Luke 20:17 - Printer Friendly

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’?

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’ ?

NASB: But Jesus looked at them and said, 'Then what is this statement that has been written: ‘A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE’?

CSB: But he looked at them and said, "Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?

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

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

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’?

This establishes the moral of the parable of the wicked tenants (Luke 20:9–16). In the story, a landowner hired workers to care for his vineyard. When he sent his son to collect some of the grapes, the tenants killed him, thinking they would now inherit the land. In the same way, God has established religious, legal, and civil leaders to ensure the people properly worship Him and live according to His ways. Now, He has sent His Son. Those leaders will kill His Son to keep control over the people: religiously, legally, and civilly.

After the tenants kill the son, the landowner returns, destroys the tenants, and finds new farmers for his vineyard. About less than forty years after the Jewish leaders kill Jesus, God allows the Romans to destroy the temple and Jerusalem and send the surviving priests and scribes into exile.

Jesus doesn't give specifics, but the people can't understand how God could take the Jewish leaders out of power. Jesus explains that it's because of Him. He is the cornerstone of God's kingdom. God's kingdom is built on Him. The Jewish leaders can reject Him all they want, but it makes no difference. He quotes Psalm 118:22. The stanza talks about how the righteous will enter the gate of Yahweh, that God is their salvation, it is His doing only, it is marvelous and worthy of rejoicing (Psalm 118:19–24).

The Jewish leaders may kill the Son, but that doesn't stop God's plan. He is the foundation of a new manifestation of God's people: the church (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20).

Luke 20:9–18 records Jesus' response to religious leaders who challenged His authority (Luke 20:1–8). This comes in the form of the parable of the wicked tenants. The underlying meaning is that as the Son of God, Jesus has proper authority over religious leaders. However, the leaders of His era will kill Him, and God will destroy them. In the mirrored structure of Luke 20, the parallel argument is that Jesus is also superior to the line of the Jewish kings (Luke 20:41–44). In between, religious leaders foolishly challenge Jesus' understanding of the Mosaic law (Luke 20:19–40). This passage echoes the records in Matthew 21:33–46 and Mark 12:1–12.

After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus find Himself in conflict with the city's religious leaders. Elders, priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees all attempt to discredit Him. This comes mostly in challenging Jesus with trick questions. Jesus deftly handles those challenges without falling into the trap. He provides several teachings about His role as the Son of God and directly warns the Jewish people against their generation of scribes, who are arrogant and pretentious.

Luke 20 is a chiasm about authority. Jesus has entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple (Luke 19:28–46). Now, the priests and teachers attack Jesus' authority in religion, law, and doctrine; Jesus defends Himself and shows their sinful lifestyles disqualify them for authority. After holding up a widow as a better role model (Luke 21:1–4), Jesus warns His disciples about the challenges they will face in the coming years, including the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:5–38). The events in Luke 20 are also discussed in Matthew 21—23 and Mark 11—12.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.