This document is an in-depth analysis of Matthew 16 from the Bible, focusing on Faith, Signs, and Revelation; spiritual and metaphysical interpretations. It covers various events and teachings, including the demand for a sign from heaven, the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Peter’s confession of Christ, and teachings on faith and spiritual understanding. The material emphasizes the importance of inner transformation and understanding the deeper meanings behind Jesus’ teachings and actions.

Matthew 16:1-4

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, “When it is evening, ye 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 lowring.’ O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh 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.

S Here you have that which is so apparent among mankind today as groups, as individuals. For ye have those who would question, using that which is as their understanding with no depth of religious thought, or even to say scientific thought, being superficial. On one hand you have a group that is dominated by religious creed, religious action, by the very word and action of a cult or ceremony that is lost in same, seeing not the depth or that which created the ceremony or the pattern, and then you have, on the other hand, those who do not give credence, really, to the spiritual thought, and think only of the moral values or the humanistic values which is so often given in governmental and philosophical arguments and ways in these times and days. Then you have that which cannot agree with them, which must be upon its way. And this, then, is God‘s way, the Christ way, not understood by others. Therefore, within the individual self, there must be the overcoming of that which has been taught, that which has been learned, or that which is the mass belief, the humanistic way, the ritualistic way. Ye must find that which is the spiritual way. How often do others disclaim each other by saying, “We have salvation, they do not. We have God, they do not. We have the Bible, they do not. We have the Pope, they do not.” It is all that which is found among the Pharisees. This is sin itself. For when ye condemn another and see the faults of others, with not having patience, noncriticism, ye have not loved, and, therefore, the promises that He gave unto thee are of nonpromise. For only those who make the choice are chosen by Him. Only those who would walk in His way will walk in His way. It is not for those to be born again. It is not for those who would meet the requirements of a religion. For they are man–made laws and they are for man. If ye would find Him, if ye would be raised up, then find the truth of thy being- the God Force. For there is no law but His law for the spiritual.

Q Could you please describe the difference between the Pharisees and the

Sadducees?

S The Sadducees are those who believed in the moralistic life, much of the humanistic life. And that which are the Pharisees are those who are trapped in the ritual, the canon laws, et cetera.

 Q Was there any distinct difference between them in their understanding of rebirth?

S The Pharisees believed in a life after death, but not as that which was reincarnation. Whereas that which was the other believed in the most popular belief of a nothing after death. They were, though, proponents of that which would be considered, if anything, that the material world was the reward system of God. Nothing beyond – no heaven. If anything, a sheol.

Q Did both of these groups participate and share in the temple?

S The Pharisees the more. Only at times were others even (for the power, you see, of the pharisees was the greatest at that time), were the other sects allowed in. The Essenes, as a sect, stayed far from, or as far as possible, from that which was the temple, for that which they considered the pollution that had evolved around the temple by those other sects such as the Pharisees.

Q Would you elaborate a little more on ‘‘a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign”?

S They are those that are likened to the science, or the scientists of today that see nothing of spirituality or of God, but see only a law of physics, a law of mathematics, et cetera, not realizing they are caused by God. They would seek a sign without searching, without bending the will, without opening the mind. For they were likened to those who would have had Jesus come down from the cross. Though He could have, though He could have overcome pain, though He could have overcome death, it was not the way. For to do so would have been that of self–glorification. And only God knows that which has been wrought by the religions who have glorified Him, the man, as God, when that which was found by Him, the Christ, was God. Ye must do this, too; find the Way. And though ye must raise up, even as He, and cast aside that which is the earthly. When you may overcome it, even as He, then you may be as that which is the truth, the light. For it is written, and it is true, that ye will do works like unto Him, for ye may raise yourself up to equality with Him. And this is His purpose: to raise up all mankind that they, too, may go unto the Father.

Q What is the significance of the red sky in the evening and the red sky in the morning?

S That, superficially, is that which the eyes can conceive as concrete things, evidence that may be seen by all. Even as those who would have Jesus show what He was by coming down off the cross in front of all, healing His own wounds, and crushing those who had oppressed Him. Red, though, is that which is the animalistic, the materialistic, to the greater degree, representing the animal force. Used correctly, is good; used wrongly, is that which help[s] bind the entities to the earth plane.

