Bible Commentaries

Matthew 21:1. καὶ ὅτε, κ. τ. λ., and when, etc.) From this point forward, the actions and contests of our Lord are described by the several Evangelists with great fulness and agreement.— εἰς ἱεροσόλυμα, to Jerusalem) which they were about to enter.— τότε, κ. τ. λ., then, etc.) not before. It is clearly intimated, that the event⁸⁹⁹ about to be described was full of mystery. Often had Jesus entered Jerusalem;⁹⁰⁰ now, in this His last journey, and at the conclusion of it, He rides for the only time, solemnly taking possession of the Royal City (see ch. Matthew 5:5), not only for a few days, but on account of that kingdom (see Mark 11:33.) which He was just about to institute; see Luke 24:47; Luke 1:33, and the conclusion of Zechariah 9:10, with the whole context.

Matthew 21:2. τὴν ἀπέναντι ὑμῶν, which is over against you.— εὐθέως, immediately) The word is repeated in the next verse. All things are easy to the Lord.— δεδεμένην, tied) already as it were prepared.— πῶλον, a colt) The colt had never carried any one before. Jesus had never been carried before by any animal, except perhaps at a very tender age. He took the mother from the village for a short way.

Matthew 21:3. ὁ κύριος, the Lord) The owners of the ass were devoted to Jesus.⁹⁰¹— εὐθέως δὲ, but immediately) i.e. You will not need many words.—⁹⁰² ἀποστέλλει, he sends)⁹⁰³ The present tense is used because the event was sure and speedy, as they were already prepared to send it: cf. Mark 4:29, εὐθέως ἀποστέλλει τὸ δρέπανον, immediately he sendeth the sickle.—See ibid. Matthew 11:6, καὶ ἀφῆκαν αὐτούς, and they let them go.

“ ἀποστέλλει) Comp. Er. ed. i. et seqq.; Stop. Aug. i. 2: Bodl. 1, 2, 7; Bu. Byz. Cov. i. Cypr. Gal.; Gehl, Go. Laud. 1, 2, 5; Lin. Lips. Mont. manu prima, M. 1, Mose. N. 1, Par. 1, 3, 4, 7, 8; Per. Roe. Steph. omn. vss. 1, 2, Wh. 1 nonnulli codd. upud Er. vel etiam Barb, decem, et Cam. item Chrys. Theophyl. Cant. latine, Syr. Accedunt Evangelistaria, Aug. 4 (in quo cum verbum hoc jam λ simplici scriptum fuisset, λ alterum est suppletum), Bodl. 4, 5, Land. 4, Wh. 3. Itaque ἀποστέλλει Matthæi, et ἀποστελεῖ Marci se mutuo confirmant, nam librarii videntur lectionem ἀποστελεῖ publica Matthæi recitatione ad Marcum traduxisse, et aliquando ἀποστελεῖ a Marco ad Matthæum retulisse. Vid. Gnom. ( ἀποστελεῖ) Lat. et inde Er. vel etiam Parisini et Seldiaui aliquot, cum Bodl. 6, Cant, græce, Gon. Hunt. 2 Magd. et perpaucis aliis.”—(I. B.)

