The Rejected Son Becomes the Exalted Cornerstone
The rejected Son becomes the exalted cornerstone, and those who reject Him face judgment.
Luke 20:9–19 (BSB)
9 Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.
10 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
11 So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.
12 Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.
13 ‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’
14 But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”
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’?
18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.
What is the big idea of Luke 20:9–19?
The rejected Son becomes the exalted cornerstone, and those who reject Him face judgment.
How does Luke 20:9–19 point to Christ?
The beloved Son rejected and killed is exalted as the cornerstone through His resurrection; salvation rests on trusting the crucified and risen Christ, while rejection results in judgment.
How does Luke 20:9–19 relate to the life and ministry of Jesus?
Jesus tells a parable about a man who planted a vineyard, leased it to tenants, and went away for a long time. At harvest he sent servants to receive fruit, but the tenants beat and rejected them. After sending multiple servants who were mistreated, he finally sent his beloved son, saying, 'Perhaps they will respect him.' Instead, the tenants killed the son to seize the inheritance. Jesus declares that the owner will come, destroy those tenants, and give the vineyard to others. The listeners protest, but Jesus cites Psalm 118:22 concerning the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone. He warns that everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, and on whomever it falls, it will crush him. The leaders recognize that He has spoken this parable against them. The Messiah exposes Israel’s historical rejection of the prophets and foreshadows His own death and the transfer of kingdom stewardship.
Authorial Intent
To expose Israel’s rejection of God’s messengers and predict the murder and exaltation of the Son.
Literary Context
Following the authority confrontation (20:1–8), this parable directly indicts the religious leadership and escalates the tension leading toward the passion narrative.
Chapter: Luke 20
The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents
Jesus stands in the temple as God’s authoritative Son and David’s Lord, exposing corrupt leadership, defending resurrection hope, and warning that rejection of him brings crushing judgment.