Matthew 21:44

 Matthew 21:44

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

a. NASB 1995: “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”  [NASB95 New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation; All Rights Reserved]

b. NKJV: “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”  [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]

c. Classic Amplified: And whoever falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom It falls will be crushed to powder [and It will winnow him, scattering him like dust].  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text:  And whoever falls on this stone will be broken, and on whomever it falls it will scatter him. [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. ESV:  And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."]

f. Unless otherwise stated, all Greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible

1. “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. [Strong: 3588. [ho] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ho] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]

c. [whosoever shall] fall [Strong: 4098 píptō, pip'-to; probably akin to G4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally or figuratively):—fail, fall (down), light on.]

d. on [Strong: 1909 epí, ep-ee'; a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:—about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, × have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.]

e. this [Strong: 5126 toûton, too'-ton; accusative case singular masculine of G3778; this (person, as objective of verb or preposition):—him, the same, that, this.]

f. [Strong: 3588. [ton] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ton] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]

g. stone [Strong: 3037 líthos, lee'-thos; apparently a primary word; a stone (literally or figuratively):—(mill-, stumbling-)stone.]

h. [shall be] broken [Strong: 4917 synthláō, soon-thlah'-o; from G4862 and thlao (to crush); to dash together, i.e. shatter:—break.]

i. but [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

j. on [Strong: 1909 epí, ep-ee'; a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:—about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, × have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.]

k. whomsoever [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

l. [it will] fall [Strong: 4098 píptō, pip'-to; probably akin to G4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally or figuratively):—fail, fall (down), light on.]

m. [it will grind] him [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

n. [to] powder [Strong: 3039 likmáō, lik-mah'-o; from λικμός likmós, the equivalent of λίκνον líknon (a winnowing fan or basket); to winnow, i.e. (by analogy), to triturate:—grind to powder.]

1). Perry Stone: Much symbolism is concealed within this parable. The householder (Matthew 21:33 is the Lord Himself. The husbandman (Matthew 21:33, 34 who work in the vineyard was Christ’ own people, Israel. The vineyard (Matthew 21:33 is the city of Jerusalem. Hedged round about (Matthew 21:33) refers to Divine protection. Some suggest the winepress (Matthew 21:33 is a metaphor for the Law and sacrificial rites conducted at the Temple. The servants sent to harvest the fruits were the hebrew prophets slain (beaten, killed, and stoned (Matthew 21:35) by their own people. The final servant sent to israel was the owner's son, Christ Himself, the Son of God, whom they would slay (Matthew 21:37, 39). When they heard the parable, without realizing the full meaning of its symbolism, the Pharisees predicted that the owner would destroy “those wicked men” and give the vineyard to someone else (Matthew 21:41). Christ exposed the symbolism by predicting that the Kingdom would be taken from them and given to a “nation” bearing the fruits of it (Matthew 21:43. The “nation” that would work the vineyard is the Church, called a “holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). The imagery of the stone (Messiah) falling and crushing those under it (Matthew 21:44) is found in Daniel 2:34, 35) Note that the chief priests and Pharisees knew Christ was speaking of them (Matthew 21:45. Again, Christ’s message angered the Pharisees, but they resisted arresting Him because they feared an uprising among the people.

2). In his address to the Jewish leaders in Rome Paul said the same thing.

a). Acts 28:17-29 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

28:19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

28:21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

b). This parable does not teach replacement theology, that the church has replaced Israel. Though it did come to pass, it is also true that the promises of God toward Israel will come to pass. Romans 11. 

3). John MacArthur: This refers to the crucifixion and restoration of “the chief cornerstone” anticipates His resurrection. To the superficial eye, this quotation from Psalm 118:22, 23 is irrelevant to the parable that precedes it . but it is taken from a Messianic Psalm. Jesus cited it to suggest that “the Son” who was killed and thrown out of the vineyard was also the chief cornerstone in God’s redemptive plan.