1   The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2    3    4   His answer was: ^note ‘It is a wicked generation that asks for a sign; and the only sign that will be given it is the sign of Jonah.’ So he went off and left them.

5   In crossing to the other side the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them. 6   So, when Jesus said to them, ‘Beware, be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees’, 7   they began to say among themselves, ‘It is because we have brought no bread!’ 8   Knowing what was in their minds, Jesus said to them: ‘Why do you talk about bringing no bread? 9   Where is your faith? Do you not understand even yet? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you picked up? 10   Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you picked up? 11   How can you fail to see that I was not speaking about bread? Be on your guard, I said, against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ 12   Then they understood: they were to be on their guard, not against baker's leaven, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13   When he came to the territory of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do men say that the Son of Man is ^note?’ 14   They answered, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ 15   ‘And you,’ he asked, ‘who do you say I am?’ 16   Simon Peter answered: ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ 17   Then Jesus said: ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are favoured indeed! You did not learn that from mortal man; it was revealed to you by my heavenly Father. 18   And I say this to you: You are Peter, the Rock; and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall never conquer it. ^note 19   I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; what you forbid on earth shall be forbidden in heaven, and what you allow on earth shall be

Jesus and his disciples allowed in heaven.’ 20   He then gave his disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

21   From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem, and there to suffer much from the elders, chief priests, and doctors of the law; to be put to death and to be raised again on the third day. 22   At this Peter took him by the arm and began to rebuke him: ‘Heaven forbid!’ he said. ‘No, Lord, this shall never happen to you.’ 23   Then Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Away with you, Satan; you are a stumbling-block to me. You think as men think, not as God thinks.’

24   Jesus then said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must leave self behind; he must take up his cross and come with me. 25   Whoever cares for his own safety is lost; but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self. 26   What will a man gain by winning the whole world, at the cost of his true self? 27   Or what can he give that will buy that self back? For the Son of Man is to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give each man the due reward for what he has done. 28   I tell you this: there are some of those standing here who will not taste death before they have seen the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’

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