Day 20 Crushing stone

 Matthew 21;44  And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Jesus in this verse is talking to the religious leaders of the day and castigating them for not recognising Him.  He has spoken really harshly to them in parables which demonstrate God's anger at their arrogance and unbelief. He has said that the inheritance which has been so far reserved for the Jews is now going to be thrown open to the Gentiles because they have believed despite having none of the privilege of Torah education.  

This is not gentle Jesus meek and mild.  This is furious Jesus confronting those who should have been leading people into the presence of God but who have been obstructing and condemning and self serving.  It is clear from reading this whole passage in Matthew that Jesus sees right through the whited sepulchres of these guys hearts.  He knows they are plotting against Him.

Here's something I didnt know before, courtesy of Matthew Henry's commentary 

Some make this an allusion to the manner of stoning to death among the Jews. The malefactors were first thrown down violently from a high scaffold upon a great stone, which would much bruise them; but then they threw another great stone upon them, which would crush them to pieces: one way or other, Christ will utterly destroy all those that fight against him. If they be so stout-hearted, that they are not destroyed by falling on this stone, yet it shall fall on them, and so destroy them.



There are people who dont believe that God will ever actually send anyone to hell. Its clear from scripture that He doesn't want anyone to perish. But these words of Jesus seem to indicate the very harshest punishment for those who wilfully refuse to acknowledge Him in the face of overwhelming evidence that He is who He says He is. Those who trip over Him and move on, never taking the opportunity to stop, investigate and believe will be bruised. But those who know exactly who He is and choose to reject Him as cornerstone will be utterly obliterated. Its not a message full of Christmas cheer. But its vital to know.

I dont think there will be many who are crushed. But according to Jesus there will definitely be some. If we know people who have experienced the love and power and mercy of Jesus but have subsequently turned their backs on Him we need to be praying hard that they repent.  Change their minds and turn around. I really dont want anyone to be crushed on my watch.

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