The Meaning of Luke 20:17 Explained

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?

YLT: and he, having looked upon them, said, 'What, then, is this that hath been written: A stone that the builders rejected -- this became head of a corner?

Darby: But he looking at them said, What then is this that is written, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone?

ASV: But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does Luke 20:17 Mean?

Study Notes

stone
See Psalms 118:22 ; Psalms 118:23 .
stone shall be broken
Christ as the "Stone" is revealed in a threefold way:
(1) To Israel Christ, coming not as a splendid monarch but in the form of a servant, is a stumbling stone and rock of offence. Isaiah 8:14 ; Isaiah 8:15 ; Romans 9:32 ; Romans 9:33 ; 1 Corinthians 1:23 ; 1 Peter 2:8
(2) to the church, Christ is the foundation stone and the head of the corner 1 Corinthians 3:11 ; Ephesians 2:20-22 ; 1 Peter 2:4 ; 1 Peter 2:5
(3) to the Gentile world-powers (see "Gentiles," Luke 21:24 ; Revelation 16:19 He is to be the smiting-stone of destruction Daniel 2:34 . Israel stumbled over Christ; the church is built upon Christ; Gentile world- dominion will be broken by Christ.
See "Armageddon" Revelation 16:14 ; Revelation 19:19 .
And whosoever
Or, Whosoever falls on this stone shall be crushed together i.e. the Jews Isaiah 8:14 ; Romans 9:32 ; Romans 9:33 ; 1 Corinthians 1:23 ] but on whomsoever it may fall, he will be scattered as dust (Greek - ἀπόλλυμι ," i).e. the Gentile nations, Daniel 2:34 ; Daniel 2:35 ; Daniel 2:45 (See Scofield " Daniel 2:35 ") .
And whosoever
Or, Whosoever falls on this stone shall be crushed together i.e. the Jews Isaiah 8:14 ; Romans 9:32 ; Romans 9:33 ; 1 Corinthians 1:23 ] but on whomsoever it may fall, he will be scattered as dust (Greek - ἀπόλλυμι ," i).e. the Gentile nations, Daniel 2:34 ; Daniel 2:35 ; Daniel 2:45 (See Scofield " Daniel 2:35 ") .

Verse Meaning

By looking at His hearers Jesus captivated their attention for a very important statement. Jesus" response corrected the crowd"s resistance to the idea that God would judge Israel"s present leaders and would allow Israel to fall under other presumably Gentile leadership. He now changed the figure from a vineyard to a building. Luke recorded Him quoting only Psalm 118:22, not Luke 20:23, which the other evangelists included (cf. Luke 19:38; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7). This has the effect of highlighting the stone, namely, Jesus, without reference to God.
An apparently insignificant stone that builders discarded as being unfit would become the most important stone of all. Jesus would become the most important feature in what God was building. Luke"s original readers would have understood this as a reference to Jesus being the head of the church. The statement was a further indictment against the current builders, Israel"s leaders.

Context Summary

Luke 20:9-18 - "the Stone Which The Builders Rejected"
The vineyard represents the privileges and blessings of the Hebrew race. The servants are evidently the prophets and others sent from God. Whatever our position in life, God expects a revenue from it. We are not owners, but tenants; not proprietors, but stewards. Are you sure that you are giving God the dues which He may justly claim?
Notice how our Lord severs Himself from all human messengers, as the Son. When He said my beloved Son, He anticipated John 3:16. The warm kiss of the father's love was on His cheek. He realized that He was the heir, Hebrews 1:2; Romans 8:17.
It is said that in the building of Solomon's Temple, a valuable carved stone was cast aside and neglected, till a part of the structure absolutely called for it. You may build society as you like, but there will come a time when Christ will be needed to give the finishing touch. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 20

1  Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism
9  The parable of the vineyard
19  Of giving tribute to Caesar
27  He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection
41  How Jesus is the Son of David
45  He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes

Greek Commentary for Luke 20:17

He looked upon them [εμβλεπσας αυτοις]
Not in Mark and Matthew. First aorist active participle of εμβλεπω — emblepō to look on. It was a piercing glance. The scripture quoted is from Psalm 118:22 and is in Mark 11:10; see Matthew 21:42 for the inverted attraction of the case λιτον — lithon (stone) to that of the relative ον — hon (which). [source]
The stone, etc []
See on 1 Peter 2:4-7. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 20:17

