Matthew 21:44

his verse, bracketed by W. H [120], found in the same connection in Lk. (Luke 20:18), looks rather like an interpolation, yet it suits the situation, serving as a solemn warning to men meditating evil intentions against the Speaker. ὁ πεσὼν : he who falls on the stone, as if stumbling against it (Isaiah 8:14). συνθλασθήσεται, shall be broken in pieces, like an earthen vessel falling on a rock. This compound is found only in late Greek authors. ἐφʼ ὃν δʼ ἂν πέσῃ, on whom it shall fall, in judgment. The distinction is between men who believe not in the Christ through misunderstanding and those who reject Him through an evil heart of unbelief. Both suffer in consequence, but not in the same way, or to the same extent. The one is broken, hurt in limb; the other crushed to powder, which the winds blow away. λικμήσει, from λικμός, a winnowing fork, to winnow, to scatter to the winds, implying reduction to dust capable of being so scattered = grinding to powder (conteret, Vulg [121]). For the distinction taken in this verse, cf. chaps. Matthew 11:6; Matthew 12:31-32.

[120] Westcott and Hort.

[121] Vulgate (Jerome's revision of old Latin version).