Why did Jesus quote Psalm 118:22 in Luke 20:17? The Immediate Text in Luke 20:17 “But Jesus looked directly at them and said, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” ?’ ” Jesus cites Psalm 118:22 at the climax of His confrontation with the chief priests, scribes, and elders after the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Luke 20:9-16). The quotation functions as His divine verdict on their rejection of His messianic authority and as a declaration of His ultimate vindication. Psalm 118:22 in Its Original Setting Psalm 118 is a liturgical thanksgiving psalm sung by pilgrims at the Passover (cf. Matthew 26:30). Verses 22-23 read, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD; it is marvelous in our eyes” . In its initial historical setting the “stone” symbolized Israel, or possibly the Davidic king, once despised by surrounding nations yet chosen by Yahweh for pre-eminence. Second-Temple Jews already treated the psalm as messianic; the crowds a few days earlier had shouted part of the same psalm—“Hosanna … Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” (Psalm 118:25-26)—during the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:38). Rabbinic and Intertestamental Expectation Early rabbinic writings (e.g., Midrash Rabbah on Genesis 98:9) interpret Psalm 118:22 messianically, describing a future “son of David” rejected by leaders yet exalted by God. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4QPs 118) preserve the Hebrew text essentially identical to the Masoretic, confirming that Jesus quoted a passage already regarded as authoritative prophecy. Connection to the Parable of the Wicked Tenants In the parable a landowner (God) plants a vineyard (Israel), rents it to tenant-farmers (religious leaders), sends prophets (servants) whom they beat, and finally sends “his beloved son” whom they kill (Luke 20:13-15). The son’s murder is the builders’ rejection; the psalm’s “cornerstone” is the son’s resurrection and enthronement. By citing Psalm 118:22 Jesus identifies Himself as the Son, predicts His own death, and foretells His vindication—“the cornerstone” on which God’s redemptive plan is built. The Cornerstone Motif Across Scripture • Isaiah 28:16—“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation.” • Zechariah 10:4—“From Judah will come the cornerstone.” • Daniel 2:34-35—The stone not cut by human hands smashes earthly kingdoms. • Acts 4:11—Peter repeats Psalm 118:22, applying it to the risen Christ before the Sanhedrin. • 1 Peter 2:7 and Ephesians 2:20—Believers are built on Christ, the chief cornerstone. The cumulative testimony presents a unified, predictive thread: the Messiah would be rejected yet become the indispensable foundation of God’s dwelling with humanity. Christological Claim and Authority over the Temple Builders = Israel’s religious architects. Cornerstone = the foundational squared stone that aligns two walls; in Herodian architecture such stones exceeded 500 tons (an excavated example at the Western Wall measures 13 m x 3.3 m x 4.6 m). Claiming to be the cornerstone asserts supremacy over the Temple itself. Within days Jesus will declare, “Not one stone here will be left on another” (Luke 21:6), implying that rejecting the true cornerstone dooms the existing structure. Prophetic Fulfillment and Divine Necessity Jesus frames the leaders’ plot to kill Him as fulfillment ordained by Scripture: “This is from the LORD” (Psalm 118:23). The resurrection validated the prophecy; multiple early creed passages (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:3-5) circulating within a few years of the crucifixion cite the Scriptures as foretelling His death and vindication. Pastoral and Devotional Application Believers draw assurance that apparent rejection and suffering, when endured for Christ, participate in the pattern of the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-5). The citation encourages confidence in Scripture’s cohesion, emboldens evangelism, and calls for examination: Are we building on Christ alone or on culturally accepted but unstable foundations? Conclusion Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 to declare Himself the long-promised Messiah, expose the culpability of Israel’s leaders, predict His death and resurrection, assert divine authority over the Temple, and invite all hearers to anchor their lives on the only cornerstone God has provided. |
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