FABRICATIONS · INTERPOLATIONS
Vineyard Parable Variation
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. [This verse is missing in some early manuscripts]
is absent in some early texts, indicating it might be a later insertion influenced by similar verses elsewhere. Recognizing this demonstrates that even parabolic statements could be reshaped. Such editorial dynamics raise questions about how much of the Gospel’s content was stable and authentic from the start.
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
This omission or addition may stem from scribes trying to harmonize Matthew with parallel accounts. The verse’s meaning aligns with Jesus’ judgment themes and doesn’t introduce contradictory doctrine. It simply emphasizes divine accountability.
THE ISLAMIC POSITION
If the earliest manuscripts omit this verse, its later presence suggests scribes felt empowered to insert sayings they believed Jesus would have spoken. Such creativity blurs lines between authentic "words of God" and scribal invention, eroding trust in the Gospel’s originality.
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Vineyard Parable Variation