Q lt disturbs me when I hear so many of the preachers nowadays glorifying Jesus the Christ so much, making Him God. What can I do to help this?

S Don‘t be disturbed. For if you are disturbed, you are doing unto them as He would not have ye do unto them. Remember: patience, long-suffering, love, forgiveness, even as He showed it to be. Remember what He said? ‘Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.‘

Q In what way can I help them?

S By ignoring it. For ye are selfish when ye find these things that bother you. We know the individual that asks the question is as one who must be precise, but this is as for the entity to overcome. There are those who will show selfishness through not caring, and they are wrong. Find the happy medium, even as He did. For ye must ignore, ye must know that once you are disturbed, even in the most minute way, [you] disturb that which is the flow of love. For each step in love sees not that which are the faults of the human mind, the human body, but sees that which is the I AM, the soul force, the God, the beauty, rather. This is why so many were disturbed with Him. Did He not eat with sinners? Did He not walk with the Publicans?

Q The Source stated that once you are disturbed, even in the most minute way, you disturb that which is the flow of love. Is this speaking of the seven centers?

S The seven centers, to a degree; but more to that which is the entity’s mental and physical involvement into that which are the generative forces from the individual, the auras, the impressions, and the forces.

Q Is love a wave such as are sound and light waves?

S To describe God is impossible. To describe love is impossible. Only that which is applicable to your state: it is force, vibration. It is live. You can’t understand. [10-129, 6-16-84]

Matthew 16:5-12

And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, “O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

S This is as reinforcement for that which has been given; that ye cannot allow that which is as the world’s thought, the world’s standards, to disturb you. Ye cannot allow that which is the lack, as ye would see it, of the feeding of self or others, physically or mentally, to disturb you. Ye must find solid comfort in Him and His ways. For Love is the only Way. If ye would be about thy Father’s business, then be about that which realizes ye are in the world but not of the world and dote upon that which He has given: the feeding of that which are the centers of the body through meditation, through prayer, through the acts of love. for as ye give to your fellow man, and see in your fellow man, so you do the same for Him who is the Prince of Love. How often have ye turned away from that which is Him, His ways, causing Him grief and sorrow. For though God cannot see the waywardness of His children, He that is the Christ knows it.

Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” And they said, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets”. He saith unto them, “But whom say ye that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

S Here is the direction, the carefully given direction, that ye must, ye must follow, to find His way. That which is given here is as faith –faith where you are given the keys, the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and what ye bind upon the earth, ye bind in heaven. What you release on the earth, you release in heaven. How? This is done by prayer and meditation, even as He gave here. This is how God speaks to the individual. This is how ye must receive it-in faith, as Peter, for this is the rock – faith. The keys are that received in meditation and that which is found is the Christ within, the I AM force.

Q Would you please give an example of something that is, or should be, bound in earth that’s bound in heaven, and something that should, or is loosed in earth and then loosed in heaven.

S Two examples of each. If you would be free of desire, you would free it upon this earth. In one instance let us say this is as that which is the desire for wealth, material wealth. The two ways of dealing with same is to first release it upon the earth that it may not be held to you within heaven, and the heaven within, you see, to return to face the issue. And yet, there is that which also deals with the wealth within the earth that must be released within the heaven, lest it contaminate or drag down those who are in that which is as the earth plane, making it hard for them to resist same. Then there is that which is self-desire, the desire even to be as an instrument of the Lord – though it is commendable and it is a starting point. If it is loosed within the instant of the necessity within the earth, then that which is the opening of heaven is accomplished for others. Yet if, on the other hand, in some circumstances it is not loosed within the heaven, then it is an impediment for those within the earth. For ye then cause stumbling blocks to others. To acquire the proper knowledge of the event or when and where it is to be done, on which and what level the release must occur, ye must always go within. And then do that which comes to self as if it were, or is, the only way to handle the situation. You may fail. You may not interpret correctly.  Results will come to you. Yet it is a learning situation always. This is where that which of forgiveness is the essence of salvation. For as you forgive, so you are forgiven. Where you err, the err is forgiven, see, if you forgive that which is the misstep of thy brother, thy sister. [10-46, 5-13–78]

