Luke 20 17

Luke 20:17 kjv

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

Luke 20:17 nkjv

Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone'?

Luke 20:17 niv

Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "?'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone' ?

Luke 20:17 esv

But he looked directly at them and said, "What then is this that is written: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?

Luke 20:17 nlt

Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what does this Scripture mean? 'The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.'

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 17 Meaning

Jesus here poses a rhetorical question, quoting Psalm 118:22, to directly interpret His parable of the wicked tenants and to unveil His own divine identity and destiny. Despite the deliberate rejection by the religious authorities (the "builders"), He will be exalted by God to the position of ultimate significance and foundational necessity, becoming the central and indispensable cornerstone of God's spiritual temple, the church. This signifies a reversal of human judgment by divine will and purpose.

Luke 20 17 Context

Luke 20:17 is situated within a series of confrontations between Jesus and the religious authorities in Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. Following His Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:28-44) and the cleansing of the temple, His authority is challenged by the chief priests, scribes, and elders (Luke 20:1-8). Jesus responds with the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Luke 20:9-16), a thinly veiled allegory where the landowner represents God, the vineyard Israel, the tenants the Jewish leaders, and the murdered son Jesus Himself. When Jesus asks what the landowner will do, the audience replies He will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. This verse then immediately follows, with Jesus looking directly at His opponents as He quotes the well-known Messianic psalm. By citing Psalm 118:22, Jesus not only confirms the meaning of the parable, but directly prophesies His own crucifixion by these leaders and His subsequent resurrection and exaltation by God. The leaders immediately recognized that the parable and this quotation were directed against them (Luke 20:19), highlighting the tension and polemical nature of Jesus' words.

Luke 20 17 Word analysis

• And looking (ἐμβλέψας - emblepsas): This Greek word implies an intense, fixed, and discerning gaze, not just a casual glance. Jesus directly and pointedly confronts His listeners, particularly the religious leaders, emphasizing the gravity and personal relevance of His words.
• at them he said: Highlights a direct address and challenge to the religious authorities who were questioning His authority.
• What then is this: A rhetorical question used to draw attention and demand reflection upon the clear implications of the Scripture that follows. It signals a crucial interpretive moment, bridging the parable with its scriptural foundation and fulfillment.
• that is written (γεγραμμένον - gegrammenon): A perfect passive participle, indicating a state of being written that is settled and enduring. It signifies the permanent, authoritative, and divinely inspired nature of the Scriptural text. It underlines the eternal truth and prophetic fulfillment embedded in Psalm 118.
• The stone (ὁ λίθος - ho lithos): Symbolically represents a person or concept of crucial importance. In this Messianic context, it unequivocally refers to Jesus Christ. This "stone" is chosen by God to be the foundation of His spiritual dwelling.
• that the builders (οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες - hoi oikodomountes): Refers to those tasked with building God's house or kingdom. In context, these are primarily the religious leaders of Israel—the chief priests, scribes, and elders—who perceived themselves as the guardians and shapers of God's people.
• rejected (ἀπεδοκίμασαν - apedokimasan): This strong Greek verb means "to put to the test and reject," "disqualify," or "throw aside as worthless after examination." It implies a deliberate, informed, and official decision of disapproval and contempt by the authorities against Jesus, considering Him unfit or unworthy.
• has become: Denotes a transformational event. Despite human rejection, divine intervention leads to a complete reversal of status, underscoring God's sovereign power.
• the cornerstone (κεφαλὴ γωνίας - kephale gonias): Literally "the head of the corner." This refers to the most crucial stone in a building. It could be the foundational stone that precisely aligns the two walls meeting at a corner and bears the greatest weight, ensuring stability for the entire structure. Or, less commonly in this context, it could be the capstone, the topmost stone that locks the entire edifice together at the apex. Either way, it signifies supreme importance, foundational necessity, and the culmination of God's building plan. Jesus is essential for the church's coherence, stability, and ultimate completion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "What then is this that is written: ‘The stone...": This opening emphasizes Jesus' method of argument from Scripture. He doesn't just state His case but roots it in authoritative prophecy, challenging the religious leaders on their own theological ground, knowing they professed to uphold the Scriptures.
• "The stone that the builders rejected": This phrase highlights the radical contrast between human action and divine purpose. The very individuals (the "builders") who were responsible for constructing God's spiritual edifice (Israel) failed to recognize and willfully dismissed God's essential element (Jesus, the "stone"). This speaks to profound spiritual blindness and opposition.
• "has become the cornerstone": This asserts the triumph of God's will despite human rebellion. The "stone" deemed useless by man is divinely exalted to the position of ultimate indispensability and honor. This divine reversal indicates God's sovereign plan cannot be thwarted by human agency. It points to Jesus' resurrection and exaltation as the central event that establishes the new spiritual house.

Luke 20 17 Bonus section

The significance of the "cornerstone" is further underscored in ancient architecture. Such a stone was typically immense and precisely cut to link two walls and bear substantial weight, ensuring the entire structure's stability and correct alignment. Jesus, as this "cornerstone," is not only foundational but also the ultimate unifying force. He integrates both Jewish and Gentile believers into "one new humanity" (Eph 2:14-16), serving as the key stone that joins previously separated parts. His placement as "cornerstone" also means that for those who reject Him, He becomes a "stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (1 Pet 2:8; Isa 8:14), against whom they trip and fall to their spiritual ruin, fulfilling the subsequent warning in Luke 20:18. This illustrates that Jesus' presence compels a definitive response, resulting in either salvation or judgment based on acceptance or rejection of Him as God's cornerstone.

Luke 20 17 Commentary

In Luke 20:17, Jesus wields the prophecy of Psalm 118:22 as a sharp sword, cutting through the self-deception of the Jewish religious leaders and revealing His divine identity. Having just presented the parable of the wicked tenants, which directly indicted their spiritual rebellion and forthcoming judgment, Jesus clarifies the parable's central figure: He Himself is the "stone" – God's chosen Messiah – whom the spiritual "builders" of Israel (the chief priests, scribes, and elders) would tragically and deliberately reject. This rejection would culminate in His crucifixion. Yet, Jesus prophesies a divine reversal: this same rejected stone would become the "cornerstone," the vital, central, and foundational element upon which God's true spiritual temple, the Church, would be built. This isn't merely an act of human preference; it is God's own sovereign purpose, establishing Jesus' supreme authority and essential role in His unfolding redemptive plan. The verse thus simultaneously functions as a Christological assertion, a prophetic indictment, and a statement of divine sovereignty.