43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet (Mark 21:43-46, ESV).
Ever heard the expression, “I will crush you like the bug that you are.” Sad to say many people live their life by this motto. Anything that they consider to be a bug, a pest, or something they feel gets in their way, they dedicate a good amount of their effort trying to hinder or crush it. As was with these Pharisees and their view of Jesus. Therefore, they continually tried to trap Him and plotted to kill Him.
Earlier in this chapter, they once again had questioned Jesus about by what authority he was doing these things (Matt 21:24). When they wouldn’t answer, Jesus didn’t give them an answer. However, He spoke two parables. In these parables, He was calling them out on their disobedience to God, their rejection of God’s word through His prophets, their failure in leading the people of Israel, and ultimately their rejection of Him. They perceived correctly, the meaning of the parables was directly toward them.
Interestingly enough, Mark says, the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone it will crush him (Mark 21:44). Sure the Pharisees crucified Jesus in the flesh, but in the end Jesus will have the last word. While they may have been on mission to crush Jesus, they were in greater danger of themselves being crushed.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Luke 12:4-5, ESV).
Jesus is the one who will be in charge of any crushing at the final judgment. Unfortunately for these Pharisees, they were more of afraid of man then of God. To them, Jesus was the bug, pest, or interference with their “status quo” in life and they were more concerned about their own reputation than fearing God.
What about you? Are you more afraid of you reputation before man than of God?
Father, Your word tells us the the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. May we not be among the foolish who despise Your wisdom and instruction. Instead may we come before You in reverence, remembering You are God alone and You will not give Your glory with another!
