What does Matthew 21:44 Mean?

Study Notes

stone shall be broken
Christ as the "Stone" is revealed in a threefold way:

(1) To Israel Christ, coming not as a splendid monarch but in the form of a servant, is a stumbling stone and rock of offence. Isaiah 8:14 ; Isaiah 8:15 ; Romans 9:32 ; Romans 9:33 ; 1 Corinthians 1:23 ; 1 Peter 2:8

(2) to the church, Christ is the foundation stone and the head of the corner 1 Corinthians 3:11 ; Ephesians 2:20-22 ; 1 Peter 2:4 ; 1 Peter 2:5

(3) to the Gentile world-powers (see "Gentiles," Luke 21:24 ; Revelation 16:19 He is to be the smiting-stone of destruction Daniel 2:34 . Israel stumbled over Christ; the church is built upon Christ; Gentile world- dominion will be broken by Christ.

See "Armageddon" Revelation 16:14 ; Revelation 19:19 .

And whosoever

Or, Whosoever falls on this stone shall be crushed together i.e. the Jews Isaiah 8:14 ; Romans 9:32 ; Romans 9:33 ; 1 Corinthians 1:23 ] but on whomsoever it may fall, he will be scattered as dust (Greek - ἀπόλλυμι ," i).e. the Gentile nations, Daniel 2:34 ; Daniel 2:35 ; Daniel 2:45 .

mountain

A mountain is one of the bibical symbols of a kingdom. (See Scofield " Isaiah 2:2 ") .

And whosoever
Or, Whosoever falls on this stone shall be crushed together i.e. the Jews Isaiah 8:14 ; Romans 9:32 ; Romans 9:33 ; 1 Corinthians 1:23 ] but on whomsoever it may fall, he will be scattered as dust (Greek - ἀπόλλυμι ," i).e. the Gentile nations, Daniel 2:34 ; Daniel 2:35 ; Daniel 2:45 .

mountain

A mountain is one of the bibical symbols of a kingdom. (See Scofield " Isaiah 2:2 ") .

Verse Meaning

The capstone, the top stone on a wall or parapet around a flat-roofed building, could and did become a stumbling block to some. Many Jews similarly tripped over Jesus" identity and plunged to their destruction. Likewise a capstone could fall on someone below and crush him or her. These are allusions to Isaiah 8:14-15 and Daniel 2:35; Daniel 2:44-45. Jesus was a dangerous person as well as God"s chosen representative and the occupier of God"s choice position in His building, Israel. Jesus was claiming to be the Judge; He would crush those on whom He fell. [source][source]

[source]

Context Summary

This parable is based on Isaiah 5:1-7. The husbandmen are the religious leaders of the people. The vineyard is of course the Hebrew nation. The servants sent for the produce refer to the prophets and others raised up from time to time to speak for God and to demand "fruits meet for repentance." Notice that when He speaks of the mission of the Son, our Lord severs Himself, by the sharpest possible line, from all merely human messengers and claims sonship in the most intimate and lofty sense of the word.

It is said that in the building of Solomon's Temple, a curiously shaped stone, sent from the quarry, was left to lie for many months in the entangled undergrowth, till suddenly its fitness was discovered for a place in the Temple walls. Then it was put into its right position, which it occupied thenceforward. This incident may be referred to in Psalms 118:22. How truly it portrays men's treatment of our Lord! Is He your corner-stone?

The questions on Section 36-74, to be found on pp. 73-75, will serve as a review at this point. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 21

¹  Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey
¹²  drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
¹⁷  curses the fig tree;
²³  puts to silence the priests and elders,
²⁸  and rebukes them by the parable of the two sons,
³³  and the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them