The Leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees approached,^(A) and tested him, asking him to show them a sign from heaven.^{(B) 2} He replied, “When evening comes you say, ‘It will be good weather because the sky is red.’ ³ And in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy because the sky is red and threatening.’ You^[a] know how to read the appearance of the sky, but you can’t read the signs of the times.^{[b] 4} An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of^[c] Jonah.”^(C) Then he left them and went away.

⁵ The disciples reached the other shore,^[d] and they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven^[e] of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”^(D)

⁷ They were discussing among themselves, “We didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸ Aware of this, Jesus said, “You of little faith,^(E) why are you discussing among yourselves that you do not have bread? ⁹ Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you collected?^{(F) 11} Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread?”^{(G) 12} Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.^(H)

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,^[f](I) he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”^[g]

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”^(J)

¹⁵ “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”^(K)

¹⁷ Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,^[h](L) because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.^{(M) 18} And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,^(N) and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,^(O) and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound^[i] in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed^[j] in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was^[k] the Messiah.^(P)

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

²¹ From^(Q) then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.^{(R) 22} Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no,^[l] Lord! This will never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns^[m] but human concerns.”^(S)

Take Up Your Cross

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.^{(T) 25} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.^{(U) 26} For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?^{(V) 27} For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father,^(W) and then he will reward each according to what he has done. ²⁸ Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”^(X)

The Transfiguration

17 After six days^(Y) Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.^{(Z) 2} He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.^{(AA) 3} Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. ⁴ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up^[n] three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”^(AB)

⁵ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered^[o] them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!” ^{(AC) 6} When the disciples^(AD) heard this, they fell facedown and were terrified.

⁷ Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.”^{(AE) 8} When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus alone.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them,^(AF) “Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised^[p] from the dead.”

¹⁰ So the disciples asked him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ^(AG)

¹¹ “Elijah is coming^[q] and will restore everything,” he replied.^{[r](AH) 12} “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”^{(AI) 13} Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

¹¹ The^(A) Pharisees^(B) came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign^(C) from heaven^(D) to test^(E) him. ¹² Sighing deeply in his spirit,^(F) he said, “Why does this generation^(G) demand a sign? Truly I tell you,^(H) no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.

¹⁴ The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Then^(I) he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven^[a](J) of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”^{(K) 16} They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. ¹⁷ Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts?^{(L) 18} Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear?^[b](M) And do you not remember?^{(N) 19} When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?”

“Twelve,” they told him.

²⁰ “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?”

“Seven,” they said.

²¹ And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?” ^(O)

Healing a Blind Man

²² They came to Bethsaida.^(P) They brought a blind^(Q) man to him and begged him to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting^(R) on his eyes and laying his hands on^(S) him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”^(T)

²⁵ Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Then he sent^(U) him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”^[c](V)

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

²⁷ Jesus^(W) went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

²⁸ They answered him, “John the Baptist;^(X) others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”^(Y)

²⁹ “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter^(Z) answered him, “You are the Messiah.”^{(AA) 30} And he strictly warned^(AB) them to tell no one about him.

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

³¹ Then^(AC) he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man^(AD) to suffer many things and be rejected^(AE) by the elders,^(AF) chief priests, and scribes,^(AG) be killed, and rise^(AH) after three days.^{(AI) 32} He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!^(AJ) You are not thinking about God’s concerns^[d] but human concerns.”

Take Up Your Cross

³⁴ Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself,^(AK) take up his cross,^(AL) and follow me.^{(AM) 35} For whoever wants to save^(AN) his life will lose it,^(AO) but whoever loses^(AP) his life^(AQ) because of me^(AR) and the gospel^(AS) will save it.^{(AT) 36} For what does it benefit^(AU) someone to gain^(AV) the whole world^(AW) and yet lose^(AX) his life?^{(AY) 37} What can anyone give in exchange for his life?^{(AZ) 38} For whoever is ashamed^(BA) of me and my words^(BB) in this adulterous and sinful^(BC) generation,^(BD) the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory^(BE) of his Father^(BF) with the holy^(BG) angels.”^(BH)

9 Then he said to them, “Truly I tell you,^(BI) there are some standing here who will not taste death^(BJ) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”^(BK)

The Transfiguration

² After^(BL) six days^(BM) Jesus took Peter, James, and John^(BN) and led them up a high mountain^(BO) by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured^(BP) in front of them, ³ and his clothes^(BQ) became dazzling—extremely white^(BR) as no launderer on earth could whiten^(BS) them. ⁴ Elijah^(BT) appeared to them with Moses,^(BU) and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(BV) it’s good^(BW) for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters:^(BX) one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what to say,^(BY) since they were terrified.^(BZ)

⁷ A cloud^(CA) appeared, overshadowing^(CB) them, and a voice^(CC) came from the cloud:^(CD) “This is my beloved^(CE) Son;^(CF) listen to him!” ^(CG)

⁸ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As^(CH) they were coming down the mountain,^(CI) he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen^(CJ) until the Son of Man^(CK) had risen^(CL) from the dead.^{(CM) 10} They kept this word^(CN) to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes^(CO) say that Elijah must come first?” ^(CP)

¹² “Elijah does come first and restores^(CQ) all things,”^(CR) he replied. “Why then is it written^(CS) that the Son of Man must suffer^(CT) many things and be treated with contempt?^{(CU) 13} But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written^(CV) about him.”

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

¹⁸ While he was praying in private^(A) and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

¹⁹ They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.”^[a](B)

²⁰ “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”^(C)

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

²¹ But he strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one,^{(D) 22} saying,^(E) “It is necessary that the Son of Man^(F) suffer many things^(G) and be rejected^(H) by the elders, chief priests, and scribes,^(I) be killed, and be raised the third day.”^(J)

Take Up Your Cross

²³ Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after^[b] me, let him deny himself,^(K) take up his cross daily,^[c] and follow me.^{(L) 24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.^{(M) 25} For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself?^{(N) 26} For whoever is ashamed of me and my words,^(O) the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory^(P) and that of the Father and the holy angels.^{(Q) 27} Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death^(R) until they see the kingdom of God.”^(S)

The Transfiguration

²⁸ About eight days after this conversation,^(T) he took along Peter, John, and James^(U) and went up on the mountain to pray.^{(V) 29} As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed,^(W) and his clothes became dazzling white.^{(X) 30} Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. ³¹ They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.

³² Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep,^[d](Y) and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. ³³ As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master,^(Z) it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying.^(AA)

³⁴ While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed^(AB) them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ Then a voice came from the cloud,^(AC) saying, “This is my Son,^(AD) the Chosen One;^[e](AE) listen to him!” ^(AF)

³⁶ After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent, and at that time told no one what they had seen.