Matthew 21:44
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He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder--The Kingdom of God is here a Temple, in the erection of which a certain stone, rejected as unsuitable by the spiritual builders, is, by the great Lord of the House, made the keystone of the whole. On that Stone the builders were now "falling" and being "broken" (Isa 8:15). They were sustaining great spiritual hurt; but soon that Stone should "fall upon them" and "grind them to powder" (Dan 2:34-35; Zac 12:2) --in their corporate capacity, in the tremendous destruction of Jerusalem, but personally, as unbelievers, in a more awful sense still.
Open source ↗21:44 Though in a short while the Messiah’s opponents would gain a brief victory, they would ultimately be broken and the stone would crush them because the cross became the gateway to Jesus’ vindication and triumph (see also Dan 2:34-35, 44-45).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.
The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.
hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.