Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.

Matthew 16:2,3 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today for the sky is red and low.(a depressing day of dark grey clouds). O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky but can you not discern the signs of the times?

Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them and departed.

Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day for the sky is red and lowring.(heavy, cloudy, dark, ominous). O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky but can you not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.(ordinary consciousness persons lack faith and therefor require some physical sign that is undeniable to them; for example, the horrendous injuries, ongoing illnesses and deaths linked to vaccinations aren't enough for ordinary consciousness people in government to halt all vaccinations until independent peer reviewed research has been examined; could it also be that many have invested in the companies that make vaccines, it's then easier to turn attention away from any negatives encountered, using excuses to look no further, excuses such as even lying about there having been proper tests conducted and results evaluated in the first place and this = before any injections are ever proposed).and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.(Luke 11:29,30). And he left them and departed.

Matthew 16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Matthew 16:6 Then Emmanuel said unto them Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 16:7-10 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Emmanuel perceived, he said unto them, O you of little faith, why reason you among yourselves, because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets you took up?

Matthew 16:11 How is it that you do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Matthew 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade.(instructed, told).them to not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 16:13 When Emmanuel came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Matthew 16:14 And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist. Some, Elias and others, Jeremias.(Jeremiah).or one of the prophets.

Matthew 16:15,16 He said unto them, But whom say you that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said You are the Christ the Son of the living God.(*).

Matthew 16:17 And Emmanuel answered and said unto him, Blessed.(word 'blessed' in original traces down to 'being within the law', what law?.Matthew 22:36-40).are you Simon Barjona.(Peter's surname; Barjona means 'son of Jonas).for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you but my Father which is in heaven.

God is the One who 'calls' or draws people to Him using words, words of what's called the gospel, the good news of the kingdom of God and where is that kingdom?

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto you That you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter's name in Greek was Cephas.(John 1:42), a Syriac word, meaning the same as the Greek word Peter and meant stone or rock. Emmanuel was saying that he came to Earth to build a church. What's a church? Emmanuel was the rock upon which it would be built for he came to reveal the Father:.Psalms 118:22,23; Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:20. Christ likened Peter to a stone or rock, as he exhibited the firmness and constancy.necessary to provide the backbone, the main support for the church that Christ, the 'big rock', was to build.

"Gates of hell" refers to the powerful evil invisible world:.Ephesians 6:12.

Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto you the keys.(Revelation 3:7).of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Barnes Notes: To bind and loose is to prohibit and permit.

Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Emmanuel the Christ.

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Emmanuel to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day.

Who were these evil ones constantly looking for an excuse to nail Christ to the cross? There were many who loved Him and followed Him and saw the wonderful things He did for others (*). They weren't out to kill Him. It was the satanic ones and who really were they, these evil ones who are able to shapeshift and appear as human? 

And Judas who betrayed him, why would Judas do that. Judas loved money more than he believed in Christ. His mind was on self. But he recanted as he had a conscience.(Acts 1:16-20).that wasn't yet seared:.1Timothy 4:2.

More on what Emmanuel went through:.Isaiah 52:14.

The disciples expected a temporal, triumphant prince as the Messiah and they expected this in their time soon with Him back then:.Matthew 19:28. Emmanuel first had convinced them that he was indeed the Christ and then, with great prudence, began to correct their apprehensions of the proper character of the Messiah.

Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, Lord' this shall not be unto you. 

Impetuous.Peter was going to do all he could to protect Emmanuel, not realizing that the reason he came was to suffer and die for humanity.

Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said unto Peter, Get you behind me, Satan. You are an offence unto me for you are in a mind of regarding not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Matthew 16:24 Then said Emmanuel unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny.(original for word 'deny' comes from two words, which in the English mean 'separate' and 'deny', that is, separate yourself from the things you want to deny, such as from the consciousness, the ordinary consciousness we all have, that is not the higher consciousness available).himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it. And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it..(*)

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.(*)?

Many today and even long ago.(Job 24:9-24).continually put profit before people, that is, the selfish self comes before others and even if it's at another's expense. And even when there is no threat to one taking advantage of another, they still do. Not realizing the oneness of it all, many live in a crippled fashion living from the ego level and measuring their lives by the amount of money, fame, glory and respect one can garner:.2Corinthians 10:12.

Money and power for controlling has blinded humanity to spirituality (Ecclesiastes 5:9-20); of those who now have an upper hand in this world, some will compromise themselves in order to gain deceitful advantage; they prostitute themselves for selfishness; Emmanuel was above the greed selfish level of the ego mass mind of humanity; He was above that (Matthew 4:8-10) and into the work of the soul, that is, what it could do by means of the power of the spirit.

