“If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone?

So I tell you, you are Peter [^Cthe Greek petros, like the Aramaic cephas, means “rock” or “stone”]. On this rock I will build my church, and the ·power of death [^Lgates of Hades/the underworld] will not be able to ·defeat [overpower; conquer; prevail against] it.

If someone causes one of these little children who believes in me to ·sin [lose faith; stumble], it would be better for that person to have a ·large stone [large millstone; ^Lmillstone of a donkey] tied around the neck and be ·drowned [^Lthrown] in the [^Ldepths of the] sea.

But the farmers grabbed the ·servants [slaves], beat one, killed another, and then ·killed a third servant with stones [^Lstoned a third].

Jesus said to them, “·Surely you have read [^LHaven’t you ever read…?] this in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone [capstone; keystone; ^Lhead of the corner; ^Cthe meaning is uncertain, but clearly refers to the most important stone in the building; Jesus is the rejected stone]. The Lord did this, and it is ·wonderful [amazing; marvelous] ·to us [for us to see; ^Lin our eyes; Ps. 118:22–23].’

The person who ·falls on [stumbles over] this stone will be ·broken [shattered], and on whomever that stone falls, that person will be crushed.”

Jesus Grieves for Jerusalem

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. ·Many times [How often] I wanted to gather your ·people [^Lchildren] as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you ·did not let me [refused].

Jesus asked, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be ·thrown [pulled; torn] down.”

He put Jesus’ body in his own new tomb that he had cut out of a wall of rock, and he rolled a very large stone to block the entrance of the tomb. Then Joseph went away.

So they all went to the tomb and ·made it safe from thieves [secured it] ·by sealing [or by placing a wax seal on] the stone in the entrance and putting soldiers there to guard it.

·At that time [Suddenly; ^TAnd behold] there was a strong earthquake. [^LFor] An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, went to the tomb, and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Then he sat on the stone.

Day and night he would wander around the ·burial caves [tombs] and on the hills, screaming and ·cutting [bruising] himself with stones.

“If someone causes one of these little children who believes in me to ·sin [lose faith; stumble], it would be better for that person to have a ·large stone [large millstone; ^Lmillstone of a donkey] tied around his neck and be ·drowned [^Lthrown] in the sea.

·Surely you have read [^LHave you never read…?] this Scripture: ‘The stone that the builders rejected became the ·cornerstone [capstone; keystone; ^Lhead of the corner; ^Cthe meaning is uncertain, but clearly refers to the most important stone in the building; Jesus is the rejected stone].

The Temple Will Be Destroyed

As Jesus was leaving the Temple (courts; complex), one of his ·followers [disciples] said to him, “Look, Teacher! ·How big the stones are! [^LWhat stones!] ·How beautiful the buildings are! [^LWhat buildings!]”

Jesus said, “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be ·thrown [torn; pulled] down.”

Joseph bought some linen cloth, took the body down from the cross, and wrapped it in the linen. He put the body in a tomb that was cut out of a wall of rock. Then he rolled a [^Clarge] stone to block the entrance of the tomb.

They said to each other, “Who will roll away for us the stone that covers the entrance of the tomb?”

Then the women looked and saw that the stone had already been rolled away, even though it was very large.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. ·Many times [How often] I wanted to gather your ·people [^Lchildren] as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me [Matt. 23:37–39].

It would be better for ·you [^Lhim; that person] to be thrown into the sea with a ·large [^Lmill] stone around ·your [^Lhis] neck than to cause one of these little ones to ·sin [stumble].

But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if ·my followers didn’t say these things [^Lthey remained silent], then the stones would ·cry out [start shouting].”

They will ·destroy you [level you; smash you to the ground] and all your ·people [^Lchildren within your walls], and not one stone will be left on another. All this will happen because you did not recognize the time ·when God came to save you [^Lof your visitation; ^Cthe failure to recognize God’s “visit” in Jesus (see 1:68, 78) will result in a divine “visit” in judgment].”

But if we say, ‘It was from ·other people [human beings],’ all the people will stone us to death, because they ·believe [are convinced that] John was a prophet.”

But Jesus looked [directly; intently] at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture passage mean: ‘The stone that the builders rejected became the ·cornerstone [or capstone; or keystone; ^Lhead of the corner]’? [^CThis is the most important stone in the building; Jesus is the rejected stone; Ps. 118:22.]