Matthew 21:44

And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

The apostle Peter, referring to this metaphor, quoted Isaiah 28:16 and added, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient" (1 Peter 2:7,8). Thus, our Lord's reference to the Pharisees' falling on that stone (himself) is a reference to their stumbling at his word. The passage also suggests Daniel 2:45 and the "stone cut out of the mountain without hands" which smote the kingdoms and broke them in pieces. Christ's virgin birth was "without hands," in the sense that it was not dependent upon human agency or upon the natural processes of procreation. That little stone, Christ, from such humble beginnings (in the earthly view) grew and filled the whole earth (Daniel 4:34,35). This intriguing statement of our Lord (Matthew 21:44) suggests another remark he made, "The scriptures cannot be broken" (John 10:35). Men who think they break the Scriptures only break themselves; those who stumble or fall upon Christ and his word do not break him but are themselves broken. Furthermore, there are two theaters of confrontation with that "stone" which is Christ. In time, men may receive or reject him; but in eternity (the judgment), the stone will fall upon the disobedient with devastating and total punishment for their sinful and obdurate hearts.

CHRIST COMPARED TO A STONE: (1) He is a cornerstone (Matthew 21:43); (2) he is a rejected stone (Matthew 21:43); (3) a stone of stumbling and rock of offense (1 Peter 2:7,8); (4) a living stone (1 Peter 2:4); (5) a precious stone (1 Peter 2:6); (6) a tried stone (Isaiah 28:16); (7) a growing or increasing stone (Daniel 4:34,35); (8) the Rock that followed Israel (1 Corinthians 10:4); (9) like a meteorite, he is from another world; and (10) he is the Rock of Ages, from everlasting to everlasting (Hebrews 13:8).