Luke 20:17

‘But he looked on 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?” '

This method of finishing off a parable with a Scripture quotation is regularly found among the Rabbis.

For then Jesus looked at them and emphasised the reference to Himself as the beloved Son by citing Psalms 118:22, and declaring that ‘The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner.' They might reject Him, He is telling them, but they cannot prevent Him from being made the chief cornerstone of God's saving purposes. For while they may kill the Son it will not be the end. He will rise again and be the foundation and seal on which God's salvation will be based. The verse is used similarly in Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7.

The chief corner stone was either the corner stone of the foundation which had to bear the weight of the building, or the stone which when it was finally set in place, completed the building and held it together as one (the cap-piece). Here it is seen as being in the first place rejected by the builders because they cannot see how it will fit in, only for them to discover in the end that it was the essential cornerstone. (We are not intended to ask whether builders could be so stupid, although no doubt some could. The whole point of the parable is to bring out the stupidity of those of whom it speaks by an exaggerated picture).

In contrast to this firm Foundation Stone on Whom the future will be based, and on which other stones will be erected (Ephesians 2:19), are the ‘goodly stones' of the Temple which will be cast down and left not one stone upon another (Luke 19:44; Luke 21:5). The One is to replace the other (compare John 2:19; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 2 Corinthians 6:16).

It should be noted that it was from this Psalm that the people greeted Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem (see Luke 20:26). It was probably a Psalm used in festal situations for among other things welcoming the king or ruler of Israel as he ceremonially entered Jerusalem or the Temple with a view to making an offering (Luke 20:27). It was thus a suitable picture for application to the King Himself Who would shortly offer Himself upon the altar chosen by God.