Theophylact Bulgarian. Interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 21:43. Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who bear its fruits;
Matthew 21:44. and the one who falls on this stone will be broken; and on whom he falls, he will crush.
The Kingdom of God, that is, closeness to God, was taken away from the Jews and passed on to those who believed. The Jews, stumbling over a stone, that is, having been tempted by Christ, will be crushed at the second coming, although now they are already crushed by him, that is, scattered throughout the earth, as we see in the unfortunate Jews. This means 'crush', that is, scatter them.
Matthew 21:45. And hearing His parables, the chief priests and Pharisees understood that He was talking about them,
Matthew 21:46. and they tried to seize him, but they feared the people, because they revered him as a prophet.
And here, notice how the people, simple and ingenuous, follow the truth, and the teachers of the law plot evil. The Jews are still trying to accept Jesus, but they cannot believe in Him. They will accept the Antichrist and worship him, but Christ will not be accepted by them, that is, known.
