And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse vividly portrays two distinct kinds of destruction connected to the "stone" – Jesus himself. Falling on the stone results in being broken, while the stone falling on someone leads to being crushed to powder, like chaff winnowed away. This isn't just about a physical accident, but about how individuals will face judgment, either stumbling in their rejection or being utterly destroyed by Christ's sovereign power.
And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just told the parable of the wicked tenants who killed the owner's son, and the religious leaders understood it was about them. He then quotes Psalm 118, identifying himself as the cornerstone rejected by the builders (religious leaders) but chosen by God. This verse follows, explaining the serious consequences for those who reject him and his message, contrasting stumbling over him with being crushed by him.
Jesus declares that the stone rejected by the builders will cause ruin in two distinct ways. What does this duality reveal about how people encounter Him?
Jesus uses powerful imagery, drawing from Old Testament prophecy (like Isaiah 8:14-15 and Psalm 118:22), to describe the consequences of rejecting Him. This verse presents two scenarios:
Falling on the Stone (Being Broken): This happens when someone stumbles over Jesus, often due to His humble earthly appearance or His challenging message. They actively come against Him and are 'broken to pieces' – experiencing damage, injury, and misery. This speaks to the personal, self-inflicted harm that comes from rejecting His truth and His person.
The Stone Falling On Them (Being Crushed): This is a more active, overwhelming judgment. It's when Jesus, in His ultimate authority and power, descends upon those who oppose Him. They are 'ground to powder,' scattered like chaff. This signifies utter destruction and irreparable ruin, particularly in the final judgment.
The Greek word for 'grind him to powder' has a surprising connection to a common farming practice. What does this specific image tell us about the nature of divine judgment?
The second part of the verse, 'when it falls on anyone, it will crush him,' uses a powerful Greek word that literally means 'to winnow.' This isn't just about destruction; it's about utter separation and dispersal.
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Imagine the ancient process of winnowing: a farmer would toss grain into the air, and the wind would blow away the light, useless chaff. The stone falling signifies judgment so complete that it separates the wicked from everything they hold dear, scattering them utterly, leaving no trace of their former standing or identity.
This imagery highlights:
Jesus’ words in Matthew 21:44 draw heavily on Old Testament prophecies, particularly Isaiah 8 and Daniel 2, and the familiar imagery of Psalm 118. He presents himself as the cornerstone rejected by the religious leaders, warning that this stone will bring destruction to those who stumble over him in his humility or are crushed by him in his future judgment.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy
The prophet Isaiah foretells that the Lord will make Zion a "stone of stumbling" and a "rock of offense" to both houses of Israel, signifying future judgment for their unfaithfulness.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem leads to the destruction of the Temple and the exile of many Jews, demonstrating God's judgment on a disobedient people.
c. 550 BC
Daniel's Vision
The prophet Daniel describes a stone, cut without hands, that strikes a great image and grows to fill the earth, symbolizing God's everlasting kingdom that will crush all earthly powers.
c. 20 BC
Psalm 118 Quoted
During Jesus' triumphal entry, the crowds quote Psalm 118:22, calling Jesus 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' This psalm speaks of a rejected stone becoming the cornerstone.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Parable of the Tenants
Jesus tells a parable about tenants who murder the heir, likening himself to the rejected cornerstone and predicting judgment on the chief priests and elders who reject him.
c. AD 64-67
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Roman armies under Titus conquer Jerusalem, destroying the city and the Second Temple. This catastrophic event fulfills Jesus' prophecy and crushes the Jewish leadership and nation.
This passage is directly alluded to, describing the Lord as a 'stone of stumbling and rock of offense' whose fall brings destruction, mirroring Jesus' words about the stone crushing his enemies.
Psalm 118:22Jesus quotes this verse earlier in the passage, identifying the rejected stone as Himself, setting the stage for the consequences of rejecting this 'cornerstone' as described in Matthew 21:44.
Daniel 2:34-35The imagery of a stone striking an image and crushing it into dust, from which nothing remains, parallels the complete annihilation described in Matthew 21:44 when the stone falls on someone.
Romans 9:32-33This New Testament passage quotes Isaiah and refers to Jesus as a 'stone of stumbling and rock of offense,' directly connecting the idea of falling on Christ and the resulting destruction.
1 Peter 2:6-8Peter also quotes Isaiah and Psalm 118, calling Jesus a 'stone of stumbling and a rock of offense' and a 'cornerstone,' further emphasizing His dual role as a foundation for believers and a source of judgment for unbelievers.
vincentMatthew 21:44: "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Shall be broken (συνθλασθήσεται)The verb is stronger: broken to pieces; so Rev.Grind him to powder (λικμήσει αὐτόν)But the A. V. misses the picture in the word, which is that of the winnowing-fan that separates the grain from the chaff. Literally it is, will winnow him. Rev., scatter scatter as dust.
barnesMatthew 21:44: "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Whosoever shall fall ... - There is a reference here, doubtless, to Isaiah 8:14-15 . Having made an allusion to himself "as a stone," or a rock Matthew 21:42 , he proceeds to state the consequences of coming in contact with it. He that falls upon it shall be broken; he that "runs against it" - a cornerstone, standing out from the other parts of the foundation sh…
This verse vividly portrays two distinct kinds of destruction connected to the "stone" – Jesus himself. Falling on the stone results in being broken, while the stone falling on someone leads to being crushed to powder, like chaff winnowed away. This isn't just about a physical accident, but about how individuals will face judgment, either stumbling in their rejection or being utterly destroyed by Christ's sovereign power.
Jesus has just told the parable of the wicked tenants who killed the owner's son, and the religious leaders understood it was about them. He then quotes Psalm 118, identifying himself as the cornerstone rejected by the builders (religious leaders) but chosen by God. This verse follows, explaining the serious consequences for those who reject him and his message, contrasting stumbling over him with being crushed by him.
Jesus has just told the parable of the wicked tenants who killed the owner's son, and the religious leaders understood it was about them. He then quotes Psalm 118, identifying himself as the cornerstone rejected by the builders (religious leaders) but chosen by God. This verse follows, explaining the serious consequences for those who reject him and his message, contrasting stumbling over him with being crushed by him.
"And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”" — This verse vividly portrays two distinct kinds of destruction connected to the "stone" – Jesus himself. Falling on the stone results in being broken, while the stone falling on someone leads to b…
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Last reviewed October 2026