Matthew 16 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 28-30, during Jesus' public ministry
Location
Galilee and the district of Caesarea Philippi (northern Israel, modern Banias)
Audience
Jesus' disciples (especially Peter), with Pharisees and Sadducees
Situation
Pharisees and Sadducees demand a sign from heaven to test Jesus, who rebukes them. In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questions his disciples about his identity, eliciting Peter's confession as Messiah.
Key Background
Caesarea Philippi was a pagan center with temples to Roman gods and emperors, highlighting the bold claim of Jesus as Messiah there. Jewish leaders opposed Jesus amid Messianic expectations of a conquering king, not a suffering servant. The chapter unfolds under Roman occupation, with rising tension toward Jesus' crucifixion.
The and came to Jesus, demanding that he show them a from heaven.
He answered them, "When evening comes, you say, 'The is — it'll be good weather.'
And in the morning, 'It's going to storm today — the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to read the sky, but you can't read the of now?
"A and generation keeps demanding a but the only it will get is the of Then he walked away from them.
When the disciples crossed to the other side of the lake, they realized they had forgotten to bring bread.
Jesus told them, "Watch out — be on guard against the of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
They started talking among themselves: "He's saying this because we didn't bring any bread."
Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, "Why are you talking about not having bread? Your is so
Don't you get it yet? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many you collected?
Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many you collected?
How do you not understand? I wasn't talking about bread! I said be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Then they understood — he wasn't warning them about yeast in bread, but about the of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
When Jesus came to the area around he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the of is?"
They said, "Some say the Others say Others say or one of the prophets."
"But what about he asked. "Who do say I am?"
Simon Peter spoke up: "You are The — the of the
Jesus replied, is for you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human being this to you — my in did."
And I tell you, you are — 'The — and on this I will build my and the of the will not overpower it.
I will give you the of Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven."
Then he the disciples not to tell anyone that he was The
From that point on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem, suffer terribly at the hands of the and be killed, and be on the third day.
Peter and started "God forbid, This will never happen to you!"
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, You're a to me. You're not the — you're the humans think."
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone wants to come after me, they must pick up their and me.
Because whoever wants to save their will lose it, but whoever loses their for my will find it.
What good is it if someone gains the whole but loses their own What could anyone trade for their
Because the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's with his and then he will give to each person what their deserve.
I'm you the some of you standing here will not before they see the Son of Man coming in his