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The Gospels · New Testament

Matthew 16

Matthew 16: the sign of Jonas, Peter's confession, and the first passion prediction

General context

Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven. He answers that they can read the sky but not the signs of the times, and that no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonas; then he leaves. On the other side the disciples have forgotten bread, and when Jesus warns them of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees they think he means loaves. He reminds them of the five loaves and the seven loaves and the baskets taken up, and they understand he means doctrine. In the coasts of Cesarea Philippi Jesus asks whom men say the Son of man is; the disciples list John the Baptist, Elias, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Simon Peter says he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus calls him blessed, says his Father revealed it, names him Peter, speaks of building his church on this rock, and promises the keys of the kingdom with binding and loosing. He charges the disciples to tell no one. From that time he begins to show them that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and be raised the third day. Peter rebukes him, and Jesus calls Peter Satan and an offence. Jesus then tells the disciples that whoever will come after him must deny himself and take up his cross, that the Son of man will come in his Father's glory to reward every man, and that some standing there will not taste death before they see him coming in his kingdom.

Cited passages: Matthew 16:1, Matthew 16:3, Matthew 16:4, Matthew 16:5, Matthew 16:6, Matthew 16:9, Matthew 16:12, Matthew 16:13, Matthew 16:14, Matthew 16:16, Matthew 16:17, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 16:19, Matthew 16:20, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 16:22, Matthew 16:23, Matthew 16:24, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 16:28

Matthew 16 (KJV)

1The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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Historical context

Pharisees and Sadducees appear here together, and the narrator says they came tempting. The sign of the prophet Jonas is named without explanation in this chapter. Peter's confession is answered with the name Simon Bar-jona and the name Peter, and the promise of keys and of binding and loosing is addressed to Peter in the singular here; the same binding and loosing language is addressed to the disciples in the plural in chapter 18. The text does not explain the phrase this rock beyond the words printed. The prediction of suffering names elders, chief priests and scribes as the agents and Jerusalem as the place, and the raising on the third day, but gives no date. Jesus' reply to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, is addressed to Peter, not to a separate figure. The closing saying about some not tasting death is not interpreted by the narrator, and the next chapter opens after six days with Jesus on a mountain, without the text saying whether that scene answers the saying.

Cited passages: Matthew 16:1, Matthew 16:4, Matthew 16:17, Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 16:23, Matthew 16:28, Matthew 17:1

Literary context

The chapter is built on misunderstanding and recognition. The Pharisees and Sadducees read weather but not the times; the disciples hear leaven and think of bread; Jesus points them back to the two feedings with their numbers. Then two questions frame the confession: whom do men say, and whom say ye. The disciples' answer lists other men's opinions; Peter's answer is a single sentence. The praise of Peter is immediately followed by a rebuke, so that the man called blessed is next called Satan, and the reason given is that he savours the things of men. The narrator had reported the Pharisees offended in chapter 15; here Jesus calls Peter an offence. The narrator marks a turning point with the phrase From that time forth, and the passion prediction reorganizes the story toward Jerusalem. The closing sayings on losing and saving life echo the same reversal in one sentence.

Cited passages: Matthew 16:3, Matthew 16:7, Matthew 16:10, Matthew 16:13, Matthew 16:15, Matthew 16:17, Matthew 16:23, Matthew 15:12, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 16:25

Key moments

  1. Only the sign of Jonas (Matthew 16:4). Jesus refuses the demand for a sign from heaven and names the sign of the prophet Jonas.
  2. Leaven, not bread (Matthew 16:12). The disciples understand that the warning concerns the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
  3. Peter's confession (Matthew 16:16). Simon Peter says Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
  4. The rock and the keys (Matthew 16:18). Jesus names Peter, speaks of building his church, and promises the keys of the kingdom.
  5. The first passion prediction (Matthew 16:21). Jesus begins to show that he must suffer in Jerusalem, be killed, and be raised the third day.
  6. Get thee behind me, Satan (Matthew 16:23). Jesus rebukes Peter for savouring the things of men.
  7. Take up the cross (Matthew 16:24). Jesus tells the disciples that following him means self-denial and a cross.

For reflection

Peter is called blessed in one verse and Satan a few verses later, for a confession and then a rebuke. What in the text separates the two moments, and why does the narrator place them so close together?

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