11 “And he proceeded to send another slave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed.
12 “And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out.
13 “The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’
14 “But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’
15 “So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 “He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others ” When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!”
17 But Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone’?
18 “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Luke 20:9-18.
Jesus is the chief corner stone, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
This is the LORD’S doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:22-23.
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22. The context of this Scripture (Ephesians 2:19-22) makes it clear that Jesus is the chief corner stone for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.
Now, what about Luke 20:18? “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Luke 20:18. What does it mean?
There a lot of good commentaries out there that you can check. Is Jesus talking about literally everyone, the righteous and the wicked? Some say that the righteous will be broken in heart, humbled, will accept Jesus, and be saved; whereas, the wicked will just be obliterated, like scattered dust. There is truth to that interpretation.
Yes, Jesus is certainly the hope for all broken pieces, Jew and Gentile alike. But, here in today’s Scripture, I think that we should not just be so general. There is also special meaning and application to the Jews, the vine-growers, to whom Jesus had been so critical. The parable is about the vine-growers who were Jews. The parable is about what would happen to them. Jesus “looked at them” when He made these statements. Although Scripture is often very judgmental with harsh punishment on the Jews, there is always some hope for the believing remnant. So, maybe, today’s Scripture also contains some specific hope for some of the vine-growers, some of the Jews.
Maybe, some Jews, some of these vine-growers, would be broken to pieces, but not smashed and scattered like dust.
There is the hope for these broken Jews of Romans 11:17-23. “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 