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The Demand for a Sign
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested
him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will
be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning,
‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you
cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and
adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be
given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and
went away.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot
to take bread.
6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard
against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It
is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of
little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about
having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you
remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many
basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four
thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it
you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about
bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the
Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he
was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in
bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and
Sadducees.
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man
is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others
say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the
prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I
am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son
of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,
but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the
gates of death will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth
will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples
not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Predicts His Death
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his
disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many
things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the
third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
“Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me,
Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in
mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to
be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will
lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
26 What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet
forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your
soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s
glory with his angels, and then he will reward everyone
according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will
not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his
kingdom.” |
Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
