Matthew

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

1The Pharisees and the Sadducees came to Jesus to test him. They asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

Note"Tempting" in the King James wording does not mean pulling him toward sin. It means putting him to the test to see what he would do.

2He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

2He answered them, "In the evening you say, 'The weather will be good, because the sky is red.'

3And 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?

3And in the morning you say, 'There will be a storm today, because the sky is red and dark.' You are pretenders. You know how to read the sky, so why can't you read the signs of these times?

4A 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.

4"This is an evil people who are not faithful to God. They keep asking for a sign. But the only sign they will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah." Then he left them and went away.

5And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

5When the disciples crossed to the other side of the lake, they forgot to bring bread.

6Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

6Then Jesus said to them, "Pay attention. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."

NoteYeast, called "leaven" in older English, is a small amount of something mixed into dough that spreads through the whole batch. Jesus is using it as a picture of how teaching spreads.

7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

7They talked it over with each other and said, "He says this because we did not bring any bread."

8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

8Jesus knew what they were saying. He said, "You have so little faith. Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?

9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

9Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves that fed five thousand people, and how many baskets of pieces you picked up?

10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand people, and how many baskets you picked up then?

11How 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?

11How can you not understand that I was not talking about bread? I said to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."

12Then 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.

12Then they understood. He was not telling them to watch out for the yeast used in bread. He meant the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

13When Jesus came to the area around Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

Note"Coasts" in older English did not mean seashore. It meant the borders or the region around a place.

14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

14They said, "Some say John the Baptist. Some say Elijah. Others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

17Jesus said to him, "God has blessed you, Simon son of Jonah. No human being showed you this. My Father in heaven showed you.

18And 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.

18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. The gates of the place of the dead will not defeat it.

19And 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.

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you tie up on earth will be tied up in heaven, and whatever you set free on earth will be set free in heaven."

20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

20Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

21From 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.

21From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples what would happen. He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law. He must be killed, and on the third day be raised to life.

22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

22Then Peter took him aside and began to correct him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This will never happen to you."

23But 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.

23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan. You are tripping me up. You are not thinking about what God wants, but about what people want."

Note"Thou savourest not the things that be of God" means "you are not thinking about the things of God." And "an offence" here means a stone in the path that makes someone stumble.

24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to come with me, he must say no to himself, pick up his cross, and follow me.

25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

25Anyone who tries to save his life will lose it. But anyone who loses his life for me will find it.

26For 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?

26What good is it if a person gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what could a person give to buy his soul back?

27For 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.

27The Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels. Then he will pay back each person for what that person has done.

28Verily 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.

28I tell you the truth. Some who are standing here will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."