Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
The Pharisees Ask for a Sign from Heaven(A)
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Yeshua. So they asked him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.
2 He responded to them, “In the evening you say that the weather will be fine because the sky is red. 3 And in the morning you say that there will be a storm today because the sky is red and overcast. You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
4 “Evil and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will be given is that of Jonah.”
Then he left them standing there and went away.
The Yeast of the Pharisees(B)
5 The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along when they went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
6 Yeshua said to them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”
7 The disciples had been discussing among themselves that they had not taken any bread along.
8 Yeshua knew about their conversation and asked, “Why are you discussing among yourselves that you don’t have any bread? You have so little faith! 9 Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you filled? 10 Don’t you remember the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you filled? 11 Why don’t you understand that I wasn’t talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”
12 Then they understood that he didn’t say to watch out for the yeast in bread, but to watch out for the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus(C)
13 When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”
17 Yeshua replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you. 18 You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock[a] I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.”
20 Then he strictly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(D)
21 From that time on Yeshua began to inform his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be brought back to life.
22 Peter took him aside and objected to this. He said, “Heaven forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you!”
23 But Yeshua turned and said to Peter, “Get out of my way, Satan! You are tempting me to sin. You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.”
What It Means to Follow Jesus(E)
24 Then Yeshua said to his disciples, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. 25 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them. 26 What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life? 27 The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done. 28 I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus(F)
17 After six days Yeshua took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.
2 Yeshua’s appearance changed in front of them. His face became as bright as the sun and his clothes as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking with Yeshua.
4 Peter said to Yeshua, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll put up three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!”
6 The disciples were terrified when they heard this and fell facedown on the ground. 7 But Yeshua touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid!” 8 As they raised their heads, they saw no one but Yeshua.
9 On their way down the mountain, Yeshua ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen. Wait until the Son of Man has been brought back to life.”
10 So the disciples asked him, “Why do the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Yeshua answered, “Elijah is coming and will put everything in order again. 12 Actually, I can guarantee that Elijah has already come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased because they didn’t recognize him. In the same way they’re going to make the Son of Man suffer.”
13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking about John the Baptizer.
Jesus Cures a Demon-Possessed Boy(G)
14 When they came to a crowd, a man came up to Yeshua, knelt in front of him, 15 and said, “Sir, have mercy on my son. He suffers from seizures. Often he falls into fire or water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.”
17 Yeshua replied, “You unbelieving and corrupt generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!”
18 Yeshua ordered the demon to come out of the boy. At that moment the boy was cured.
19 Then the disciples came to Yeshua privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we force the demon out of the boy?”
20 He told them, “Because you have so little faith. I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”[b]
Jesus Again Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(H)
22 While they were traveling together in Galilee, Yeshua told them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to people. 23 They will kill him, but on the third day he will be brought back to life.” Then the disciples became very sad.
Paying the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Certainly,” he answered.
Peter went into the house. Before he could speak, Yeshua asked him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the world collect fees or taxes? Is it from their family members or from other people?”
26 “From other people,” Peter answered.
Yeshua said to him, “Then the family members are exempt. 27 However, so that we don’t create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me.”
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.