Focused Passage

Matthew 16:21-28

The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship

Matthew moves from sign-seeking unbelief, to warning against corrupt teaching, to the climactic confession of Jesus, to the promise of the church and kingdom authority, to the first explicit passion prediction, to Peter’s satanic opposition to the cross, and finally to Jesus’ call for self-denying discipleship in light of final judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.

28 Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Original words

From Ἀπὸ G575 Preposition that time [on] τότε G5119 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular began ἤρξατο G756 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular to show δεικνύειν G1166 Verb - Present Infinitive Active His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταῖς G3101 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular go ἀπελθεῖν G565 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active to εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἱεροσόλυμα G2414 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction suffer παθεῖν G3958 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active many things πολλὰ G4183 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural at the hands of ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural elders πρεσβυτέρων G4245 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction chief priests ἀρχιερέων G749 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction scribes γραμματέων G1122 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction that He must be killed ἀποκτανθῆναι G615 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive and καὶ G2532 Conjunction on the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular third τρίτῃ G5154 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular day ἡμέρᾳ G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular be raised to life ἐγερθῆναι G1453 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive

BSB notes

  • NE and WH Jesus Christ
Verse 22

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular took Him aside προσλαβόμενος G4355 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular [and] began ἤρξατο G756 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular to rebuke ἐπιτιμᾶν G2008 Verb - Present Infinitive Active Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Far be it Ἵλεώς G2436 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular from You σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular he said λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular This τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular {shall} never οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb happen ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular to You σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 23

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [Jesus] turned στραφεὶς G4762 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to Peter Πέτρῳ G4074 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Get Ὕπαγε G5217 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular behind ὀπίσω G3694 Preposition Me μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Satan Σατανᾶ G4567 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular You are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular a stumbling block σκάνδαλον G4625 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular to Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you do not have in mind φρονεῖς G5426 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular the things τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural things τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural of men ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 24

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular told εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular disciples μαθηταῖς G3101 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural If Εἴ G1487 Conjunction anyone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular wants θέλει G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to come ἐλθεῖν G2064 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active after ὀπίσω G3694 Preposition Me μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular he must deny ἀπαρνησάσθω G533 Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 3rd Person Singular himself ἑαυτὸν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction take up ἀράτω G142 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular cross σταυρὸν G4716 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction follow ἀκολουθείτω G190 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 25

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction wants θέλῃ G2309 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular to save σῶσαι G4982 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular life ψυχὴν G5590 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular will lose ἀπολέσει G622 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular it αὐτήν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular but δ’ G1161 Conjunction whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἂν G302 Particle loses ἀπολέσῃ G622 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular life ψυχὴν G5590 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular for My sake ἕνεκεν G1752 Preposition . . . ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular will find εὑρήσει G2147 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular it αὐτήν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 26

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction What τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular will it profit ὠφεληθήσεται G5623 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular a man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular if ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction he gains κερδήσῃ G2770 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular whole ὅλον G3650 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular world κόσμον G2889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular yet δὲ G1161 Conjunction forfeits ζημιωθῇ G2210 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular soul ψυχὴν G5590 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Or G2228 Conjunction what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular {can} a man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular give δώσει G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in exchange for ἀντάλλαγμα G465 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular soul ψυχῆς G5590 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 27

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular will μέλλει G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular come ἔρχεσθαι G2064 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive in ἐν G1722 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Father’s Πατρὸς G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular glory δόξῃ G1391 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural angels ἀγγέλων G32 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction then τότε G5119 Adverb He will repay ἀποδώσει G591 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular each one ἑκάστῳ G1538 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular according to κατὰ G2596 Preposition what he αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular has done πρᾶξιν G4234 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction some τινες G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural who τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural are εἰσίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural standing ἑστώτων G2476 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural here ὧδε G5602 Adverb - οἵτινες G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb will not taste γεύσωνται G1089 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Plural death θανάτου G2288 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular before ἕως G2193 Conjunction . . . ἂν G302 Particle they see ἴδωσιν G3708 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular coming ἐρχόμενον G2064 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείᾳ G932 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.