Matthew 21:5. εἴπατε, κ. τ. λ., tell ye, etc.) This passage is one of those which show that many things in the prophets ought to be received by us, not only as they were meant by them, but as they were destined to be meant by the apostles. This part occurs in Isaiah 62:11; the rest in Zechariah, whom St Matthew quotes, beginning at the more important part; for the word “rejoice” is thus supplied. At the time of its fulfilment it is to be told: joy then arises spontaneously.⁹⁰⁴ In Zechariah 9:9, the LXX. have χαῖρε σφόδρα θύγατερ σιὼν, κήρυσσε θύγατερ ἱερουσαλήμ· ἰδοὺ, ὁ βασιλεὺς⁹⁰⁵ ἔρχεταί σοι, δίκαιος καὶ σώζων αὐτὸς·⁹⁰⁶ πρᾳῢς καὶ ἐμβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ ὑποζύγιον καὶ πῶλον νέον,—Rejoice greatly, daughter of Sion; shout,⁹⁰⁷ daughter of Jerusalem: behold the King cometh unto thee; He is just and having salvation:⁹⁰⁸ meek, and riding on an ass, even a young colt.— τῇ θυγατρὶ σιὼν, to the daughter of Sion) put synecdochically for Jerusalem.— βασιλεύς σου, thy King) and also Bridegroom.— σαὶ, to, or for thee) sc. for thy sake or advantage.— πρᾳῢς καὶ, κ. τ. λ., meek and, etc.⁹⁰⁹) The same thing is frequently expressed in the same passage by literal and metaphorical words. The horse is a warlike steed, which the King of Peace did not make use of; see Zechariah 9:10. He will make use of it hereafter; see Revelation 19:11.— ὄνον, an ass) not a she ass. In Hebrew, חמור.— υἱὸν ὑποζυγίου, the male foal of an ass⁹¹⁰) who, though the offspring of one that had borne the yoke, had not himself yet borne it. Our Lord rode upon the foal, but employed also the mother as a companion to the foal.

Matthew 21:6. καὶ ποιήσαντες, and when they had done.

Matthew 21:7. ἐπεκάθισεν,⁹¹¹ He sat upon) becomingly; His disciples attending on Him;⁹¹² see Luke 19:35. The Persian kings were rather placed by others, than themselves got on horseback. See Brisson.— ἐπάνω αὐτῶν, on them) though, strictly speaking, on the foal; see Mark 11:2-3; John 12:14-15.

Matthew 21:8. ὁ δὲ πλεῖστος ὄχλος, but the people, who were in great numbers.— ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, in the way) [i.e in the midst of the way or road]; not only κατὰ τὴν ὁδόν, by the side of the way; for St Luke (Luke 19:36) uses the expression ὑπεστρώννυον, they spread them under, [i.e. so that He should ride over them].— κλάδους, branches) It was customary with the Jews and other ancient nations to manifest their public joy by cutting down branches from trees.

Matthew 21:9.⁹¹³ ὡσαννὰ, Hosanna) i.e. הושיעה נא, Save, I pray. The LXX. render Psalms 118(117):25— ὦ κύριε σῶσον δή· ὦ κύριε εὐόδωσον δή)—O Lord, do save: O Lord, do give prosperity. The words, ἰησοῦς, (Jesus) in Matthew 21:11, נושע (having salvation) in Zechariah 9:9, and ὡσαννὰ, in the present verse, are all cognate terms.— τῷ, κ. τ. λ., to the, etc.) We sing Hosanna, say they (as was foretold by the prophets), to the Son of David. Agreeable to the account given by the Evangelists of our Lord’s entry, is that which Isidore Clarius says that he heard from a certain Jew, viz., that these words, “Hosanna! Blessed is He that cometh,” etc., were customarily said by the priests, when victims were offered for sacrifice. And the formula, Hosanna, was so frequently uttered, that they even gave that name to the branches which were carried about on the Feast of Tabernacles.⁹¹⁴— εὑλογημένος, κ. τ. λ., blessed, etc.) Thus the LXX. in Psalms 118(117):26, which psalm formed part of the Hallel, or Paschal hymn, which they would have to recite in a few days’ time.— ἐν ὀνόματι, in the name) These words should be construed with εὐλογημένος, (blessed), according to the Hebrew accents.⁹¹⁵— ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, in the highest) Succour [us], O Thou who art in the highest.

But Engl. Ver., “Cometh in the name of the Lord:” joining ἐν ὀνόματι, with ἑρχόμενος.—ED.

Matthew 21:10. λέγουσα, saying) sc. from amazement.— τίς, κ. τ. λ., who? etc.) The chief personage is not immediately seen in a large concourse; nor had the Jews been accustomed to see Jesus journeying except on foot.

