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Matthew 21:44
Verse
Context
Sermons
T. Austin-Sparks
Dale Gish
Horatius Bonar
Jonathan Edwards
Arno Clemens Gaebelein Summary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And whosoever shall fall on this stone,.... This is not to be understood of believing in Christ, or of a soul's casting itself on Christ, the foundation stone; relying on him, and building all its hopes of happiness and salvation on him; which is attended with contrition and brokenness of heart, or repentance unto life, which needed not to be repented of nor of a believer's offending Christ by evil works, whereby his conscience is wounded, his soul is grieved, and his faith shaken; and though he is hereby in great danger, he shall not be utterly destroyed, but being recovered by repentance, shall be preserved unto salvation; but of such to whom Christ is a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence: for as he is the foundation and corner stone to some, and is set for the rising of them, and to whom he is precious; so he is a stone set for the fall of others, and at which they stumble and fall, and fall upon it: and such are they who are offended at Christ's state of humiliation on earth; at the manner of his birth, the meanness of his parentage, and education; the despicable figure he made in his person, disciples, and audience; and at his sufferings and death: and these "shall be broken": as a man that stumbles at a stone, and falls upon it, breaks his head or his bones, at least bruises himself, does not hurt the stone, but the stone hurts him; so all such as are offended at Christ, injure their own souls, being filled with prejudices against him, and contempt and disbelief of him, which if grace prevents not will issue in their everlasting destruction: but whilst there is life, the means of grace continue, the kingdom of God is not taken away; there is hope that such may be recovered from their impenitence and unbelief: "but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder". Just as if a millstone, or any stone of such like weight and bulk, was to fall upon an earthen vessel; or, as the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, by which the Messiah and his kingdom, are designed, brake in pieces the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, so that it became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor. As the former part of this verse expresses the sin of unbelievers, and the danger they are exposed unto by it, this sets forth their punishment; and has respect both to the vengeance of Christ, on the Jewish nation, at their destruction, which would fall heavy from him in his state of exaltation, for their evil treatment of him in his state of humiliation; and to his severe wrath, which will be executed at the day of judgment on all unbelievers, impenitent Christless sinners, who have both offended him, and been offended at him; when their destruction will be inevitable, their salvation irretrievable, and their souls irrecoverably lost, and ruined. Some have thought, that there is an allusion in these words to the manner of stoning among the Jews, which was this (e): "the place of stoning was two men's heights; one of the witnesses struck him on his loins, to throw him down from thence, to the ground: if he died, it was well; if not, they took a stone, which lay there, and was as much as two men could carry, and cast it, with all their might, upon his breast: if he died, it was well; if not, he was stoned by all Israel. Maimonides observes (f), that "stoning, or throwing down from the high place, was that he might fall upon the stone, or that the stone might fall upon him; and which of them either it was, the pain was the same. (e) Misu. Sanhedrin, c. 6. sect. 4. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 45. 1, 2. Maimon. Hilch. Sanhedrin, c. 15. sect 1. Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora pr. Affirm. 99. (f) In Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 6. sect. 4.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
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).
Matthew 21:44
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. ”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
A Holy Nation
By T. Austin-Sparks9.4K33:17ChurchEXO 3:5EXO 14:29MAT 21:42MAT 21:441PE 2:71PE 2:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of separation from the world in the life of Abraham. God called Abraham to leave his country, his family, and his father's house in order to establish a people of a different kind. The speaker highlights how God demonstrated the evil nature of the world through the plagues in Egypt and how He met Moses at the burning bush to deliver His people from the power of darkness. The sermon also mentions the Israelites' struggle with their hearts still being attached to Egypt even after being physically separated, and how crossing the Jordan River symbolized their hearts finally being out of Egypt. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for believers to be separated unto God and live a holy life that leaves a mark for God.
Hell Enlarged! Avoid the Three Steps Which Will Take You There!
By Ian Paisley1.1K39:14GEN 6:5ISA 1:4ISA 5:1MAT 21:42MAT 21:44REV 14:6In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of a vineyard as a metaphor for the church. He refers to the parable in Matthew 1:33-34 and the passage in Isaiah 5 to illustrate the relationship between God and his church. The preacher emphasizes that God gave the world to the church for evangelization, but instead, the world has corrupted the church. He warns the congregation about the enlargement of hell and urges them to avoid the three steps that lead to it.
Brokenness
By Dale Gish73445:54MAT 6:33MAT 21:44MRK 6:52MRK 10:43LUK 22:26JHN 13:14PHP 2:3In this sermon, the preacher uses the analogy of a wild horse to illustrate a spiritual truth. He describes a scene of young wild horses running freely and gracefully down a mountain. However, the preacher emphasizes that before a horse can be of service to anyone but itself, it must be broken. This breaking process is necessary for the horse to be useful and obedient. The preacher relates this concept to our own lives, highlighting the importance of being broken before God and submitting to His will in order to fulfill our purpose.
