THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW

THE NEW TESTAMENT
TRANSLATED FROM
THE SYRIAC PESHITO VERSION BY JAMES MURDOCK

Chapter 16

(Mat 16:1) And Pharisees and Sadducees came near, tempting him, and asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

(Mat 16:2) But he answered, and said to them: When it is evening ye say, It will be fair weather; for the heavens are red.

(Mat 16:3) And in the morning ye say, There will be a storm to-day; for the heavens are sadly red. Ye hypocrites, ye are intelligent to discover the aspect of the heavens, but the signs of this time ye have no skill to discern.

(Mat 16:4) A wicked and adulterous generation asketh for a sign; but no sign shall be given it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he left them, and departed.

(Mat 16:5) And when his disciples had come to the farther shore, they had forgotten to take bread with them.

(Mat 16:6) And he said to them: Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

(Mat 16:7) And they reasoned among themselves, and said, [it was] because they had taken no bread.

(Mat 16:8) But Jesus knew [it] and said to them: O ye small in faith! why reason ye among yourselves because ye have taken no bread?

(Mat 16:9) Have ye not yet understood? Do ye not remember the five loaves and the five thousand, and the many baskets ye took up?

(Mat 16:10) Nor the seven loaves and the four thousand, and the many baskets ye took up?

(Mat 16:11) How is it that ye do not understand that it was not concerning bread that I spoke to you; but that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

(Mat 16:12) Then understood they, that he did not bid them beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

(Mat 16:13) And when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he questioned his disciples, and said: What do men say concerning me, that I the Son of man, am?

(Mat 16:14) And they said: Some say that [thou art] John the Baptizer; but others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

(Mat 16:15) He said to them: But, who do ye yourselves say that I am?

(Mat 16:16) Simon Cephas answered and said: Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

(Mat 16:17) Jesus answered, and said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jonas; for flesh and blood have not revealed [it] to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

(Mat 16:18) Also I say to thee, that thou art Cephas: and upon this rock, I will build my church: and the gates of death shall not triumph over it.

(Mat 16:19) To thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatever thou shalt unbind on earth, shall be unbound in heaven.

(Mat 16:20) Then he enjoined on his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was the Messiah.

(Mat 16:21) And from that time Jesus began to show to his disciples, that he was to go up to Jerusalem, and to suffer much from the Elders, and from the chief priests and Scribes, and be killed, and on the third day arise.

(Mat 16:22) And Cephas took him, and began to rebuke him; and he said: Far be it from thee, my Lord, that this should be to thee.

(Mat 16:23) But he turned, and said to Cephas: Get thee behind me, Satan: Thou art a stumbling block to me; for thou thinkest not the things of God, but the things of men.

(Mat 16:24) Then said Jesus to his disciples: If any one desireth to come after me, let him deny himself; and let him bear his cross, and come after me.

(Mat 16:25) For, whoever chooseth to preserve his life, shall lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

(Mat 16:26) For what will it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and shall lose his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

(Mat 16:27) For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father, with all his holy angels; and then will he recompense to every man as his deeds are.

(Mat 16:28) Verily I say to you: There are some persons standing here, who shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.