Meaning of Luke 20:17

This verse from Luke 20:17, quoting Psalm 118:22, is Jesus' profound response to the religious authorities who questioned His authority to teach and act as He did. By invoking this prophetic psalm, Jesus directly identifies Himself as the rejected cornerstone, highlighting the irony and divine judgment that would fall upon those who refused to recognize Him. The builders, representing the religious leadership of Israel, had dismissed Jesus, deeming Him unfit for their spiritual edifice. However, Jesus declares that this very rejection would paradoxically lead to His exaltation as the essential foundation of God's new spiritual house, the church. This points to a divine plan that transcends human understanding and worldly judgment, where what appears to be failure is, in fact, the ultimate triumph.

Context and Background

Jesus is in Jerusalem during the week leading up to His crucifixion, teaching in the temple. The religious leaders, including the chief priests, scribes, and elders, are actively seeking to trap Him and find a way to arrest Him. In Luke 20:1-8, Jesus had just answered their question about John the Baptist's authority by turning the question back on them, exposing their lack of faith. Now, in Luke 20:9-19, Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants, which is a direct allegory about Israel's rejection of God's messengers and ultimately His Son. Luke 20:17 is the pivotal moment where Jesus explicitly links Himself to the fulfillment of prophecy in Psalm 118, a psalm often associated with messianic themes and the rejoicing over God's deliverance.

Key Themes and Messages

• Rejection and Vindication: The central theme is the paradox of rejection leading to ultimate vindication and supreme importance.
• Divine Foreknowledge and Plan: Jesus demonstrates that His fate, including His rejection and subsequent exaltation, is not accidental but part of God's predetermined plan.
• Messianic Identity: Jesus clearly identifies Himself as the Messiah foretold in Scripture, the one who will be the foundational stone of God's kingdom.
• Judgment on Unbelief: The verse implicitly carries a warning about the consequences of rejecting God's chosen one.
• The Church as a Spiritual House: The "stone" becomes the "cornerstone" of a new spiritual building, representing the community of believers, the Church.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers, this verse offers immense reassurance. It teaches that even in the face of opposition, misunderstanding, and rejection from the world or even within religious circles, God's purposes will prevail. Jesus, the cornerstone, provides the unshakeable foundation for our faith and the Church. His acceptance by God, despite humanity's rejection, means that our acceptance by God, through Him, is secure. It calls believers to recognize Jesus as the essential element of their faith and to build their lives upon Him, trusting in His ultimate triumph and authority.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Luke 20:17 is a crucial link between the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament fulfillment in Christ. Psalm 118, from which the quote is taken, is a psalm of thanksgiving and celebration, often sung during festivals like the Feast of Tabernacles. Its use here by Jesus underscores His claim to be the ultimate deliverer and the center of God's salvific plan. This verse directly anticipates the rejection Jesus will face from the Jewish leadership, His crucifixion, and His resurrection and ascension, where He is indeed exalted to the right hand of God, becoming the head of the Church. It prefigures the expansion of God's kingdom beyond the physical boundaries of Israel to include all nations who believe in Him.

Analogies

• The Architect and the Building: Imagine a master architect who designs a magnificent building. The builders are tasked with constructing it, but they overlook or discard a crucial, uniquely shaped stone that doesn't fit their conventional plans. This rejected stone, however, is the only one that can properly align and support the entire structure, making it the indispensable cornerstone.
• The Diamond in the Rough: A rough, unpolished stone might be overlooked by many who seek only superficial beauty. Yet, when cut and set by a skilled jeweler, it becomes a brilliant gem, the central focus of a magnificent piece of jewelry. Similarly, Jesus, rejected in His earthly appearance, is the priceless treasure of God's salvation.

Relation to Other Verses

• Psalm 118:22-23: This is the direct source of Jesus' quotation, highlighting the prophetic nature of His statement.
• Matthew 21:42: Jesus uses the same imagery in His parable of the tenants told to the chief priests and Pharisees in Matthew.
• Acts 4:10-12: Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, directly applies this prophecy to Jesus when speaking to the Sanhedrin, emphasizing that salvation is found only in Him.
• 1 Peter 2:4-8: Peter elaborates on Jesus as the living stone, chosen and precious, and the spiritual house built upon Him, with those who disbelieve stumbling over Him.
• Ephesians 2:20: The Apostle Paul refers to the church being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.