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Chapter 18 - The Pharisees Demand A Sign
1. Jmmanuel departed and escaped to the region of Sidon and Tyre.
2. And behold, the Sadducees and Pharisees approached him and demanded that he let them see a sign of his spiritual power.
3. But he answered, saying, "In the evening you say, 'Tomorrow will be a fair day, because the sky is red.
4. "And in the morning you say, 'Today will be foul weather, because the sky is red and cloudy.' So you can judge by the appearance of the sky, why then can you not also judge by the signs of the time?
5. "This wicked and unfaithful generation is seeking a sign; no sign shall be given to it except for the sign of Jonah, who disappeared alive into the belly of the fish, dwelled alive in its belly and emerged alive again into the light."
6. And he left them and went away. The Leaven and the Pharisees
7. When they sailed across the sea and arrived at the other shore, they had forgotten to take along some bread.
8. But Jmmanuel said to them, "Take care and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees:'
9. They spoke to each other and said, "This must refer to our not having brought along bread or anything else to eat."
10. When Jmmanuel heard this he was angry and said, "Oh you of little knowledge, why does it worry you that you have no bread?
11. "Don't you yet understand, and can't you imagine the meaning of my words?
12. "Are you then of such little knowledge and without understanding that you can't recognize the meaning?
13. "Do you still not understand, and do you intend not to understand for all times?
14. "Don't you remember the five leaves of bread and the three fish divided among the five thousand and how many basketfuls you then saved?
15. "How is it you don't understand that I am not speaking to you about the bread you eat every day? But I tell you this: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
16. Then they finally understood that he had not said for them to beware of the leaven of the bread, but of the false and adulterated teachings of the scribes and Pharisees.
Peter's Faith
17. Jmmanuel came into the area of Caesarea Philippi and asked his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?"
18. They said, "Some say that you are John the Baptist, others that you are Elijah and still others that you are Jeremiah or one of the old prophets: