16 The Pharisees and the Sadducees came and, testing Jesus, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said, When it is evening, ye say it will be fair weather because the sky is red. In the morning, ye say it will be foul weather because the sky is red.
O ye hypocrites. Ye can discern the face of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times! It is a wicked and adulterous generation that seeks a sign. There shall be no sign given except the sign of the prophet, Jonah. Then He left them, and departed to the other side.
Jesus uttered, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. The disciples thought He referred to their not remembering to bring bread along with them. When Jesus perceived this, He said, O ye of little faith, why do you concern yourselves because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand or remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets of leftovers ye took up? Do ye not remember the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets of leftovers ye took up?
How is it that ye do not understand that I spoke not about the leaven of bread but that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then they understood that the leaven was the doctrine and teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
When Jesus came to the coast of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His
disciples, Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am? They answered,
Some say that thou art John the Baptist. Some say Elias. Others say
Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
Then Jesus asked them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter spoke up, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Then He charged His disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
From that time, Jesus instructed His disciples about how He must go into Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes. He told them He would be killed and be raised again on the third day. Peter began to rebuke Him and said, Far be it from thee, Lord. This shall not be. Jesus turned quickly, stopped Peter, and said, Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art an offence to me. Thou savor not the things of God, but those of men.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Whoever saves his life shall lose it. Whoever loses his life, for my sake, shall find it.
What is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? What can a man give in exchange for his soul? The Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father, with His angels and shall reward every man according to his works. I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.