Matthew 21:11. ὁ τροφήτης, the Prophet) Jesus was first acknowledged as a Prophet, then as Priest and King.— ὁ ἀπὸ ναζαρὲτ, of Nazareth) This was a customary appellation [for Him].

Matthew 21:12. ἐξέβαλε, cast out)⁹¹⁶ though He was meek, and had been just called so in Matthew 21:5. In the early part of His ministry, our Lord had purified the temple; see John 2:14. Those who profaned it had, however, returned; and now, when near the end of His course, He purifies it once more, though it was soon to be destroyed; see ch. Matthew 23:38.— πάντας, all) A great miracle. Even a large body of soldiers would not have ventured to attempt it.— τοὺς πωλοῦντας, κ. τ. λ., those who sold, etc.) They had wished to offer every accommodation for public worship, especially at the time of the Passover; but by degrees they appear to have pushed their licence further.— ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ,⁹¹⁷ in the temple) and indeed in its uttermost part, the court of the Gentiles; where the Gentiles [or nations] were wont to pray. See Mark 11:17.

There is no primary authority for the fuller reading here. εἰς τὸ ἱερόν, omitting θεοῦ in the beginning of the sentence, is read by Lachm., with BLb Orig. Hilar. 713, Memph. and Theb. Versions. Dac Vulg. and Rec. Text add τοῦ θεοῦ.—ED.

Matthew 21:13. ὁ οἶκός ΄ου οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται· ὑμεῖς δὲ αὐτὸν ἐποιήσατε σπήλαιον λῃστῶν, My house shall be called (⁹¹⁸ or the) house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.—The LXX., in Isaiah 56:7, have— ὁ γὰρ οἶκός ΄ου, οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, My house shall be called (⁹¹⁹ or the) house of prayer for all nations; and in Jeremiah 7:11, μὴ σπηλαιον λῃστῶν ὁ οἶκός ΄ου; is My house become a den of thieves?— προσευκῆς, of prayer) Prayer is the principal part of public worship; see 1 Kings 8; therefore prayer is put before the apostolic ministry of the Word in Acts 6:4. The synagogues also were places for teaching and houses of prayer as well. In the temple there was more prayer, in the synagogues more teaching.— σπήλαιο λῃστῶν, a den of thieves) A severe and proverbial expression, used of a place which admits all infamous characters and all profane things. He does not say, A market-place. in a den, thieves do not so much attack others, as house themselves.

Matthew 21:14. ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, in the temple) The right use of the temple; which was found fault with by His adversaries, who tolerated the abuse of the temple. No one else ever performed miracles in the temple; this was peculiar to the Messiah.

Matthew 21:15. τὰ θαυμάσια, the wonderful things) see Matthew 21:12; Matthew 21:14.

Matthew 21:16. ἀκούεις, κ. τ. λ., dost Thou hear? etc.) Every thing which is not commonplace and traditional, is too much for hypocrites.⁹²⁰— θηλαζόντων, sucklings) who might be as much as three years old.⁹²¹ See 2 Maccabees 7:27.

Matthew 21:17. αὐτοὺς, them) Whose perversity has just been mentioned.

Matthew 21:18. ἐπείνασε, He hungered) though He was the King of Glory, see Matthew 21:5. Wondrous humiliation!

Matthew 21:19. συκῆν μίαν, a certain fig-tree) the only one in that place.— ἦλθεν, He came) sc. as the road led by it. The fig-tree appears to have stood in a place of public resort. Our Lord’s partaking of refreshment in public is illustrated also by John 4:6-7. [i.e. at Jacob’s Well. See Gnomon in loc.]— ἐπʼ αὐτὴν, near to it⁹²²)— λέγει, κ. τ. λ., says, etc.) By that very act He meets the difficulty which some might have otherwise experienced from astonishment at the Lord’s being hungry, and coming to a tree without fruit.⁹²³ He was wont to display at the same time the greatest proofs of both His manhood and His Godhead; see John 11:35; John 11:40.⁹²⁴— μηκέτι ἐκ σοῦ καρπὸς γένηται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever) The Old Testament contains many miracles of vengeance: the evangelical history, at its close, this almost alone; cf. Gnomon on ch. Matthew 8:32.— καρπὸς, fruit) And therefore it was not to receive any more sap in vain. Such was the punishment of the Jews; see Luke 13:6. This is an example of what malediction is.— ἐξηράνθη, was dried up) Its outward appearance was changed; its leaves shrivelled, or even fell off.

His circumcision, and yet His receiving the name Jesus (expressive of God-head and salvation):

His purification, and yet at the same time the Hymns of Simeon and Anna:

His dwelling at despised Nazareth, and yet His thereby fulfilling the prophecy:

His obedience to His parents, and yet the specimen of noble gravity exhibited in a boy twelve years old:

His baptism; and, on the other hand, the protest of John, the very becoming reply of Jesus, the Voice from heaven, the Spirit of GOD descending on Him:

The Hunger and Temptation; and, on the other hand, the ministry of angels:

His informing them of His approaching Passion, followed however by His

Transfiguration on the Mount:

His paying the tribute-money at Capernaum, and yet His declaration as to the Son’s being free, His miracle in the case of the fish and the coin:

His washing the feet, yet declaring Himself Master and Lord:

His being taken prisoner, yet declaring I am He!

His Cross, yet the royal inscription over it:

His death and burial, yet the miracles, accompanied with the testimony of the centurion.—Harm. Gosp., p. 455.

Matthew 21:21. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἰησοῦς εἶπεν, κ. τ. λ., but Jesus answering, said, etc.) Our Lord frequently led the disciples from admiration of miracles to things more profitable for salvation; see Luke 10:20.— πίστιν, faith) The nature of Faith is declared by its opposite, which is Doubt.— τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, to this mountain) sc. that mentioned in Matthew 21:1 [i.e., the Mount of Olives]. A proverbial expression.— τὴν θάλασσαν, the sea) which was far from Jerusalem. Though such things have not hitherto been fulfilled; they may nevertheless be fulfilled hereafter.

Matthew 21:22. αἰτήσητε ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ, ye shall ask in prayer⁹²⁵) see Mark 11:24. Miracles are performed by the prayers of the faithful.— λήψεσθε, ye shall receive, etc.) sc. as a gift. Thus, in Mark 11:23-24, ἔσται αὐτῷ, κ. τ. λ., he shall have, etc.

Matthew 21:23. προσῆλθον αὐτῷ, κ. τ. λ., came unto Him, etc.) This was the solemn⁹²⁶ question, which occasioned the final trial.— οἱ ἀρχιεπεῖς, the chief priests) who considered their right to be invaded.— λέγοντες, κ. τ. λ., saying, etc.) The morose scepticism of His adversaries now at length demands credentials for the Son and Heir’s caring for His vineyard; see Matthew 21:37-38. They thought that Jesus had no call to teach, since He was neither a Priest nor a Levite.— ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ; by what authority?) divine or human.— ταῦτα, these things) sc. teaching; cf. διδάσκοντι, as He was teaching, and Mark 11:27.⁹²⁷

Matthew 21:24. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἰησοῦς, but Jesus answered, etc.) A suitable mode of answering those who tempted Him.— ἐρωτήσω ὑμᾶς κἀγὼ, κ. τ. λ., I will also ask you, etc.) Thus also in ch. Matthew 22:41. Mosheim rightly observes, “Those expositors are mistaken, who imagine that Christ had no other object in this question than to silence His adversaries.”—Oration on Christ the only model for the imitation of Theologians, p. 17.— ἕνα, one) and that too connected with your own question; one, after you have asked Me so many things, both now and heretofore. John the Baptist, though without a human call, could be and was a prophet; therefore also Jesus. If they had acknowledged the baptism of His forerunner, they would have acknowledged the authority of Christ; but since they did not acknowledge John (see Matthew 21:32), they could not believe in Jesus. Nor did they deserve that any further communications should be thrown away by Him on their pride and unbelief. To him that hath is given; from him that hath not is taken away.

