In Luke 20:17 Jesus refers to himself as “the Stone that the builders rejected.” He is quoting from Psalm 118:22 and is, therefore, claiming the Psalm refers to him. Luke emphasizes ‘the Stone’ or Jesus in his record, but the other Synoptics quote Psalm 118:22-23, thus emphasizing “the LORD” (i.e. God, our Father) who has made the Stone the chief cornerstone (cf. Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11). Jesus’ point was the he is THE Stone (Psalm 118:22; cf. Luke 20:17), and he derives his authority from YHWH the LORD (i.e. God – Psalm 118:23; cf. Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11).[1]
This concept, as is implied in Jesus’ quoting Psalm 118:22-23, has its origin in the Old Testament scriptures. In Job 38 the work of creation is compared to a building, and it is implied that the foundation of that building is the LORD, himself (Job 38:6; cf. Psalm 75:3), which the New Testament applies to Jesus (cf. Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17; Revelation 4:11). The concept of a coming Anointed One or Messiah is wrapped up in this concept of ‘the Stone’ (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16).
Moreover, ‘the Stone’ came to be understood also as a symbol of judgment (Isaiah 8:13-17). Here, YHWH (the LORD – Isaiah 8:13) has become a “Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense” to Israel, and a “snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 8:14). Notice that the Jewish authorities sought to lay a snare or a trap for Jesus by questioning his authority (Luke 20:1-2), but Isaiah claims that ‘the Stone’ – i.e. Jesus – is the Snare or the Trap that is set for them (Isaiah 8:14). If one lays a trap for a trap, it backfires. In other words, he gets ‘hooked’ in the making of the second trap. Isaiah claimed that this idea of ‘the Stone’ being a trap for the authorities of Jerusalem was bound up and sealed (Isaiah 8:15-16). That is it wasn’t understood. Therefore, many would stumble and fall and be taken in the Snare. Finally, Isaiah says he would wait upon the LORD who hides his face (Isaiah 8:17), which in the New Testament is understood in the fact that he hides himself from those who don’t believe (cf. John 12:34-36), but he reveals himself to those who believe and obey (John 6:45; 15:14-14).
An interesting New Testament concept is that Jesus is the new Temple of God, as implied in the Gospel narratives (Mark 14:58; John 2:19-20). Peter expands upon this idea in 1Peter 2:1-10 by saying that Christ is the Living Stone (G2198 + G3037), to whom believers come, but which unbelievers rejected (1Peter 2:4). In coming to Christ we have, ourselves, become living stones (G2198 + G3037) built up as the Temple of God. This concept can be understood as becoming the images of God (cf. Genesis 1:26-27), thus ending our rebellion against God (Genesis 3; cf. Exodus 20:19; Deuteronomy 18:16). By coming and submitting ourselves to Jesus, we become like him. We gaze into the Mirror of God and are changed by the Image we see, and we begin to bear his likeness (2Corinthians 3:18; cf. 1John 3:1-3). So the New Temple (Mark 14:58; John 2:19-20) is the believers in Jesus (cf. 1Corinthians 6:19; 1Peter 2:5). We have become living stones in the image of THE Stone, which is Jesus (Luke 20:17), our Messiah, and he is the chief cornerstone of the building or Temple of God (1Peter 2:6; Ephesians 2:20-22).
When Solomon built the Temple, God told him that he would dwell with his people, and, if Israel obeyed him, they would be blessed, but, if they rebelled, the Temple that Solomon built with be destroyed and lie in ruins (1Kings 9:1-9). History records the truth of those words. Nevertheless, God promised a New Covenant, one which would be established within the hearts of men, because God desired an inner relationship with mankind, not one of formality and ritual (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-38). The implication is that the human body has become the Temple of God (cf. John 2:19-20), judgment is upon those who disbelieve and reject Jesus (Luke 20:17-18; Matthew 5:20). He is our Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6), and this Way, Truth and Life is within those who have received Jesus as their Stone of salvation or Messiah (1John 5:10-12; Isaiah 28:16).
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[1] This study is based in part upon the study of Dr. Bob Utley found HERE.
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