1 Corinthians 3:11 Than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus [παρα τον κειμενον ος εστιν Ιησους Χριστος]
Literally, “alongside Paul scouts the suggestion that one even in the interest of so-called “new thought” will dare to lay beside Jesus another foundation for religion. And yet I have seen an article by a professor in a theological seminary in which he advocates regarding Jesus as a landmark, not as a goal, not as a foundation. Clearly Paul means that on this one true foundation, Jesus Christ, one must build only what is in full harmony with the Foundation which is Jesus Christ. If one accuses Paul of narrowness, it can be replied that the architect has to be narrow in the sense of building here and not there. A broad foundation will be too thin and unstable for a solid and abiding structure. It can be said also that Paul is here merely repeating the claim of Jesus himself on this very subject when he quoted Psalm 118:22. to the members of the Sanhedrin who challenged his authority (Mark 11:10.; Matthew 21:42-45; Luke 20:17.). Apostles and prophets go into this temple of God, but Christ Jesus is the chief corner stone All believers are living stones in this temple (1 Peter 2:5). But there is only one foundation possible. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:5 Used we flattering words [ἐν λόγῳ κολακίας ἐγενηθήμεν]
Better, were we found using flattering discourse. Very literally and baldly it is, we came to pass in discourse of flattery. It means more than the mere fact that they were not flatterers: rather, they did not prove to be such in the course of their work. Similar periphrases with ἐν are found, Luke 22:44; Acts 22:17; 2 Corinthians 3:7; Philemon 2:7; with εἰς , Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:5. Κολακία flatteryN.T.oolxx. Rare in Class. Λόγῳ is explained by some as report or rumor. Common report did not charge us with being flatterers. This meaning is admissible, but the other is simpler. Paul says that they had not descended to flattery in order to make the gospel acceptable. They had not flattered men's self-complacency so as to blind them to their need of the radical work which the gospel demands. [source]
1 Peter 2:7 But for such as disbelieve [απιστουσιν δε]
Dative present active participle again of απιστεω — apisteō opposite of πιστευω — pisteuō (Luke 24:11).Was made the head of the corner (εγενητη εις κεπαλην γωνιας — egenēthē eis kephalēn gōnias). This verse is from Psalm 118:22 with evident allusion to Isaiah 28:16 (κεπαλην γωνιασακρογωνιαιον — kephalēn gōnias =οι οικοδομουντες — akrogōniaion). See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17, where Jesus himself quotes Psalm 118:22 and applies the rejection of the stone by the builders (hoi oikodomountes the experts) to the Sanhedrin‘s conduct toward him. Peter quoted it also (and applied it as Jesus had done) in his speech at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 4:11). Here he quotes it again to the same purpose. [source]
1 Peter 2:7 Was made the head of the corner [εγενητη εις κεπαλην γωνιας]
This verse is from Psalm 118:22 with evident allusion to Isaiah 28:16 See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17, where Jesus himself quotes Psalm 118:22 and applies the rejection of the stone by the builders Here he quotes it again to the same purpose. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 20:17 mean?

- But having looked at them He said What then is that has been written this [The] stone which rejected those building this has become into [the] head of [the] corner
δὲ ἐμβλέψας αὐτοῖς εἶπεν Τί οὖν ἐστιν τὸ γεγραμμένον τοῦτο Λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες Οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐμβλέψας  having  looked  at 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐμβλέπω  
Sense: to turn one’s eyes on.
εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
τὸ  that 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γεγραμμένον  has  been  written 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
Λίθον  [The]  stone 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λίθος  
Sense: a stone.
ἀπεδοκίμασαν  rejected 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀποδοκιμάζω  
Sense: to disapprove, reject, repudiate.
οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οἰκοδομοῦντες  building 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οἰκοδομέω 
Sense: to build a house, erect a building.
Οὗτος  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐγενήθη  has  become 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
κεφαλὴν  [the]  head 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κεφαλή  
Sense: the head, both of men and often of animals.
γωνίας  of  [the]  corner 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γωνία  
Sense: corner.