The Stone of Salvation or Destruction
By Horatius Bonar0Christ as the CornerstoneRejection and Acceptance of JesusGEN 49:24DEU 32:18DEU 32:311SA 23:3PSA 28:1PSA 95:1ISA 26:4ISA 28:16MAT 21:441PE 2:4Horatius Bonar explores the multifaceted significance of the 'stone' in Matthew 21:44, emphasizing its role as a symbol of Christ. He discusses how this stone represents rejection, honor, stumbling, and ultimately destruction, urging listeners to consider their response to Christ. Bonar highlights that acceptance of this stone leads to salvation, while rejection results in eternal consequences. He calls for a personal evaluation of one's relationship with Jesus, the cornerstone of faith, and warns of the impending judgment for those who do not embrace Him. The sermon serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of recognizing Christ's true value in our lives.
The Future Punishment of the Wicked Unavoidable and Intolerable
By Jonathan Edwards0EXO 34:7DEU 32:41ISA 26:11EZK 22:14NAM 1:3MAT 21:441CO 10:22Jonathan Edwards preaches a powerful sermon on the future punishment of the wicked, emphasizing the unavoidable, intolerable, and inescapable nature of God's wrath upon impenitent sinners. Using Ezekiel 22:14 as a foundation, he delves into the dreadful consequences awaiting those who reject God's mercy and despise His authority. Edwards highlights God's undertaking to deal with sinners, ensuring they cannot avoid, deliver themselves from, or bear the punishment that awaits them in hell. He vividly describes the soul's sinking into eternal death, utterly unable to withstand the infinite wrath and power of God, urging impenitent sinners to repent and turn to Christ before it's too late.
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
By Arno Clemens Gaebelein0ISA 28:16JER 27:5EZK 11:22DAN 2:44MAT 21:44LUK 21:241CO 4:3REV 17:12Arno Clemens Gaebelein preaches on the prophetic unfolding in the Book of Daniel, focusing on the great pivotal chapter introducing the times of the Gentiles. The chapter reveals the succession of world empires through the vision of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, symbolized by a great image with different metals representing Babylon, Medo-Persia, Graeco-Macedonian, and Rome. The stone cut out of the mountain, striking the image's ten toes, symbolizes Christ's Second Coming to establish His eternal Kingdom after the final form of Gentile dominion is judged. Gaebelein emphasizes the importance of understanding the prophetic timeline and the imminent fulfillment of these events.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And whosoever shall fall on this stone,.... This is not to be understood of believing in Christ, or of a soul's casting itself on Christ, the foundation stone; relying on him, and building all its hopes of happiness and salvation on him; which is attended with contrition and brokenness of heart, or repentance unto life, which needed not to be repented of nor of a believer's offending Christ by evil works, whereby his conscience is wounded, his soul is grieved, and his faith shaken; and though he is hereby in great danger, he shall not be utterly destroyed, but being recovered by repentance, shall be preserved unto salvation; but of such to whom Christ is a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence: for as he is the foundation and corner stone to some, and is set for the rising of them, and to whom he is precious; so he is a stone set for the fall of others, and at which they stumble and fall, and fall upon it: and such are they who are offended at Christ's state of humiliation on earth; at the manner of his birth, the meanness of his parentage, and education; the despicable figure he made in his person, disciples, and audience; and at his sufferings and death: and these "shall be broken": as a man that stumbles at a stone, and falls upon it, breaks his head or his bones, at least bruises himself, does not hurt the stone, but the stone hurts him; so all such as are offended at Christ, injure their own souls, being filled with prejudices against him, and contempt and disbelief of him, which if grace prevents not will issue in their everlasting destruction: but whilst there is life, the means of grace continue, the kingdom of God is not taken away; there is hope that such may be recovered from their impenitence and unbelief: "but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder". Just as if a millstone, or any stone of such like weight and bulk, was to fall upon an earthen vessel; or, as the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, by which the Messiah and his kingdom, are designed, brake in pieces the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, so that it became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor. As the former part of this verse expresses the sin of unbelievers, and the danger they are exposed unto by it, this sets forth their punishment; and has respect both to the vengeance of Christ, on the Jewish nation, at their destruction, which would fall heavy from him in his state of exaltation, for their evil treatment of him in his state of humiliation; and to his severe wrath, which will be executed at the day of judgment on all unbelievers, impenitent Christless sinners, who have both offended him, and been offended at him; when their destruction will be inevitable, their salvation irretrievable, and their souls irrecoverably lost, and ruined. Some have thought, that there is an allusion in these words to the manner of stoning among the Jews, which was this (e): "the place of stoning was two men's heights; one of the witnesses struck him on his loins, to throw him down from thence, to the ground: if he died, it was well; if not, they took a stone, which lay there, and was as much as two men could carry, and cast it, with all their might, upon his breast: if he died, it was well; if not, he was stoned by all Israel. Maimonides observes (f), that "stoning, or throwing down from the high place, was that he might fall upon the stone, or that the stone might fall upon him; and which of them either it was, the pain was the same. (e) Misu. Sanhedrin, c. 6. sect. 4. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 45. 1, 2. Maimon. Hilch. Sanhedrin, c. 15. sect 1. Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora pr. Affirm. 99. (f) In Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 6. sect. 4.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
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).