Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign

(Mark 8:11-13; Luke 12:54-56)

1And the Pharisees and Sadducees having come, tempting, did question him, to shew to them a sign from the heaven, 2and he answering said to them, ‘Evening having come, ye say, Fair weather, for the heaven is red, 3and at morning, Foul weather to-day, for the heaven is red — gloomy; hypocrites, the face of the heavens indeed ye do know to discern, but the signs of the times ye are not able! 4‘A generation evil and adulterous doth seek a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet;’ and having left them he went away.

Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

(Mark 8:14-21)

5And his disciples having come to the other side, forgot to take loaves, 6and Jesus said to them, ‘Beware, and take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees;’ 7and they were reasoning in themselves, saying, ‘Because we took no loaves.’ 8And Jesus having known, said to them, ‘Why reason ye in yourselves, ye of little faith, because ye took no loaves? 9do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many hand-baskets ye took up? 10nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11how do ye not understand that I did not speak to you of bread — to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?’ 12Then they understood that he did not say to take heed of the leaven of the bread, but of the teaching, of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter's Confession of Christ

(Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20; John 6:66-71)

13And Jesus, having come to the parts of Cesarea Philippi, was asking his disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say me to be — the Son of Man?’ 14and they said, ‘Some, John the Baptist, and others, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ 15He saith to them, ‘And ye — who do ye say me to be?’ 16and Simon Peter answering said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ 17And Jesus answering said to him, ‘Happy art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens. 18‘And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it; 19and I will give to thee the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.’ 20Then did he charge his disciples that they may say to no one that he is Jesus the Christ.

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

(Mark 8:31-33; Luke 9:21-22)

21From that time began Jesus to shew to his disciples that it is necessary for him to go away to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and to be put to death, and the third day to rise. 22And having taken him aside, Peter began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Be kind to thyself, sir; this shall not be to thee;’ 23and he having turned, said to Peter, ‘Get thee behind me, adversary! thou art a stumbling-block to me, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but the things of men.’

Take Up Your Cross

(Matthew 10:37-39; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-27)

24Then said Jesus to his disciples, ‘If any one doth will to come after me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow me, 25for whoever may will to save his life, shall lose it, and whoever may lose his life for my sake shall find it, 26for what is a man profited if he may gain the whole world, but of his life suffer loss? or what shall a man give as an exchange for his life? 27‘For, the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father, with his messengers, and then he will reward each, according to his work.

28Verily I say to you, there are certain of those standing here who shall not taste of death till they may see the Son of Man coming in his reign.’