Matthew 16

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

1Some leaders came to Jesus. They were Pharisees and Sadducees, two groups of Jewish leaders. They wanted to trap him. They asked him to show them a sign from the sky.

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

2Jesus answered them. He said, "In the evening you say, 'Tomorrow will be a nice day. 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?

3"In the morning you say, 'A storm is coming today. The sky is red and cloudy.' You know how to read the sky. But you cannot read the signs of this time. You only pretend to be good."

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"People today do wrong. They have turned away from God. They keep asking for a sign. They will get only one sign. It is the sign of Jonah, a prophet long ago." Then Jesus left them and went away.

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

5Jesus and his followers crossed the lake to the other side. His followers forgot to bring any 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, "Watch out. Be careful about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Yeast is what makes bread puff up.

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

7They talked about this with each other. They said, "He says this because we did not bring 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 trust me so little. Why are you talking 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?

9"Do you still not understand? Remember the five loaves of bread that fed five thousand people. Remember how many baskets of food you picked up after."

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

10"Remember the seven loaves that fed four thousand people. Remember how many baskets you picked up that time too."

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?

11"Why do you not see that I was not talking about bread? I said to be careful about the yeast of the Pharisees and 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 him. He did not mean the yeast in bread. He meant what the Pharisees and Sadducees taught people.

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?

13Jesus came to the land around the town of Caesarea Philippi. He asked his followers, "Who do people say that I am? I call myself the Son of Man."

NoteThe KJV says "coasts." In 1611 that meant the land around a town. It did not mean the seashore.

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 you are John the Baptist. Some say you are Elijah. Others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Prophets were people who told others what God said."

NoteThe KJV spells these names Elias and Jeremias. Those are the Greek spellings of Elijah and Jeremiah.

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

15Then he asked 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 him. He said, "You are the Christ, God's chosen one. You are 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 person told you this. My Father in heaven showed it to 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.

18"And I tell you this. You are Peter, and your name means rock. On this rock I will build my church, my own people. The gates of the place of the dead will not win against it."

NoteThe word the KJV writes as "hell" here means the place of the dead. "Shall not prevail against it" means "will not win against 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.

19"I will give you the keys of God's kingdom in heaven. What you tie up on earth will be tied up in heaven. What 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 Jesus told his followers something firmly. They must not 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 Jesus began to tell his followers what would happen. He had to go to Jerusalem. The older leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law would hurt him. He would be killed. On the third day he would be raised to life again.

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 Jesus aside. He began to tell Jesus he was wrong. He said, "Never, Lord! This will not 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 around. He said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are standing in my way. You are thinking the way people think, not the way God thinks."

Note"Thou savourest not" is old English. It means "you are not thinking about."

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 followers, "Someone may want to come with me. He must say no to what he wants. He must 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.

25"Whoever tries to keep his own life will lose it. Whoever gives up 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?

26"Suppose a man gets the whole world but loses his soul. What good is that to him? What could a man trade to get 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.

27"The Son of Man will come with the bright glory of his Father. His angels will come with him. Then he will pay back each person for what that person did."

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.

28"I tell you the truth. Some people standing here will not die first. They will see the Son of Man coming as king."