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

So then, what was the glory of the Father?

Matthew 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here.(those there with Him), which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom..(?)

Comprised with Eclectic Notes and Barnes Notes: All these apostles, except Judas (Matthew 27:5), lived to see the transfiguration, to which this verse refers. They also saw the wonders of the day of Pentecost and some of them, John particularly, because he lived the longest, saw the Jewish nation scattered, the temple destroyed, the gospel established in Asia, Rome, Greece and in a large part of the known world.

Matthew 17:1 And after six days Emmanuel took Peter, James and John his brother and brought them up into an high mountain apart,

Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured.(became a different form, a brilliant shining figure).before them. And his face did shine as the sun and his raiment.(clothing).was white as the light. 

Matthew 17:3 And behold, there appeared unto them Moses.(Moses).and Elias.(Elijah).talking with him.

Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter and said unto Emmanuel, it is good for us to be here. If you will, let us make here three tabernacles, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elias.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear you him.

No one has ever heard His voice or seen His shape.(Exodus 33:20), so how can this be? This verse is about the voice's message, that of saying 'never mind about Moses and Elijah, this is the one to learn of'; Why?.Hebrews 6:20.

Matthew 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were sore afraid.

Matthew 17:7 And Emmanuel came and touched them and said, Arise and be not afraid.

Matthew 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Emmanuel only.

Matthew 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Emmanuel charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead..(*)

Matthew 17:10-13 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes.that Elias must first come? And Emmanuel answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Matthew 17:10-13 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes.that Elias.(Elijah).must first come? And Emmanuel answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already.(speaking of John the Baptist who came in the spirit and power of ancient Elijah: Luke 1:13-17).and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.('chose to do'; John 3:8; Matthew 14:10). Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.(Mark 9:12). Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Matthew 17:14,15 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatick.(insane).and sore vexed.(miserably suffering). For ofttimes he falls into the fire and oft into the water.

Matthew 17:16 And I brought him to your disciples and they could not cure him,

Comprised with Barnes New Testament Notes:.that is, not to the apostles, for they had power over unclean spirits (Matthew 10:5,8), but to others of his followers (Emmanuel had many other disciples; how many including the 12 apostles? Acts 1:15) who attempted to work miracles. It is probable that many of his disciples attempted this, who were not personal attendants on his ministry, as the 12 main ones were; the others still learning that all disorders require a spiritual solution; the greater the supply of the spirit, effective healings result.

Matthew 17:17 Then Emmanuel answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation.(generally they were turning away from the Creator), how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 

Matthew 17:18 And Emmanuel rebuked the devil and he departed out of him and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Emmanuel apart and said, Why could not we cast him out?

Matthew 17:20 And Emmanuel said unto them, Because of your unbelief. For verily I say unto you, If you have faith.(but we don't generate our faith, well how then?).as a grain of mustard seed.(the smallest of all seeds), you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing will be impossible unto you..(Why?)

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goes not out.(?).but by prayer and fasting.

Note that spiritual disciplines increase the power of belief in an individual.

Matthew 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Emmanuel said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men.

Matthew 17:23 And they shall kill him and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute.(tax collectors).money came to Peter and said, Does not your master pay tribute.(taxes)?

Comprised with Barnes Notes: in the original 'they that received tribute' is, 'they who received the two drachms'; two drachms were about equal to half a shekel; the drachm was a Grecian coin, worth about 12 1/2 cents, this tribute consisting of these two drachms, was not paid to the Roman government, but to the Jewish tax collectors for the use of the temple service; 'does not your master pay tribute?' the tribute was voluntary and they therefore asked him whether he was in the habit of paying taxes for the support of the temple; Peter replied, that it was his custom to pay all the usual taxes of the nation; this tribute was permitted in the law of Moses {Exodus 30:11-16}, that in numbering the people, half a shekel should be received of each man for the services of religion; this was in addition to the tithes paid by the whole nation and seems to have been considered as a voluntary offering. It was devoted to the purchase of animals for the daily sacrifice; wood, flour, salt, incense, etc., for the use of the temple; the law of Moses is now completely done away, Christ having superseded it.

Matthew 17:25 He said, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Emmanuel prevented.(anticipate what was on his mind).him, saying, What think you, Simon? of whom do the kings of the Earth take custom or tribute? of their own children or of strangers?

Matthew 17:26 Peter said unto him, Of strangers. Emmanuel said unto him, Then are the children free.

Matthew 17:27.Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go you to the sea and cast an hook and take up the fish that first comes up and when you have opened his mouth you shall find a piece of money. That take and give unto them for me and you.

This manifestation was for tribute (taxes).

Philippians 4:19.

....continues to Chapter 18

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