Matthew 16: You Are the Christ
Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, and Jesus calls his followers to take up the cross and follow.
Matthew 16 (WEB)
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
3 In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times!
4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them, and departed.
5 The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread.
6 Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
8 Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, ‘because you have brought no bread?’
9 Don’t you yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
10 Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11 How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12 Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it.
19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
22 Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.”
23 But he turned, and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.
28 Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
Matthew 16 (KJV)
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And 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?
4 A 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.
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How 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?
12 Then 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.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 And 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.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From 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.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But 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.
24 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.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For 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?
27 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.
28 Verily 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.
Matthew 16 (ASV)
1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red.
3 And 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.
4 An 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.
5 And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread.
6 And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread.
8 And Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread?
9 Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How 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.
12 Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is?
14 And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 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.
20 Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.
21 From 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.
22 And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.
23 But 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.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For 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?
27 For 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.
28 Verily 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.
Summary
The Pharisees and Sadducees test Jesus, demanding a sign from heaven, but he refuses any sign except that of Jonah and warns his disciples to beware the yeast of their teaching. At Caesarea Philippi he asks who people say he is, then who they say he is. Simon Peter confesses, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus blesses him, declaring this truth revealed by the Father, and promises to build his assembly so the gates of Hades will not prevail, entrusting Peter the keys of the Kingdom. From that time Jesus begins to foretell his suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem. When Peter rebukes him, Jesus answers sharply, 'Get behind me, Satan,' for Peter is minding the things of men. Then Jesus calls anyone who would follow him to deny himself, take up his cross, and lose his life to find it.
Main Characters
- Jesus — The Christ who reveals his coming death and resurrection and calls disciples to take up the cross.
- Simon Peter — The disciple who confesses Jesus as the Christ, yet is rebuked for opposing the way of the cross.
- The disciples — Those questioned about Jesus' identity and called to deny themselves and follow him.
- The Pharisees and Sadducees — Religious leaders who test Jesus for a sign and whose teaching he warns against as yeast.
Key Verse
Matthew 16:16 (WEB)
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Lessons Learned
- Knowing who Jesus truly is comes by revelation from the Father, not merely human reasoning.
- Christ builds his church on the confession of himself, and no power can finally prevail against it.
- The path of the Messiah, and of his followers, leads through the cross before the crown.
- To save our life we must lose it for Christ's sake; true gain is never worth the loss of the soul.
- Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Simon Peter confesses, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Matthew 16:16, WEB).
- Saving truth about Christ is revealed by the Father. Jesus says, 'flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven' (Matthew 16:17, WEB).
- Christ builds and keeps his church. 'On this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it' (Matthew 16:18, WEB).
- The Messiah's mission runs through suffering and resurrection. Jesus shows that he 'must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things... and be killed, and the third day be raised up' (Matthew 16:21, WEB).
- Following Christ means self-denial and the cross. 'If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me' (Matthew 16:24, WEB).
- The soul is worth more than the whole world. 'What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life?' (Matthew 16:26, WEB).
- What sign do the Pharisees and Sadducees demand, and how does Jesus answer them (Matthew 16:1-4)?
- How does Peter answer when Jesus asks, 'Who do you say that I am?' and where does Jesus say this came from (Matthew 16:15-17)?
- Why does Jesus rebuke Peter so sharply after Peter objects to his coming suffering (Matthew 16:21-23)?
- What does Jesus mean by denying oneself, taking up the cross, and following him (Matthew 16:24-26)?
- What might 'taking up your cross' to follow Jesus look like in your own daily life this week?
- They demand a sign from heaven to test him, but Jesus refuses, giving no sign except the sign of the prophet Jonah, then leaves them (16:1-4). He points beyond spectacle to his coming death and resurrection, which Jonah's three days foreshadow.
- Peter confesses, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (16:16). Jesus declares him blessed, because this was not revealed by flesh and blood but by his Father in heaven (16:17). True confession of Christ is a gift of God's revealing grace.
- Peter, having just confessed Christ, now opposes the cross, insisting Jesus must not suffer. Jesus answers, 'Get behind me, Satan,' because Peter is a stumbling block, setting his mind on the things of men, not of God (16:22-23). Resisting the cross opposes God's saving plan.
- To deny oneself is to renounce self-rule; to take up the cross is to embrace shame, suffering, and even death for Christ; to follow is to walk his way of obedience (16:24). Whoever loses his life for Christ's sake finds it, for no worldly gain is worth the loss of the soul (16:25-26).
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to name concrete ways self-denial and faithfulness to Christ touch their week, such as a sacrifice, a witness, or a forgiveness. As leader, keep expectations gentle and grace-centered, and remind the group that Jesus walks the way of the cross with us and ahead of us.