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Luke 20:17

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 20:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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?
Luke 20:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17But 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?
18Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.
19And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.
20And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.
← Luke 20:16Luke 20:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he beheld them, etc.] Looked very earnestly and wistly at them, speaking as it were by his looks, signifying, that verily so it would be, as he had said; that they would reject the Messiah, and put him to death, and bring utter ruin upon themselves, and deprive their posterity of many advantages and privileges: and said, what is this then that is written; that is, what else is the meaning of such a Scripture? is not the sense of that perfectly agreeable to what has been said, that the Messiah shall be rejected by the principal men among the Jews in church and state, and yet he shall be exalted, who will then take vengeance on them? the stone which the builders rejected, the same is…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“written--(in Psa 118:22-23. See on Luk 19:38). The Kingdom of God is here a Temple, in the erection of which a certain stone, rejected as unsuitable by the spiritual builders, is, by the great Lord of the House, made the keystone of the whole. On that Stone the builders were now "falling" and being "broken" (Isa 8:15), "sustaining great spiritual hurt; but soon that Stone should fall upon them and grind them to powder" (Dan 2:34-35; Zac 12:3) --in their corporate capacity in the tremendous destruction of Jerusalem, but personally, as unbelievers, in a more awful sense still.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this parable explained in the notes at Matthew 21:33-45. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He looked on them - To sharpen their attention. Psa 118:22. Luke 20:18”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:17 The stone . . . cornerstone: Jesus cited Ps 118:22 to predict his rejection and restoration. The cornerstone was the key part of a building, used to support and align adjoining walls. Jesus was rejected by the builders (the religious leaders), but he would become the foundation of a new building (the church).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“beheld: Luk 19:41, Luk 22:61; Mar 3:5, Mar 10:23 What: Luk 22:37, Luk 24:44; Joh 15:25 The stone: Psa 118:22; Isa 28:16; Zac 3:9; Mat 21:42; Mar 12:10; Act 4:11; Pe1 2:7, Pe1 2:8 Luke 20:18”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 20 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification