The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew
42-44. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner : this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: and on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder to be scattered.
The stone means Christ Himself; the builders are the teachers of the Jews who rejected Him as if He were useless, saying "Thou art a Samaritan and hast a demon." But when He rose from the dead, He was set in place as the head of the corner, that is , He became the head of the Church, joining Jews and Gentiles in one faith. For as the stone which forms the corner of a building makes continuous the walls leading to it and from it, so Christ has bound all together in one faith. This corner is marvelous, and is the Lord's doing, and is worthy of all wonder, so well is it built. And in another sense it is marvelous, because the Word of Christ has been confirmed and substaniated by marvels, that is miracles, so that is, closeness with Go, has been taken from the Jews and given to those who believed. Those who stumble against the Rock of Christ and take offence at Him will not only be crshed at the second coming, but already here in this life they have been scattered like powder by Christ. They have been scattered over all the earth, as we now see the pitabe Jews to be. Understand that he who is "crushed to powder to be scattered" is dispersed abroad and scattered in diaspora.
Blessed Theophylact
The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew, Volume I in the Series: BL Theophyact's Explanation of the New Testament (pg. 184)
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