Matthew 21:25. τὸ βάπτισμα, the baptism) i.e. the whole mission: cf. further on in the verse, “ οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε;” “did ye not believe?”— ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, from heaven) i.e. from God. An instance of Metonomy of a reverential character.— διελογίζοντο, they reasoned with themselves) That is an evil mind which, instead of looking at the truth in a divine matter, assumes that which suits its purpose.— αὐτῷ, him) sc. bearing witness in My favour.

Matthew 21:26. φοβούμεθα, we fear) They were unwilling to confess their fear.— τὸν ὄχλον, the multitude) The multitude was scarcely likely to proceed at once to the extremity which the chief priests dreaded, yet it burned with ardent zeal in favour of John. And the Jewish population was wont, under sudden impulses, to assail, with the utmost violence, those who uttered, or were supposed to utter, impious things.— προφήτην, a prophet) sent from heaven, which had not happened for a long while.

Matthew 21:27. οὐκ οἴδαμεν, we do not know) A forced confession of most disgraceful ignorance.⁹²⁸— οὐδὲ, κ. τ. λ., neither, etc.) A repulse rare and just, by which itself Jesus proves His divine authority.⁹²⁹— ὑ΄ῖν, to you) you unbelievers, who do not ask for the sake of learning. He gave them a clue by which to ascertain that authority; see ch. Matthew 22:43. He had often told them before.

Matthew 21:28.⁹³⁰ τέκνα δύο, two sons) A specimen of two classes.⁹³¹— προσελθὼν, having come to) sc. kindly.— τῷ πρώτῳ, the first) who went before the other; see Matthew 21:31 [“Go into the kingdom of God before you].

In Matthew 21:31, Lachm. reads ὁ ὕστερος with B. ὁ ἔσχατος is read by Dabd, MSS. Amiat. (the oldest existing), and Fuld. and Forojuliensis of the Vulg. However Jerome, though editing, as appears from his commentary, ‘novissimus,’ yet states that good copies have ‘primus’ ( ὁ πρῶτος): c also, and some less ancient copies of the Vulg., agree with Rec. Text, ὁ πρῶτος. But Hil. 717 has ‘junior.’ The ὁ ὕστερος or ἔσχατος, as being the more difficult reading, would be more likely to be changed by a corrector into ὁ πρῶτος, than vice versa. Jerome vii. 168e explains the former reading, ‘novissimus,’ thus:—“The Jews understood the truth, but shrunk back, and would not say what they thought; just as, though knowing the baptism of John to be from heaven, they would not acknowledge in words that it was so.” They did not like, I think, to repeat again the same reply as before in Matthew 21:27, οὐκ οἴδαμεν, therefore they doggedly, in spite of convictions, replied, ὁ ὕστερος. However, the words, λέγουσιν ὁ ὕστερος: λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ἰνσοῦς, seem to be an interpolation: for Origen, who seldom passes over difficult passages, takes no notice of these words; and besides, ὕστερος as an adjective, is found nowhere in the New Testament except in 1 Timothy 4:1.—ED.

Matthew 21:30. τῷ ἑτέρῳ, the other) Who, in a different point of view, is called the eldest in Luke 15:25.— ὡσαύτως, in like manner) with undoubtedly the same spirit. Their calling was equal.— ἐγω, I) sc. ὑπάγω, go; cf. in Acts 9:10, the reply of Ananias, ἰδοὺ, ἐγὼ, Behold, I, sc. am here; and in S. V. of Judges 13:11, that of the angel to Manoah, ἐγὼ, I, sc. am.— κύριε, Lord) cf. ch. Matthew 7:22.

Matthew 21:31.⁹³² εἰς, into, or as regards) the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 21:32. ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης, in the way of righteousness) “The way of righteousness” expresses more than “A righteous way.”— τελῶναι, publicans) who were unjust.— αἱ πόρναι, the harlots) who were unchaste.—It may be asked whether these, and consequently women in general, and also infants, were baptized by John: cf. Acts 16:15.— οὐ μετεμελήθητε, did not alter your way of thinking.⁹³³— ὕστερον, afterwards) when you had seen their example.

