jesus] and asked him [to perform] a miracle that would prove [that] [had sent him].
And, the Pharisees and Sadducees coming near, putting him to the test, requested him, a sign out of the heaven, to shew unto them.
2 He answered them, “[In this country], in the evening you say, ‘[It will be] good weather [tomorrow], because the sky is red.’
But, he, answering said unto them— When evening cometh ye say, Fair! for fiery is the heaven;
3 [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].
And at morn, To-day, a storm! for fiery, and yet sad, is the heaven. The face of the heaven indeed, ye learn to distinguish, —but, the signs of the times, ye cannot.
4 [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].
A wicked and adulterous generation, a sign, doth seek after, and, a sign, will not be given it, —save the sign of Jonah. And, leaving them behind, he departed.
5 [We] forgot to take bread when [we] sailed to another edge of [the lake].
And the disciples coming, to the other side, had forgotten to take loaves.
6 [Then] Jesus said to us, “Beware [that you do not accept] the yeast [MET] that the Pharisees and Sadducees [distribute].”
And, Jesus, said unto them—Mind! and beware, of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
7 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!”
And, they, began to deliberate among themselves, saying—Because, loaves, we took not.
8 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].
And, observing it, Jesus said—Why are ye deliberating among yourselves, ye little-of-faith! because, loaves, ye have not?
9 (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]!
Not yet, perceive ye, neither remember, —The five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye received?
10 [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]
Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many hampers ye received?
11 (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].”
How is it ye perceive not, that, not concerning loaves, spake I unto you, —but beware of the leaven, of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
12 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.
Then, understood they that he did not bid them beware of [the] leaven [of loaves] but of, the teaching, of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 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?”
And, Jesus coming into the parts of Caesarea of Philip, began questioning his disciples, saying—Who are men saying that, the Son of Man, is?
14 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].”
And, they, said—Some, indeed, John the Immerser, and, others, Elijah, —but, others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
15 Jesus said to us, “[What about] you? Who do you say that I am?”
He saith unto them—But who say, ye, that I am?
16 Simon Peter said to him, “You are the Messiah! You are the Son of the all-powerful God.”
And, Simon Peter, answering, said—Thou, art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
17 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].
And Jesus, answering, said to him—Happy, art thou, Simon Bar-yona, —because, flesh and blood, revealed it not unto thee, but my Father who is in the heavens.
18 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 )
And, I also, unto thee, say—Thou, art Peter, —and, upon this rock, will I build my assembly, and, the gates of hades, shall not prevail against it. (Hadēs )
19 [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.”
I will give thee, the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, —and, whatsoever thou shalt bind upon the earth, shall be bound in the heavens, and, whatsoever thou shalt loose upon the earth, shall be loosed in the heavens.
20 Then Jesus warned [us] disciples strongly not to tell anyone [at that time] that he is the Messiah.
Then, straitly charged he the disciples, lest, to any man, they should say—He, is, the Christ.
21 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.
From that time, began Jesus Christ to be pointing out to his disciples that he must needs, into Jerusalem, go away, and, many things, suffer, from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, —and on, the third day, arise.
22 [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!”
And, taking him aside, Peter began to rebuke him, saying—Mercy on thee Lord! In nowise, shall, this, befall thee.
23 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]!”
But, he, turning, said to Peter—Withdraw behind me, Satan! A snare, art thou of mine, because thou art not regarding the things of God, but the things of men.
24 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].
Then, Jesus said unto his disciples—If any one intendeth, after me, to come, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and be following me;
25 [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].
For, whosoever intendeth, his life, to save, shall lose it, —but, whosoever shall lose his life, for my sake, shall find it.
26 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]
For what shall a man be profited, though, the whole world, he gain, and, his life, he forfeit? Or what shall a man give, in exchange for his life?
27 [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].
For the Son of Man is destined to be coming, in the glory of his Father, with his messengers, —and, then, will he give back unto each one, according to his practice.
28 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!”
Verily, I say unto you—There are some of those, here standing, who, indeed, shall in nowise taste of death, until they see the Son of Man, coming in his kingdom.