Luke 20:18 (KJV)

What does Luke 20:18 mean?

Luke 20:18 describes how anyone who stumbles over "that stone" will be broken, but if the stone falls on someone, it will crush them completely. The verse uses the image of a stone to show that encountering it can have serious, even destructive, consequences depending on how a person relates to it.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to religious leaders and the crowd in Jerusalem, using the image of a stone to refer to himself as the cornerstone rejected by builders. The verse warns that rejecting or opposing him brings judgment, using vivid language to show both the danger of tripping over him and the greater danger of being crushed by him. The statement follows a parable about tenants rejecting the owner's son, making the warning personal for those listening.

The Greek behind Luke 20:18

• "Stone" (λίθος, lithos): This word means a literal stone, but here it refers to Jesus as the foundational "cornerstone." The image comes from building, where the cornerstone is essential, and rejecting it is a serious error.
• "Broken" (συνθλασθήσεται, synthlasthēsetai): This word means to be shattered or broken into pieces. It shows that stumbling over Jesus is not a minor mistake but brings real harm.
• "Grind...to powder" (λικμήσει, likmēsei): This word means to crush or pulverize completely. The contrast with "broken" emphasizes that resisting Jesus can lead to total destruction, not just injury.

Why Luke 20:18 matters

• Luke 20:18 clarifies that Jesus is not just a teacher but claims a decisive, central role in God's plan, using the cornerstone image from Scripture.
• The verse warns that rejecting Jesus is not a neutral act; it brings consequences, which Jesus describes in strong, memorable terms.
• This statement ties directly to the parable of the wicked tenants, making the warning about rejecting God's messenger clear to the religious leaders and anyone listening.