In his Harmony, however, he renders it, “thatet ihr dennoch nichi busse,” “notwithstanding did not repent.” E. V. has “repented not afterward.”—(I. B.)

Matthew 21:33. οἰκοδεσπότης, a householder) who had a large family [sc. of servants, labourers, etc.]— ἀμπελῶνα, a vineyard) i.e. the Jewish Church.— φραγμὸν, a hedge) i.e. the law.⁹³⁴— ληνὸν, a winepress) i.e. Jerusalem.— πύργον, a tower) i.e. the temple; see Matthew 21:23.⁹³⁵— ἀπεδήμησεν, went into a far country) The time of Divine silence is meant, when men act according to their own will and pleasure [pro arbitrio]: cf. ch. Matthew 25:14, and Mark 13:34.

Matthew 21:34. ὅτε δὲ ἤγγισεν ὁ καιρὸς τῶν καρπῶν, But when the season of the fruit drew near) Comp. John 4:35. Here also lurks the reason why the Messiah had not come sooner.— τοὺς δούλους, His servants) Servants here represent the extraordinary and greater ministers of God; labourers, the ordinary.⁹³⁶— τοὺς καρποὺς, the fruits) understand, of the householder, or rather, of the vineyard.

Matthew 21:35. ἔδειραν, they beat) The LXX. generally put ἐκδρέω, to skin off, only once δέρω, to skin, for the Hebrew פּשט in the sense of to flay. They never use the verb otherwise. The Old Vocabulary renders the Latin “excorio” (to skin) by the Greek, ἀποδέρω. But δαίρω signifies to beat in Arrian, B. iii., and Epictetus, ch. xix. and xxii. Whence Suidas and Favorinus draw a clear distinction between the two verbs, δέρω and δαίρω. Hesychius also renders δείραντες by ἐκδείραντες, and ἔδειραν by ἐξέδειραν, which he further explains by ἐξεδερμάτησαν, they flayed. Old glosses, however, render δέρω by τύπτω, to beat: and Aristophanes, in the Wasps (ed. Dindorf, 485), says, ἤ δέδοκταί μοι δέρεσθαι καὶ δέρειν δἰ ἡμέρας, “I have indeed determined to be beaten, and to beat all the day long,”—where the Scholiast says, δέρεσθαι and δέρειν” are for τύπτεσθαι (to be beaten). In fact, the verbs, κεφαλαιόω (to capitate), τραχηλίζω (to jugulate), γαστρίζω (to stomachize), and thus also δέρω (to skin or hide), have a wide signification, implying the infliction of injury on the head, throat, stomach, or skin respectively, either by removing them altogether, or else by striking them. The desire to avoid ambiguity induced the later Greeks to write either δέρω or δαὶρω, and thence, in this passage, ἔδῃραν.⁹³⁷

ἔδειραν— ἀπέκτειναν— ἐλιθοβόλησαν, beat—slew—stoned) An ascending climax, in which the third degree is an atrocious species of the second; cf. Mark 12:3-4, and Luke 20:10-12, where a greater number of intermediate degrees occurs.

Matthew 21:36.⁹³⁸ πλείονας, more) sc. superior (potiores), like the Hebrew רבים (great or numerous): superior, certainly in number, and without doubt also in virtue, dignity, etc. The increase of calling⁹³⁹ is no sign of a more faithful people.

Matthew 21:37. ὓστερον, last of all) Cf. Hebrews 1:1.— ἐνραπήσοιται, they will reverence) i.e. they were in duty bound to do so.

Matthew 21:38. οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος, this is the Heir) They might have known Him to be the Heir, and yet they opposed His right.— δεῦτε, ἀποκτεινῶμεν αὐτὸν, come, let us kill Him) Thus the LXX. in Genesis 37:20.— κατασχῶμεν, let us seize upon) They thought to have done so after Christ was slain: see ch. Matthew 27:63-64.

