| Geneva Study Bible And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will {b} grind him to powder. (b) As chaff used to be scattered with the wind, for he uses a word which properly signifies separating the chaff from the corn with winnowing, and to scatter it abroad. People's New Testament 21:44 Whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken. Two fates are named for opposers in this verse: (1) those who fall on the stone shall be broken; (2) those on whom the stone shall fall shall be ground to powder. While the principle is general, the special application is to the Jewish opposers. Their falling upon the Stone (Christ) was the ruin of their nation. When the Stone fell upon them, in the judgment he had predicted because they rejected him, they were ground to powder in the awful desolation that occurred about thirty-seven years later. Wesley's Notes 21:44 Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken - Stumblers at Christ shall even then receive much hurt. He is said to fall on this stone, who hears the Gospel and does not believe. But on whomsoever it shall fall - In vengeance, it will utterly destroy him. It will fall on every unbeliever, when Christ cometh in the clouds of heaven. Luke 20:18. Scofield Reference Notes [2] 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. Isa 8:14,15 Rom 9:32,33 1Cor 1:23 1Pet 2:8 (2) to the church, Christ is the foundation stone and the head of the corner 1Cor 3:11 Eph 2:20-22 1Pet 2:4,5 (3) to the Gentile world-powers (see "Gentiles," Lk 21:24 Rev 16:19 He is to be the smiting-stone of destruction Dan 2:34. Israel stumbled over Christ; the church is built upon Christ; Gentile world- dominion will be broken by Christ. See "Armageddon" Rev 16:14 19:19. Margin And whosoever Or, Whosoever falls on this stone shall be crushed together [i.e. the Jews Isa 8:14 Rom 9:32,33 1Cor 1:23] but on whomsoever it may fall, he will be scattered as dust (Gr. "winnowed," i.e. the Gentile nations, Dan 2:34,35,45 See Scofield Note: "Dan 2:35". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 44. 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" (Da 2:34, 35; Zec 12:2)-in their corporate capacity, in the tremendous destruction of Jerusalem, but personally, as unbelievers, in a more awful sense still. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 21:33-46 This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward church. As men treat God's people, they would treat Christ himself, if he were with them. How can we, if faithful to his cause, expect a favourable reception from a wicked world, or from ungodly professors of Christianity! And let us ask ourselves, whether we who have the vineyard and all its advantages, render fruits in due season, as a people, as a family, or as separate persons. Our Saviour, in his question, declares that the Lord of the vineyard will come, and when he comes he will surely destroy the wicked. The chief priests and the elders were the builders, and they would not admit his doctrine or laws; they threw him aside as a despised stone. But he who was rejected by the Jews, was embraced by the Gentiles. Christ knows who will bring forth gospel fruits in the use of gospel means. The unbelief of sinners will be their ruin. But God has many ways of restraining the remainders of wrath, as he has of making that which breaks out redound to his praise. May Christ become more and more precious to our souls, as the firm Foundation and Cornerstone of his church. May we be willing to follow him, though despised and hated for his sake. | 
