Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the {u} builders rejected, the same is {x} become the {y} head of the corner: {z} this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

(u) Master builders, who are chief builders of the house, that is of the Church.

(x) Began to be.

(y) The chiefest stone in the corner is called the head of the corner: which bears up the couplings or joints of the whole building.

(z) That matter (in that the stone which was cast away is made the head) is the Lord's doing which we behold and greatly marvel at.

People's New Testament

21:42 The stone which the builders rejected. The Scripture that speaks of this stone is Ps 118:22,23--a psalm which the Jews applied to the Messiah. Peter twice applied it to him (Ac 4:11 1Pe 2:7). The figure represents a stone rejected by the builders as worthless, and then found to be the chief corner-stone of the building. The stone is Christ, rejected by the Jewish nation, but the chief corner-stone, for this is what is meant by the head of the corner. The corner-stone joined two walls. Alford thinks this is a reference to the union of Jews and Gentiles in the church.

Marvellous. That the rejected stone should become the chief corner-stone, elect and precious, on which the whole structure of the spiritual temple rests (1Pe 2:6 Isa 28:16).

Wesley's Notes

21:42 The builders - The scribes and priests, whose office it was to build up the Church. Is become the head of the corner - Or the chief corner stone: he is become the foundation of the Church, on which the whole building rests, and is the principal corner stone, for uniting the Gentiles to it, as the chief corner stone of a house supports and links its two sides together. Psalm 118:22.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin Lord's

Jehovah. Ps 118:23.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

42. Jesus saith unto them. Did ye never read in the scriptures-(Ps 118:22, 23).

The stone which the builders rejected, &c.-A bright Messianic prophecy, which reappears in various forms (Isa 28:16, &c.), and was made glorious use of by Peter before the Sanhedrim (Ac 4:11). He recurs to it in his first epistle (1Pe 2:4-6).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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 with them. How can we, if faithful to his cause, expect a favourable reception from a wicked world, or from ungodly professors of Christianity! And let us ask ourselves, whether we who have the vineyard and all its advantages, render fruits in due season, as a people, as a family, or as separate persons. Our Saviour, in his question, declares that the Lord of the vineyard will come, and when he comes he will surely destroy the wicked. The chief priests and the elders were the builders, and they would not admit his doctrine or laws; they threw him aside as a despised stone. But he who was rejected by the Jews, was embraced by the Gentiles. Christ knows who will bring forth gospel fruits in the use of gospel means. The unbelief of sinners will be their ruin. But God has many ways of restraining the remainders of wrath, as he has of making that which breaks out redound to his praise. May Christ become more and more precious to our souls, as the firm Foundation and Cornerstone of his church. May we be willing to follow him, though despised and hated for his sake.