Luke 20:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

NIV: Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.'

NASB: Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him.'

CSB: Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him."

NLT: Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.'

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

NKJV: Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Jesus finishes His warning to the Jewish leaders, as well as to the Jewish people who are listening. In the parable of the tenants, Jesus gives an allegory. Throughout history, the people of Israel had rejected God's prophets and would soon kill His very Son. The leaders will do so to maintain their authority and to keep gathering money and honor from the people. But if they reject God's Son, God will reject them, removing their authority and destroying them. He will replace them with better tenants (Luke 20:9–16; Matthew 21:41).

When the crowd reacts, Jesus responds by quoting Psalm 118:22: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Jesus was always the cornerstone. His death and resurrection make it possible for people to be God's people. The builders—the Jewish leaders—don't have to reject Him. Some won't (Mark 15:43; John 3:1–3; Acts 6:7).

Everyone who rejects Christ, however, will be destroyed (John 3:36). Jesus' death and resurrection will prove to be an obstacle to the Jewish people. It's a concept they cannot get past to continue in their journey with God (1 Corinthians 1:23).

The chief priests and the scribes understand what Jesus is saying. They know He is telling them God is going to destroy and replace them. Instead of taking the warning to heart, they continue their mission to destroy Jesus (Luke 20:19–20). But they're afraid of the people. So, they try to turn the people against Him by challenging His authority, first in His legal interpretations (Luke 20:21–26) and then in His doctrinal teachings (Luke 20:27–40). Jesus counters by proving the authority of the Christ—Himself—is greater than even King David (Luke 20:41–44).

Luke 20:9–18 records Jesus' response to religious leaders who challenged His authority (Luke 20:1–8). This comes in the form of the parable of the wicked tenants. The underlying meaning is that as the Son of God, Jesus has proper authority over religious leaders. However, the leaders of His era will kill Him, and God will destroy them. In the mirrored structure of Luke 20, the parallel argument is that Jesus is also superior to the line of the Jewish kings (Luke 20:41–44). In between, religious leaders foolishly challenge Jesus' understanding of the Mosaic law (Luke 20:19–40). This passage echoes the records in Matthew 21:33–46 and Mark 12:1–12.

After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus find Himself in conflict with the city's religious leaders. Elders, priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees all attempt to discredit Him. This comes mostly in challenging Jesus with trick questions. Jesus deftly handles those challenges without falling into the trap. He provides several teachings about His role as the Son of God and directly warns the Jewish people against their generation of scribes, who are arrogant and pretentious.

Luke 20 is a chiasm about authority. Jesus has entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple (Luke 19:28–46). Now, the priests and teachers attack Jesus' authority in religion, law, and doctrine; Jesus defends Himself and shows their sinful lifestyles disqualify them for authority. After holding up a widow as a better role model (Luke 21:1–4), Jesus warns His disciples about the challenges they will face in the coming years, including the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:5–38). The events in Luke 20 are also discussed in Matthew 21—23 and Mark 11—12.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.