Matthew 16:21-28

Easy-to-Read Version

Jesus Says He Must Die^(A)

²¹ From that time Jesus began telling his followers that he must go to Jerusalem. He explained that the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law would make him suffer many things. And he told his followers that he must be killed. Then, on the third day, he would be raised from death.

²² Peter took Jesus away from the other followers to talk to him alone. He began to criticize him. He said, “God save you from those sufferings, Lord! That will never happen to you!”

²³ Then Jesus said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan^[a]! You are not helping me! You don’t care about the same things God does. You care only about things that people think are important.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his followers, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me. ²⁵ Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me will find true life. ²⁶ It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost. You could never pay enough to buy back your life. ²⁷ The Son of Man will come again with his Father’s glory and with his angels. And he will reward everyone for what they have done. ²⁸ Believe me when I say that there are some people standing here who will see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom before they die.”