Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus here points out that the very people who should have recognized and built with Him—the religious "builders" of His day—actually rejected Him. But God’s plan is far bigger than human rejection; the stone they cast aside is now the vital cornerstone that holds everything together. This is a stunning reminder that God’s work often looks weakest when it’s about to be revealed as strongest.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just told a parable about wicked tenants who killed their master's son, a parable clearly aimed at the religious leaders present. He then quotes Psalm 118:22, applying it directly to himself, revealing that he is the "stone" rejected by the "builders" (the religious establishment) but destined to become the cornerstone of God's kingdom, a truth that is truly marvelous. This declaration directly sets up his prediction in the next verses that the kingdom will be taken from them and given to a people who will produce its fruits.
Imagine the finest building project – skilled artisans, a clear blueprint. But what happens when the most crucial piece is overlooked, even discarded, by those in charge? That's exactly the scenario Jesus points to.
Jesus is responding to the religious leaders who are trying to trap him. He tells them a parable about a vineyard owner, which they correctly interpret as being about the religious leaders' rejection of God's Son. Then, he drives home his point by quoting Psalm 118:22.
The Builders:
The Stone:
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It's one thing for a rejected stone to be salvaged, but something else entirely for it to be divinely appointed as the most important piece. That's where the 'marvelous' part comes in.
The phrase 'this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes' is the heart of Jesus's message here. It highlights God's sovereign power and wisdom.
The Lord's Doing:
Marvellous in Our Eyes:
Understand the original words
graphē · Greek Noun
The collection of holy writings recognized as divinely inspired. In the New Testament, it refers to the Old Testament as the authoritative word of God and the source for understanding His redemptive plan.
lithos · Greek Noun
A stone, often the foundation or capstone, used metaphorically to describe Jesus Christ. It represents the central, foundational element of God’s plan of salvation, which is often rejected by human systems of authority.
kephalē gōnias · Greek Noun phrase
Literally the "head of the corner," this refers to the primary stone that holds a structure together and determines its alignment. Theologically, it signifies Christ as the supreme, irreplaceable foundation upon which the church is built.
Jesus' words draw directly from Psalm 118, a psalm used in celebrations and believed by many Jews to refer to the Messiah. By quoting it in this moment, Jesus highlights the dramatic irony: the very leaders who 'build' God's kingdom are rejecting the cornerstone God Himself has chosen.
c. 1000 BC
David Anointed King
The prophet Samuel anoints David as king, though Saul is still on the throne. David is initially rejected and hunted by Saul but eventually becomes Israel's greatest king.
c. 970-931 BC
Solomon's Temple Construction
Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem, a massive construction project that would become central to Israelite worship and identity.
c. 700 BC
Prophecy of Isaiah
The prophet Isaiah foretells the coming Messiah, describing him as a 'stone of stumbling' and a 'precious cornerstone' for God's people.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
Jerusalem is destroyed, and many Jewish leaders and skilled people are exiled to Babylon. This event profoundly shapes Jewish identity and their understanding of God's covenant.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
After returning from exile, the Jewish people complete the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of their restored community and religious devotion.
c. 40s BC - 30s AD
Jesus' Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and challenging the religious authorities. His message and claims to be the Messiah cause significant conflict.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is rejected and condemned by the Jewish religious leaders and crucified. He is then resurrected, fulfilling prophecies and demonstrating his divine authority.
This is the direct Old Testament source for Jesus' quote, highlighting the foundational importance of the rejected stone that God elevates.
Isaiah 28:16This prophetic passage speaks of God laying a 'tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation' in Zion, directly paralleling the rejected stone in Matthew becoming the cornerstone of God's spiritual building.
Acts 4:11Peter directly quotes Psalm 118:22 to the Jewish leaders, applying the 'rejected stone' prophecy to Jesus Christ after His resurrection, underscoring His central role despite their opposition.
1 Peter 2:7This passage reiterates that Christ is both 'a stone of stumbling' to unbelievers (like the builders) and a 'precious cornerstone' to believers, reinforcing the dual reception of Jesus prophesied in the Psalms.
Ephesians 2:20-22Paul describes believers as 'built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone,' illustrating how the rejected stone unites and forms the very structure of the Church.
henryMatthew 21:33-46: "Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:"
21:33-46 This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward church. As men treat God's people, they would treat Christ himself, if he were wi…
barnesMatthew 21:42: "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
Jesus saith ... - Jesus, having led them to admit the justice of the great "principle" on which God was about to act toward them proceeds to apply it by a text of Scripture, declaring that this very thing which they admitted to be proper in the case of the "husbandmen" had been p…
Jesus here points out that the very people who should have recognized and built with Him—the religious "builders" of His day—actually rejected Him. But God’s plan is far bigger than human rejection; the stone they cast aside is now the vital cornerstone that holds everything together. This is a stunning reminder that God’s work often looks weakest when it’s about to be revealed as strongest.
Jesus has just told a parable about wicked tenants who killed their master's son, a parable clearly aimed at the religious leaders present. He then quotes Psalm 118:22, applying it directly to himself, revealing that he is the "stone" rejected by the "builders" (the religious establishment) but destined to become the cornerstone of God's kingdom, a truth that is truly marvelous. This declaration directly sets up his prediction in the next verses that the kingdom will be taken from them and given to a people who will produce its fruits.
Jesus has just told a parable about wicked tenants who killed their master's son, a parable clearly aimed at the religious leaders present. He then quotes Psalm 118:22, applying it directly to himself, revealing that he is the "stone" rejected by the "builders" (the religious establishment) but destined to become the cornerstone of God's kingdom, a truth that is truly marvelous. This declaration directly sets up his prediction in the next verses that the kingdom will be taken from them and given to a people who will produce its fruits.
"Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?" — Jesus here points out that the very people who should have recognized and built with Him—the religious "builders" of His day—actually rejected Him. But God’s plan is far bigger than human rejection;…
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Last reviewed October 2026