Matthew 16  The Pharisees and Sadducees come again.. asking for a sign.. again.  And once again Jesus tells them that they will be given only one more sign.. the "sign of Jonah."  They were so blind.  Jesus rebuked them because they refused to discern the truth right in front of them.  "An evil and adulterous generation.. "  He called them.  These men who considered themselves above everyone else.. more holy than the rest.. better than Jesus.. the Son of God, Himself... were full of evil in their hearts. 

".. beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.. " Jesus warned His disciples.. but they thought He was talking about bread!  You can almost sense Jesus shaking His head.. how were these men ever going to learn?  He reminded them that bread.. physical bread.. was not an issue.  It is what comes from the heart that is the issue.. and the "leaven" in the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees..was full of evil. 

But, Jesus wouldn't give up on His chosen disciples. He would keep leading them into the Truth. "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  He asked them.  And more importantly.. " ..who do you say I am?" It is Peter who makes the declaration, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  This revelation, Jesus tells Peter, comes from the Father.  It is not something that he could know from his own mind. Jesus tells Peter that he would be an important part of the church that He would build. Peter would be given " the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."  He would make decisions that would "bind" or "loosen".  It would be a vital role in the days ahead.  

Yet...when Jesus told His disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem..that He would be persecuted.  That He would be killed. And  that He would rise again....Peter that gets so agitated ...that he actually tries to rebuke Jesus.. the One who he just acknowledged to be God! Peter.. the rock.. the one just given the keys to the Kingdom of God.. is now called. "Satan.. a stumbling block.." He was thinking like a man.. not looking for God's plan in all of this. 

Father in heaven, help us to beware of all false teaching and false thinking. Help us to discern the "signs of the times" and the truth of Your word. Help us to know that Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God and that He did die and rise again.. that we might be saved.. Yours forever and ever.  Lord, we pray for those who still walk in darkness and lies and ask that You would once again reveal Yourself.. that they might find life in Jesus Christ the Lord. We ask this in His holy name. Amen.