New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
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Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them.
2 He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, "It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'
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He told them, "You have a saying that goes, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight;
3 And in the morning, "It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot 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 An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he 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 When the disciples reached the other side, 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 Jesus said to them, "Watch out, and 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 They said to one another, "It is because we have brought no bread."
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Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do.
8 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you talking 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 Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
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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 seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
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Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected?
11 How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? 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 they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the 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 Now when Jesus came into the district 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 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the 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 He said to them, "But who do you say that 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 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
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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 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against 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 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed 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 ordered 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 that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
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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 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you."
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Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
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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 told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their 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 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find 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 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
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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 is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
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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 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death 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."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. 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.