LUKE 20:17-20 CRUSHING CORNERSTONE

CRUSHING CORNERSTONE

LUKE 20:17-20

(see also Matthew 21:42-46

 and Mark 12:10-12)

Luke 20:17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

Susie: After the crowd reacted to the Parable of the Wicked Tenants by saying the equivalent of “May it never be!”, Jesus looks right at them and reminds them of the prophetic statement from Psalm 118:22:

Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Susan: Jesus’s gaze seared directly into their hearts. Because He was omniscient, Jesus knew the evil intentions of their hearts. Jesus was the stone that was rejected by the builders (the Jews). They rejected the One God had sent to be the cornerstone.

Susie:  The cornerstone was positioned between the two main load-bearing walls of a building and was the key to lining up the rest of the walls. The Jews (especially those in positions of religious authority) rejected Jesus as their Messiah even though they could see that He fulfilled prophecy and performed miracles. However, God’s plan was for Jesus to be our Redeemer and King, the very foundation upon which to build our lives.

Luke 20:18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Susan: The following two quotes help to explain the consequence of stumbling over the fact that Jesus is Lord, the crushing power of rejecting Him.

The Pulpit Commentary  as quoted at https://biblehub.com/luke/20-19.htm

They felt their power and influence was slipping away from them. These last parables were scarcely veiled attacks on them. In the last spoken words he had calmly announced that he was to die, and their hands were to carry out the bloody work. And then, in the simile of the corner-stone, he, in no ambiguous terms, told them that in killing him they will not be done with him, for that in the end they will be utterly crushed by his power.

The IVP New Testament Commentary as found at www.biblegateway.com

In fact, judgment resides with "the rock." To fall on that stone is to be broken to pieces. When the stone falls on someone, it crushes. The point is clear: anyone opposing God's stone will be crushed by it. A Jewish proverb has a similar thrust: "If the stone falls on the pot, alas for the pot; if the pot falls on the stone, alas for the pot!" (Midrash Esther 3:6).

Luke 20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Susan: The Jewish religious leaders understood that they were the villains of the parable of the wicked tenants. Therefore, they wanted to be rid of Jesus once and for all and began plotting how to bring about His death. They were afraid of losing their comfy political position with the Roman government. They did not want to be displaced by a Messiah who would reign as their King.

Susie: However, even though they wanted Jesus dead, they were afraid to arrest Him right then and there because the crowd of people hailed Him as at least a prophet, if not the Messiah. Many of the people did believe Him to be the Son of God and may have rioted had the priests and scribes laid hands on Jesus.  

Luke 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

Susie: The leaders plotted against Jesus and sent people to pretend to be righteous men truly seeking wisdom from Him.

Susan: However, these men were insincere, and truly wanted to ensnare Jesus with His own words that they could twist in such a way as to be antagonistic toward Roman rule.

Susie: We will see that the Lord’s wisdom confounded their efforts over and over.

Ponder this and Apply it: The Jewish leaders thought killing Jesus would remove His influence and the perceived threat He represented. However, Jesus is the Son of God and one with God; and cannot be destroyed. He is all-knowing and all-powerful. The wise choice is to trust Him for salvation and submit to His authority as our sovereign Lord rather than to be “crushed.” Examine yourself to see whether Jesus is your Lord and God is your Father or you are in danger of being shattered by the Stone, Jesus.