What Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled in Luke 20:17's "rejected stone" reference? Setting the Scene In Luke 20, Jesus is addressing religious leaders who question His authority. After telling the parable of the wicked tenants, He cites an Old Testament text to explain their looming rejection of Him. The Old Testament Prophecy • Psalm 118:22–23 is the passage Jesus quotes: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” How Psalm 118 Points to Jesus • Audience and context: Psalm 118 was sung during Israel’s festivals, celebrating God’s salvation and victory. • “The builders” = the religious leaders of Israel, entrusted with building God’s people. • “The stone” = the Messiah. Jesus claims He is that stone. • “Rejected” = His rejection by Israel’s leadership, culminating in the crucifixion. • “Cornerstone” = His resurrection and exaltation, making Him the essential foundation of God’s new temple, the church (Ephesians 2:19-22). • “Marvelous in our eyes” = the wondrous salvation God accomplished through the rejected but vindicated Christ. New Testament Echoes • Matthew 21:42 and Mark 12:10: Jesus uses the same Psalm in parallel accounts, reinforcing its prophetic weight. • Acts 4:11: Peter, filled with the Spirit, tells the Sanhedrin about Jesus—“He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’” • 1 Peter 2:6-7 combines Psalm 118 with Isaiah 28:16 to show believers are built on Christ: “For it stands in Scripture: ‘See, I lay in Zion a chosen, precious cornerstone…’” The Prophecy Fulfilled • Literal fulfillment: Israel’s leaders formally reject Jesus (Luke 23:21), yet God raises Him, seating Him at His right hand (Acts 2:32-36). • Prophetic precision: centuries before Christ, the Spirit revealed both rejection and ultimate exaltation in Psalm 118. Personal Application • Jesus is the only sure foundation—every life must be built on Him (1 Corinthians 3:11). • Rejecting Him leads to judgment (Luke 20:18); receiving Him brings salvation and incorporation into God’s living temple (1 Peter 2:5). |
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