New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
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Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them.
2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;
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He told them, "You have a saying that goes, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight;
3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!
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red sky at morning, sailors take warning.' You find it easy enough to forecast the weather - why can't you read the signs of the times?
4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. ” Then Jesus left them and went away.
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An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you'll get is the Jonah sign." Then he turned on his heel and walked away.
5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread.
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On their way to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring along bread.
6 “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
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In the meantime, Jesus said to them, "Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast."
7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread.
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Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do.
8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?
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Jesus knew what they were doing and said, "Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Runt believers!
9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?
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Haven't you caught on yet? Don't you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up?
10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?
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Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected?
11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”
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Haven't you realized yet that bread isn't the problem? The problem is yeast, Pharisee-Sadducee yeast."
12 Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
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Then they got it: that he wasn't concerned about eating, but teaching - the Pharisee-Sadducee kind of teaching.
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
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When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?"
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
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They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
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He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
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Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
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Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
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And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
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"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
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He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.
21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
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Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive.
22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”
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Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
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But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
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Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how.
25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
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Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
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What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
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"Don't be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You'll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift.
28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
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This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory."
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.