Matthew 16:20

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

S This is to say: for that individual who was Jesus, who was fully christed at that time, did not wish to be known as same, knowing what man would say. Some would sin and call him God as an individual, rather than see what He stood for, was, and is – the God within, the force of God in action. There are others who would condemn Him and sin, also, for turning away from that which was given to them. And it is for selves not to proclaim that ye are God by the voice, but by the action. For you cannot hide your light, or your life, under a basket. You must let the world see and judge, for they will judge, not knowing better. Yet do not proclaim yourself, but have your actions speak for you.

Q I do not understand this: binding on earth and bound in heaven and releasing on earth and released in heaven. Are these two different places?

S What we speak of here is the material and the spiritual – the karmic. For what ye bind on earth, therefore, is the karmic and ye must return and face. What ye loose is even that which is taken away through grace, through mercy. Also, that which is bound on earth is that which can help others, and that which is loosed is that which harms others. Twofold meaning for the individuals.

Q Why was Peter called faith when he lacked faith in walking on the water?

S And lacked faith as the cock crowed, also. Peter often showed this. This is the human trait. This is the human way. To find faith you must face the human way, the non-faith, the shakiness. Even as each and every individual here has had times or bouts of the lack of faith, the needing of faith. There is none. Remember, even He who became Jesus the Christ felt every emotion that you feel, and at times felt a lack of faith. Did He not ask that the cup be taken away from Him? Why? Not that He could not endure pain, hardship, what have you. But He felt that He might not be as that which God would have Him to be. And yet His faith came through.

Matthew 16:21-23

From that time forth began Jesus to shew 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. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” But he turned, and said unto Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

S Once again this is the travail, this is the fight, this is the passion of Peter, who based his slender understanding and abilities of faith, at that time, upon the Prince of Love and did not understand that which is beyond the material so well. This happens again and again in the individual. For each and every individual must once and again, and once and again, call upon that which is the Christ Force within to help shore up faith, to bind the spiritual to them. ln the action of saying “Get thee behind me, Satan”, did not mean the individual, but that which were the fears, that which was a pessimism, that which would lead astray -the humanness. Peter did not sin, nor does anyone who has fears. It only indicates that when ye have fear, ye have not found God. For those (regardless of what individuals or society would see as poverty, pain, what have you): if ye have faith, the truth is that ye are overcoming that which is mankind, that which is locked in the earth, and have found the Way.

Matthew 16:24-25

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

S This is throwing away that which is (as ye have been taught is) the way of mankind. For even the teachings of today are that which are centered upon the individual finding himself, doing his thing, being as that which is as the human animal guided by the intellectual. And yet, it is the intellect that draws man into the earth. lt is the bestial, or the humanness, or the animal that keeps him here. Then if ye would find the way, ye must take up the cross of destroying that which is the ego-self, the personality, or the personal self, and find that which is the impersonal–personal God, that which is the light and life, and be absorbed and absorbed by that which is the Christ Force rather than that which is the animal force, or that which is the intellectual force, which basically is the prince of this world.

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?

S Here you have the example for the individual. If you, as an individual, gain all the power and glory of the world, you haven‘t gained even as that which is a schizophrenic, that which is as the insane, that which has the mania. For ye have gained the illusion, and not the truth. But if ye lose yourself, you gain the truth and gain all that is.

Matthew 16:27–28

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. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

S There is much here that is meant for the individual and yet for the masses. Ye must find the Way, and be chosen by Him, and choose Him then. Ye must find that which is the truth of the being. This truth of the being is: ye do not die, you are reborn, the soul lives forever. And there are those who have overcome in this manner. There are those who will overcome and realize there is no death. And there are those who, because of the deeds and the abilities that they have perfected, have stayed in this earth plane one step from leaving it and going to that which is beyond. For they would sacrifice and help those who have stayed or are caught. And they have not and will not taste of death, as ye would understand the physical death to be.