The Demand for a Sign

161 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven . 2 But He replied to them, " When it is evening , you say , 'It will be fair weather , for the sky is red .' 3 "And in the morning , 'There will be a storm today , for the sky is red and threatening .' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky , but cannot e discern the signs of the times ? 4 " An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign ; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah ." And He left them and went away .

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread . 6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees ." 7 They began to discuss this among themselves , saying , "He said that because we did not bring any bread ." 8 But Jesus , aware of this, said , " You men of little faith , why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread ? 9 "Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand , and how many baskets full you picked up? 10 "Or the seven loaves of the four thousand , and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11 "How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread ? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees ." 12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread , but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees .

Peter's Confession

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi , He was asking His disciples , "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said , "Some say John the Baptist ; and others , Elijah ; but still 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 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona , because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven . 18 "I also say to you that you are Peter , and upon this rock I will build My church ; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven ; and whatever e you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven , and whatever e you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven ." 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ .

Jesus Foretells His Death

21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem , and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes , and be killed , and be raised up on the third day . 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying , "God forbid it, Lord ! This shall never e happen 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 God's interests, but man's ."

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples , "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself , and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 "For whoever e wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever e loses 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 soul ? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul ? 27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels , and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS . 28 "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom ."

The Preaching of John the Baptist

31 Now in those days John the Baptist came , preaching in the wilderness of Judea , saying , 2 " Repent , for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ." 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said , " THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS , ' MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE Lord , MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT !' " 4 Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist ; and his food was locusts and wild honey . 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan ; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River , as they confessed their sins .

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism , he said to them, "You brood of vipers , who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? 8 " Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance ; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves , ' We have Abraham for our father '; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham . 10 "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees ; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire . 11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance , but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals ; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire . 12 "His winnowing fork is in His hand , and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor ; and He will gather His wheat into the barn , but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire ."

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John , to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying , "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" 15 But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time ; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness ." Then he permitted Him. 16 After being baptized , Jesus came up immediately from the water ; and behold , the heavens were opened , and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold , a voice out of the heavens said , " This is My beloved Son , in whom I am well-pleased ."