Matthew 21:39. ἐξέβαλον— καὶ ἀπέκτειναν, they cast Him out—and slew Him) St Mark reverses the order of these verbs. They rejected the Lord Jesus both before His death, by denying His right (Matthew 21:23), and even more so, by delivering Him up to a Gentile tribunal; and also after His death, by a hostile interference with His sepulture; see ch. Matthew 27:63-64, etc.⁹⁴⁰

Matthew 21:41. κακοὺς κακῶς ἀπολέσει αὐτούς, He will miserably destroy those wicked men⁹⁴¹) An act of retaliation.⁹⁴² He will do so miserably with reference to the miserable and wicked husbandmen: cf. in Hebrews 10:29, χείρονος— τιμωρίσς SORER punishment.— ἐκδώσεται, will let out) In the Church gathered from the Gentiles, the ministers and overseers enjoy great liberty.⁹⁴³ The same verb occurs in Matthew 21:33.— καιροῖς, seasons) sc. different seasons.— αὐτῶν, their, of them) referring to καρποὺς, the fruits, in Matthew 21:34.

Matthew 21:42. ἐν ταῖς γραφαῖς, in the Scriptures, Writings). There is one volume which deserves the name of “Writing”⁹⁴⁴ (Scripture), and “Book.” The rest deserve to be valued only so far as they aid mankind in understanding and obeying this One Book, and are conformed to that Archetype.— λίθον— ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν, the stone—in our eyes) This is an exact quotation from ⁹⁴⁵, Psalms 118:22-23, as rendered by the LXX. This Psalm was particularly well known. See Gnomon on Matthew 21:9 (comp. ch. Matthew 26:30).— ἀπεδοκίμασαν, rejected) They did not consider Him as even a fit stone or worthy member of the Church at all.— παρὰ κυρίου ἐγένετο, is the Lord’s doing) This is known to be the case, from the importance of the matter, and the disagreement of the builders.— αὕτη, this [Lat. hæc, Fr. cette]) The feminine for the neuter: a Hebraism. This, sc. thing. In Psalms 102:19⁹⁴⁶ the LXX. render זאת (this, fem.) by αὓτη, thus preserving the gender of the original: as also in the analogous phrases in Psalms 119:50,⁹⁴⁷ 56; Judges 15:7; Judges 21:3, where ἐγενήθη αὓτη (is THIS come to pass) occurs. Cf. 1 Kings 3:18.— καὶ ἔστι, and is) sc. היא, it (fem.), i.e. אבן, the stone, itself is wonderful.— θαυμαστὴ, wonderful⁹⁴⁸) sc. on account of the great glory which it has obtained. The Evangelist uses the feminine, because he was unwilling to depart from the LXX.— ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν, in our eyes) sc. of us believers [1 Peter 2:7].

Matthew 21:43. αὐτῆς, thereof) sc. the kingdom.⁹⁴⁹

Matthew 21:44. ὁ πεσὼν ἐπὶ, κ. τ. λ., whosoever shall fall on, etc.) He falleth on this Stone (sc. Christ in His humiliation) who stumbles (offendit) by not believing, whilst the Gospel is being preached; but this Stone (sc. Christ in His glory) falleth on him, who is crushed by His sudden coming to judgment. Both happen especially to the Jews, and also to the Gentiles. See 2 Thessalonians 1:8, and Daniel 2:34; Daniel 2:45.— λικμήσει, shall scatter, dissolve, dissipate, reduce to dust) The verb λικμᾶν signifies to scatter, as when chaff is given to the winds. See the LXX., who employ this verb in Job 27:21 for the Hebrew שער, to sweep away in a storm; in Daniel 2:44, for אסף, to destroy; and repeatedly elsewhere for זרה, to scatter or disperse.

Matthew 21:45.⁹⁵⁰ λέγει, He is speaking) They perceived that Jesus had not yet concluded what He had to say. See ch. Matthew 22:1.