Matthew
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Matthew 16
Matthew 16
1And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
1The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
Commentary · verse 1
2But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red.
3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times.
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?
Commentary · verses 2-3
Jesus said to them that they could discern the signs of the weather but not of the times. The question that was implied was: how could they understand physical things, yet not understand spiritual things? Spiritual things are supernatural, they are based on the natural and something more. If a person can't understand the natural, they cannot understand the spiritual.
4An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.
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.
Commentary · verse 4
Again, Jesus stated they would only be given the sign of Jonah as He did in Matthew 12:40.
Doctrines on this passage
5And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread.
6And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
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.
Commentary · verses 5-6
Jesus told the Disciples that they ought to beware of the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread.
7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Commentary · verse 7
The Disciples thought Jesus was talking about bread. Jesus had just asked the religious leaders how they could understand the physical and not the spiritual. It appeared the disciples were also focused only on the physical and were unable to understand the spiritual.
8And Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have 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?
Commentary · verse 8
Jesus stated the Disciples had little faith. Faith is proven by actions. The Disciples were focused on and worrying about the physical. Faith is built by understanding and experience. Jesus asked them first about understanding: why did you reason among yourselves about physical bread? Notice, Jesus was not saying they should not reason. Jesus showed them they reasoned about the wrong thing.
9Do ye not yet perceive, 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?
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?
Commentary · verses 9-10
Jesus then asked them about experience: why did you not remember that I've fed five thousand and four thousand? Shouldn't I be able to feed twelve if you've experienced me, on more than one occasion, feeding thousands? Notice, Jesus used the feeding of the five thousand to see if they learned the lesson when it came to the four thousand. We saw (Matthew 15:32-39) that the Disciples didn't learn the lesson and Jesus had to facilitate the feeding of the four thousand. Did the Disciples learn the lesson from the feeding of the four thousand. Apparently not. Jesus had to teach this lesson for the third time.
11How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
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?
Commentary · verse 11
Jesus explained that He was not talking about the physical, He was speaking about the spiritual. However, Jesus used this moment to teach the Disciples (and us) about faith.
12Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching 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.
Commentary · verse 12
This caused the Disciples to understand that the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees Jesus spoke of was their doctrine. The Pharisees and Sadducees held to man-made doctrine. Doctrine consists of words and definitions, and words and definitions are spiritual.
Doctrines on this passage
13Now when Jesus came into the parts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is?
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Commentary · verse 13
Jesus asked the Disciples "who do men say that" Jesus was.
14And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Commentary · verse 14
Jesus first asked about what others said about Him so that He could get an answer to the next question...
15He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?
15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Commentary · verse 15
Even today, when most people are asked their belief, they will respond with what others believe. Jesus did not allow that to happen here by asking what others thought first.
16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Commentary · verse 16
Peter (the oldest and boldest Disciple) answered that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter plainly stated Jesus was the Son of God. How did Jesus respond?
17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
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.
Commentary · verses 17-18
Jesus accepted this statement as factual! Jesus said that Peter was blessed and that "upon this rock," meaning Peter's confession of Christ, Jesus would build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
The Greek word for "rock" in verse 18 was translated as a very large rock, like the Rock of Gibraltar. In verse 18, "Peter" was translated as "little rock"...Rocky. Jesus renamed Simon "Rocky" in honor of his revelatory confession which was the very large rock that Jesus would build His Church on...just like the man in the parable at the end of Matthew 7 built his house upon the rock.
19I 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.
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.
Commentary · verse 19
The literal translation of this verse was: "we ought to bind on earth what is already bound in heaven; and we ought to loose on earth what is already loose in heaven"...just like Peter confessed on earth what was already confessed in heaven.
20Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.
21From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
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.
Commentary · verses 20-21
From that day on Jesus began telling His Disciples about how He would suffer and be killed and rise again the third day. This verse began the third period of His Ministry: Rejection of the Messiah. Matthew recorded four more pronouncements by Jesus of His coming death. Each pronouncement revealed more information. This pronouncement stated the religious leaders would abuse Jesus in Jerusalem, He would be killed, and He would raise again on the third day.
22And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.
22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Commentary · verse 22
Peter rebuked Jesus. Peter had told Jesus he believed He was the Son of God. Then Peter told Jesus He was wrong, to His face. How could Jesus be the Son of God and be wrong? He cannot. Peter was definitely the boldest Disciple. How did Jesus respond?
23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.
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.
Commentary · verse 23
Jesus called Peter Satan! Is there any name worse to be called than Satan?...especially by the physical embodiment of Right and Just? Notice, Jesus was toughest on the one He expected the most from. Peter was the leader of the Disciples and Jesus did not take it easy on Peter. We have seen that Jesus did not take it easy on the religious leaders of His time because He also expected more from them than from the rest of the people.
24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?
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?
Commentary · verses 24-26
Jesus asked what a man will profit if he gained the whole world and lost his soul. Gaining the physical things of this world is temporal; gaining eternal life is eternal. Again, Jesus contrasted the physical with the spiritual, like He did from the beginning of this chapter.
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.
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.
Commentary · verse 27
Every man will be rewarded (recompensed both good and bad) according to his works. God is Just.
28Verily I say unto you, There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
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.
Commentary · verse 28
Jesus concluded this chapter with a statement that combined the physical and the spiritual.
Again, the religious leaders of that time initiated an interaction with Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees tempted (tried/tested) Jesus by asking for a sign. They wanted a miracle as a cause. We have seen throughout the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus did miracles as an effect, that is, in response to a need. Doing a sign as a cause would be a false sign.