Matthew 16

The Pharisees and Sadduces ask a sign, but are rebuked by Christ, and appointed to the sign of Jonas, 1. Christ warneth Disciples of their leaven,5. Divers opinions of the common people concerning Christ, 13. Peters confession of him; whom Christ commendeth,and promiseth him the keys of the Kingdome of Heaven,15.Foretelleth hid death and resurretion; and rejecteth the evil counsel of Peter,21. How men must follow Christ and preserve their souls, 24. Of Christ coming in his glory,27.

1. And the Pharisees and Sadduces being come unto him, and tempting (him), [intending to prove whether he could do this, for to shame him] desired of him, that he would shew them a sign out of the Heaven. [i.e. which should happen out of in or from Heaven, like as at the command of Joshua the Sun and Moon sttod still, Joshua 10:12. as fire came out of a Heaven at, an the prayer of Elias, 2 Kings 1:9. and as the Sun went back in the time of Esaias, see Esa 38.8.]

2. But he answered and said unto them; when it is become Evening, ye say, fair weather, for the Heavens is red [Gr. red as fire; that is fair or clear red]

3. And in the Morning; soul weather to day, for the Heavens is of a sad red. Ye hypocrites, ye know well to discern the face of the Heaven, [that is, the state or shew] and can ye not (descern) the signs of the times. [namely, which accroding to the predictions of the Prophets, do shew the coming and presence of the Messiah. see Matth 11. 4,5.and the Annotations on Luke 12:56.]

4. The evil and adulterous generation seeketh for a sign, [see the same before, Matth 12.39] and thre shall no sign he given to (it) [namely, more powerfully to convince them] bu the sign of the Prophet Jonas. And leaving them, he went away, [namely, over the Sea. See Mark 8 verse 13,14

5. And when his Disciples were come or the other side, they had forgotten to the bread (with them).

6. And Jesus said unto them; look to it, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadduces

7. And they reaoned with themselves,] saying; (it is) because we have taken no bread (with us)

8. And Jesus knowing (that), said unto them; what reason ye with your selves, O ye of little faith , that ye have taken no bread (with you?)

9. Do ye not yet understand? Neither do ye remember the five loaves of the five thousand (men); and how many baskets ye took ip?

10. Nor the seven loaves of the five thousand (men), and how maunds ye took up?

11. How do ye not understand, that i spoke not to you concerning bread, (when i said) that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and Sadduces?

12. Then they understood, that be had not said, then they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees, and Sadduces? [Namely, their false doctrine, which is here compared unto leaven, forasmuch as the same mingled the purity of the true doctrine, with false doctrines, and such as were devised by men, and pussed men up with a vain presumption of their own righteousness, and with hypocrise.]

13. Now when Jesus was come into the parts of Caseria Philippi, [This was a City at the foots of the mount Libasnus, about the rise of Jordan, so called, because it was built for the honour of the Emperour Tiberius: and was sirnamed Philippi, because it was builded by Philip the Tetrach; Joseph lib.18. cap. 3. and to distinguish it from another Ceoserea, built by his father Hherod for the hhonour of the Emperour Augustus, on thhe mid – land Sea: Joseph lib. 15. cap.13. Acts 10:1.] hhe asked his Disciples, saying; Who do men say, that i the Son of man am?

14. And thhey said, some John the Baptist, and others Elias, and othhers Jeremias, or one of the Prophets.

15. He said unto them, but ye, whom say ye that i am?

16. And Simon Peter answering, said [Namely, in the name of them all; seeing Chhrist had asked all of them. Therefore also the answer of Christ, although it be made to Peter, belongeth to all] Thou art the Christ, [that is, Messias, or annoited. See John 1:41] the Son of the leaving God.

17. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon – Bar – Jona [Thhat is of Jona: Fir the word Bar in thhe Chaldean tongue signifies a Son] for fleshh and bloud [that is, niether thine own, nor any natural understanding, nor any man. See Gal.1.16]

18. And i say unto thee also, that thiu art Peter, and on this Petra will build my Chirshh, [That is, stone or rock, namely, on this thy confession which thou market of me, or on me, whom thou hast confessed. For Christ alone is the foundation of thus Church, 1 Cor. 3. 11 howsoever Peter also, and the other Apostles likewise; in respect of their doctrine, amy be called foundations of the Church, as is to be seen, Revelation 21:19.] and the gates of hell [that is neither the subtilty, nor the force of the devil and his instruments. For in former times the Senate – houses, and fortresses of Cities, were in the gates, Genesis 22:17.] shall not prevail over them.

19. And i willl give unto thee the keys of the kingdome of the Heavens. [that is, a spiritual power on Gods behalf, and penitent persons the forgiveness of their sins, and they holy Sacraments to seal up the same unto them.And on the contrary, to declare to unbelievrs and impenitent persons, that they have no part in the forgiveness of the sins, and the Kingdome of God, and consequently to keep them off from the use of the same Sacraments, and to exclude them out of the communion of the faithful. Which power is also given to the Church, Mat.18.18. and to all the Apostles, John 20. verse.23. See 2 Cor. 10.8.] and whatsoever thou shalt binde on the earth, [namely, according to Christ command and pescript] shall be bound in the Heavens. [that is, God shall hhold for firm and valid that which shall so be done by hios Ministries according to his command] and whatsoever thou shalt unbinde on the earth, shall be unbound in the Heavens

20. Then forhad he his Disciples, to tell any man, that he was Jesus the Christ.

21. From thence forth Jesus began to shew to his Disciples thhat hhe must go to Jerusalem, [Namely, because thus it was decreed by God, Acts 2:23. foretold by the Prophets, Luke 24. verse 26,27. and was neccessary for the expiation of sin, Hebrews 9:23.] and suffer many things of the Elders [that is, the eldest of the people] and chief Priests, and scribe, and killed, and the third be raised again.

22. And Peter taken him to him, began to rebuke him, saying; Lord (be) merciful self: [or, God be merciful to thee, Lord; that is, God preserve thee from this. That be far from the] this shall by no menas happen to thee.

23. But he turning him about, said unto Petr; Get away behind me, satan, [that is, adversary, which name indeed is principally ascribe to the Devil. See Mat. 4. verse 10. but here given to Peter also, because he out of perverse love sought to hinder Christ in the execution of his office. See 2 Sam 10. verse 22.] thou art an offence unto me: [Gr. mine offence] for thou mindest not the things whish are of God, but those that are of men.

24. Then sai Jesus unto hhis Disciples, if any man will come after me, [That is, will follow me as a disciple] let him deny himself; [to deny himself, is to renounce a mans own understanding, will, and inclinations, and to subject the same to the Word and will of God] and take up his cross, and follow me.

25. For whose will save his life, [Gr. soul. see Matth 10 verse 39.] he shall finde the same; but whoso shhall lose his life for my sake, he shall finde the same.

26. For what doth it profit a man, if hhe gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul? Or, what shall a man give for thhe releasing of his soul? [Gr. exchanging, counter – releasing, trucking; i.e. that against which, or for which one may be released.

27. For the Son of man shall come, in the glory of his Father, with his Angels; and then shall he recompence every one according to his doing. [i.e. according as he shall have done good or evil. See the exposition hereof, Matth 25.36.

28. Verily i say unto you, There are some of those which stand here, [That is, which are hhere present] who shhall not taste of death, until they have seen the Son of man come in his Kingdome. [This may be understood either of his resurrection and ascension into Heaven, or of the sending of the Holy Ghost, and spreading abroad of the Gospel among the Gentiles, or else of his glorification upon the Mount , whereof is spoken in the beginning of the following Chapter.]