Broken or Crushed?

AM Psalm 80 • PM Psalm 77, [79]
1 Samuel 1:1-20 • Acts 1:1-14 • Luke 20:9-19

Today in the gospel of Luke, we can read about Jesus making comparisons and quoting ancient scripture and upsetting folks.

He evades a direct question from very important people about his identity and purpose. He then tells them a particularly unpleasant story of some tenants who kill a landlord’s son when the rent is due. Offense is taken by those listening but Jesus doesn’t back down. Instead, he asks these priests and lawyers and old people a rhetorical question from the book of Psalms.

What then does this text mean:

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?”

The implication is clear that they are a part of a building committee that has said “No” to the very foundation God is trying to create. So Jesus answers his own question with the following:

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces;
and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.

It’s quite a choice Jesus is offering these law-abiding citizens: broken or crushed?

The rule makers and rule followers like the rules.

They may say, “So what if they don’t work for everyone? We’re not breaking the rules. We’re not going to pay the rent you’re asking.”

And what “rent” does the Lord require? *

At the time Jesus was speaking directly to the “chief priests, scribes and elders.” Thankfully, Luke wrote it down so we could read it today and let the Teacher speak these words directly to us.

* Some share of justice, mercy and humility; see Micah 6.

Written by Troy Schremmer

Troy works with preschool age children as an enrichment teacher in music and movement. He and his wife Jonny have a 16-year-old car-driving son(!) and an eight-year-old dog. They are so happy it’s summer!