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 Pharisees and Sadducees came near, tempting him, and asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
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 answered, and said to them: When it is evening ye say, It will be fair weather; for the heavens are red.
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 in the morning ye say, There will be a storm to-day; for the heavens are sadly red. Ye hypocrites, ye are intelligent to discover the aspect of the heavens, but the signs of this time ye have no skill to discern.
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 asketh for a sign; but no sign shall be given it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he left them, and departed.
5 [We] forgot to take bread when [we] sailed to another edge of [the lake].
And when his disciples had come to the farther shore, they had forgotten to take bread with them.
6 [Then] Jesus said to us, “Beware [that you do not accept] the yeast [MET] that the Pharisees and Sadducees [distribute].”
And he said to them: Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the 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 reasoned among themselves, and said, it was because they had taken no bread.
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].
But Jesus knew it and said to them: O ye small in faith! why reason ye among yourselves because ye have taken no bread?
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]!
Have ye not yet understood? Do ye not remember the five loaves and the five thousand, and the many baskets ye took up?
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 and the four thousand, and the many baskets ye took up?
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 that ye do not understand that it was not concerning bread that I spoke to you; but that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the 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 bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the 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 when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he questioned his disciples, and said: What do men say concerning me, that I the Son of man, am?
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 say that thou art John the Baptizer; but others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
15 Jesus said to us, “[What about] you? Who do you say that I am?”
He said to them: But, who do ye yourselves say that I am?
16 Simon Peter said to him, “You are the Messiah! You are the Son of the all-powerful God.”
Simon Cephas answered and said: Thou art the Messiah, 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].
Jesus answered, and said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jonas; for flesh and blood have not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
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 g86)
Also I say to thee, that thou art Cephas: and upon this rock, I will build my church: and the gates of death shall not triumph over it. (Hadēs g86)
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.”
To thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatever thou shalt unbind on earth, shall be unbound in heaven.
20 Then Jesus warned [us] disciples strongly not to tell anyone [at that time] that he is the Messiah.
Then he enjoined on his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was the Messiah.
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.
And from that time Jesus began to show to his disciples, that he was to go up to Jerusalem, and to suffer much from the Elders, and from the chief priests and Scribes, and be killed, 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 Cephas took him, and began to rebuke him; and he said: Far be it from thee, my Lord, that this should be to 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 turned, and said to Cephas: Get thee behind me, Satan: Thou art a stumbling block to me; for thou thinkest not 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 said Jesus to his disciples: If any one desireth to come after me, let him deny himself; and let him bear his cross, and come after 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, whoever chooseth to preserve his life, shall lose it; and whoever will 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 will it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and shall lose his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
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 to come in the glory of his Father, with all his holy angels; and then will he recompense to every man as his deeds are.
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 to you: There are some persons standing here, who shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
