Keraia
Matthew 21

Matthew 21:42

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants · Matthew 21:33–46
Read Matthew 21

Translations

Modern
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Traditional
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?
Literal
Jesus says to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that those building rejected, this became the head of the corner. This was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Latin
Dicit illis Jesus: Numquam legistis in Scripturis: Lapidem quem reprobaverunt ædificantes, hic factus est in caput anguli: a Domino factum est istud, et est mirabile in oculis nostris?

Original

Greek
English
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Notes

Matthew 21:42

The cornerstone was either the first stone of the foundation or the last stone placed, like the top of an arch. The builders rejected this stone as unworthy, but it was actually the most important. Jesus was talking about his role in the kingdom of God (Matthew 21:43) and how the Jewish religious leaders rejected him.

Matthew 21:33–46

In this story, Jesus refers back to Isaiah 5:1–7. The people of Israel who rejected God's Messiah lost the privilege of being God's people. Now, God has called the Christian community, made up of both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews), to be his people (see Romans 9:4–8; 11:1–12).

Matthew 21:28–22:14

Three parables expose the guilt of those who rejected the Messiah and lost their special status as God's chosen people. God now considers only those who accept Jesus as the Messiah as his people.

Matthew 21:23–22:46

This section focuses on how Jewish leaders challenged the authority of Jesus. Each time, the wisdom of Jesus revealed their lack of spiritual understanding. These debates also revealed the status of Jesus as the Messiah and the consequences of rejecting him. Sadly, the leaders became more resistant with each encounter and plotted to kill Jesus (Matthew 21:23, 46; 22:15–17, 23, 34, 41).

Theme notes and profiles

The Stone the Builders Rejected

Events

Parallels

Mark 12:1–12 Luke 20:9–18

People

Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world

Glossary

Bible Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Cornerstone Gospel of Matthew Heir Jesus Christ Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven Vines, Vineyard

Topics

Breakups Builder: Figurative Church: Backslidden Church: Christ, Head of Cornerstone of Christ Ecclesiasticism: Jewish, to be Overthrown Husbandman: An Agriculturist Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Head of the Corner Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Stone Jesus, the Christ: Parable of The Evil Sharecroppers Jesus, the Christ: Rejected Jesus, the Christ: Revelations by: His Rejection by the Jews Jesus, the Christ: The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (In Jerusalem) Parables: Parables of Christ: Wicked Husbandmen Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by Jesus Prophecies Respecting Christ: His Being Rejected by the Jewish Rulers: Fulfilled Quotations and Allusions in the New Testament From, and To, the Old Testament Reproof: Faithfulness In of the Vineyard Stones of Christ's Rejection, the Rejected Conerstone the Head of the Church Christ: Declared by Himself the Head of the Church Christ: Predicted The Jews: Punishment of, for Rejecting and Killing Christ, Illustrated Unfaithfulness: General Scriptures Concerning