Luke 20:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus looks directly at them and quotes the psalm: the stone the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
What Does Luke 20:17 Mean?
Jesus answers the crowd's 'God forbid' with Scripture, quoting Psalm 118:22 — from the psalm Passover pilgrims sang, the very psalm echoed at his entry into Jerusalem days before (Luke 19:38). Luke marks his steady gaze: he beholds them as he asks what the writing means.
The builders — the experts in what belongs in God's house — are about to discard a stone, and that stone will prove to be the cornerstone on which everything stands. Rejection will not cancel God's purpose; it will accomplish it. The cross meant for the Son's disposal becomes the foundation of salvation (Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:4-7). What God has chosen, no refusal of men can unmake.
Luke 20:17 in the Original Language
apodokimazo (ἀποδοκιμάζω), 'rejected' -- to reject after testing, to judge unfit for use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 20:17
What does Luke 20:17 mean?
Jesus looks directly at them and quotes the psalm: the stone the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.