The Ministry Of Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel

Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign.

The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and tempting desired Jesus that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but you cannot discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeks 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. Matthew 16 vs 1-4.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

And when His disciples came to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, is it because we have taken no bread. When Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O you of little faith, why reason you among yourselves, because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? How is it that you do not understand that I spake not to you concerning bread but that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then they understood how He bade them not to be aware of the leaven of bread but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matthew 16 vs 5-12.

Peter’s Confession of Christ.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked the disciples, Who do men say that I the Son of Man am? And they answered by saying, Some say that You are John the Baptist: some say Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Jesus said unto them, But whom do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him; Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father Who is in heaven. And I say also unto you That you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then Jesus charged His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ. Matthew 16 vs 13-20

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection.

From that time forth Jesus began to reveal 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. Then Peter took Jesus and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from You, Lord: this shall not be unto You. But Jesus turned, and said unto Peter, Get you behind Me, satan: you are an offence unto Me: for you savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Mattew 16 vs 21-23.

Take Up Your Cross.

Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For how shall a man profit if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For 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. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, who shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. Matthew 16 vs 24-28.