Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 12:10
And have ye not read this Scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
10. And have ye ] Rather, And did ye never read this Scripture? referring them to Psa 118:21; Psa 118:23, a Psalm which the Jews applied to the Messiah, and which is actually twice applied to Him by St Peter, in Act 4:11; 1Pe 2:7. St Luke (Luk 20:17) tells us that our Lord fastened His eyes upon His wondering hearers, while He directed their attention to this ancient prophecy respecting Himself in the very Psalm, whence had been taken the loud Hosannas of Palm Sunday (Mar 11:9).
the head of the corner ] The image of the vineyard is for a moment abandoned for that of a building. The “head of the corner” was a large and massive stone so formed as when placed at a corner to bind together the two outer walls of an edifice. Comp. for the application of the expression to Christ, Eph 2:20, and consult Isa 28:16; Dan 2:44. The penalties of rejecting Him are more fully brought out in Mat 21:43-44; Luk 20:18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And have ye not read this Scripture?…. In
Ps 118:22 these are the words of Christ directed to the above persons, who were, many of them, teachers of the people, and therefore ought to have read the scriptures, and have taken notice of, and considered more especially such as respected the Messiah, as this passage did, and was very appropriate to the case in the parable Christ had respect unto:
the stone which the builders rejected, is become the head of the corner: by “the stone” is meant the same with the son and heir in the parable, even himself, the true Messiah; and by “the builders”, the chief priests, Scribes, and elders, the same with the husbandmen, whose rejection of the stone, or of the Messiah, is signified by their seizing him, casting him out of the vineyard, and killing him; and yet notwithstanding all this, according to this Scripture, he was to be, and now is become, the head of the corner, exalted above angels and men, at the right hand of God;
[See comments on Mt 21:42].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This scripture ( ). This passage of scripture (Luke 4:21; John 19:37; Acts 1:16). It is a quotation from Ps 118:22f. See on Mt 21:42 for discussion.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Scripture [] . A passage of scripture : hence frequently this scripture; another scripture; the same scripture. Luk 4:21; Joh 19:37; Act 1:16.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And have ye not read this scripture;” (oude ten scripture?” you who are custodians, keepers, administrators, and interpreters of the scriptures, Joh 5:39.
2) “The stone which the builders rejected,” (lithon hon apeclokimasan hoi oikodomountes) “A stone which those who were building rejected,” aforetold prophetically, Psa 118:22-23; Declared to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, 1Pe 2:6-8; Christ crucified is the Rock, 1Co 10:4; Exo 17:6; Act 4:11.
3) “Is become the head of the corner:- (houtos egenethe eis kephalen gonias) “This one became (exists for) the head of the corner,” Luk 20:17; 1Pe 2:7; Act 4:11-12, Prophetic Davidic Psalm that foretold the Messianic Hosannas to Him, just fulfilled, Psa 118:22; Psa 118:26.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
The Scriptural Lesson and the Fury of the Leadership (12:10-11).
Jesus then applied the lesson of the parable by an appeal to the Scriptures in typical Rabbinic manner.
Analysis.
a
b “The stone which the builders rejected” (Mar 12:10 b).
c “The same was made the head of the corner” (Mar 12:10 c).
d “This was from the Lord” (Mar 12:11 a).
c “And it is marvellous in our eyes” (Mar 12:11 b).
b And they sought to lay hold on Him, and they feared the crowds (Mar 12:12 a).
a For they perceived that He spoke the parable against them. And they left Him and went away (Mar 12:12 b).
Note that in ‘a’ He challenges them with the Scriptures, and in the parallel they recognise that He has spoken the parable against them. In ‘b’ He refers to the stone which the builders rejected, and in the parallel their rejection is made clear. In ‘c’ that stone becomes the head of the corner, which in the parallel is ‘marvellous in our eyes. Centrally in ‘d’ the whole is ‘from the Lord’.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
“Have you not read even this Scripture, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord and it is marvellous in our eyes.’ ”
This method of finishing off a parable with a Scripture quotation is regularly found among the Rabbis.
The quotation is taken from Psa 118:22-23 LXX, which was the same Psalm shouted out by the crowds when Jesus entered Jerusalem. Even at that time these words must have come into His mind as He contemplated what lay ahead for they were so apt. ‘The stone which the builders rejected’. The same verb is found in Mar 8:31; Luk 9:22; Luk 17:25. Originally the verses probably referred either to Israel, rejected by the nations as insignificant, but to be restored in God’s purposes to the place of supremacy, or to their ruler whose restoration would bring about the same, or to both seen in combination. The Targum (Aramaic translation and interpretation) cites these words in terms of ‘the sons of Jesse’.
But as Isaiah had pointed out, Israel and her rulers had failed in this purpose, so that while originally the Servant of Isaiah was meant to be Israel, and then the true Israel (Isa 49:3), he was consolidated into one man, the Suffering Servant who would die for the sins of the people (Isaiah 50, 53). Thus the promises made to Israel were the promises to be fulfilled in the Suffering Servant, who had king-like qualities (Isa 52:13). So Jesus stood there as the representative of Israel (compare Mat 2:15; Joh 15:1-6). See also the Son of Man in Daniel 7 who also represented both Israel and Israel’s ruler, and there too the emphasis was on Him as the One Who represented them.
Now Jesus applied the Psalm specifically to Himself. The stone was probably to be seen as rejected because it did not seem to fit anywhere. But when the time came it was found that it made an ideal cornerstone, or more probably the keystone which completed and held together the building. Thus the stone that was rejected turned out to be the most one important of all. It is clear that Jesus was here referring to Himself, and the implication was Messianic, as the whole previous parable was. For He was pointing out that He was the beloved son (Aramaic ‘ben’) and the supreme keystone (Aramaic ‘eben’) around which all else was built. The word play was probably intended and the Targum actually translates the word for ‘stone’ as ‘son’.
This was all a warning to the Jewish leaders to consider well what they were rejecting. It was unwise for them to reject Him just because they could not see how He fitted in to God’s plan as they saw it. Bit if they did reject Him, let them not doubt that He would yet prove to be the keystone of God’s plan of deliverance. The Son may be killed and cast out, but He would finally become God’s keystone (compare the similar basic idea in Isa 53:11-12 a). In the light of His coming death this was a veiled promise of resurrection, the two parables together thus illustrating His previous warnings to His disciples.
For further application of this verse to Jesus see Act 4:11; 1Pe 2:4; 1Pe 2:7; and compare Rom 9:32-33; Eph 2:20. Its early use in Acts by Peter confirms that we would expect to find that the application was based on the teaching of Jesus.
‘This was from the Lord and it is marvellous in our eyes.’ It will all be God’s doing, a marvellous revelation of how He goes about His purposes, and something to be wondered at. The cognate verb of ‘marvellous’ occurs regularly in Mark as referring to Jesus (see Mar 5:20; Mar 6:51; Mar 12:17; Mar 15:5; Mar 15:44). The whole work of Jesus was seen as marvellous from start to finish.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 12:10. Is become Is made.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
have ye not read . ? See, App-143.
not = not even. Greek. oude. Compound of ou. See App-105.
The Stone, &c. Quoted from Psa 118:22. Compare Act 4:10-12. See App-107.
is = this is.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 12:10. , Have ye not even) The adverb gives Epitasis. [See Append., Increase of force.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
The stone
See, Psa 118:22; Psa 118:23 cf. (See Scofield “1Pe 2:8”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
have: Mar 12:26, Mar 2:25, Mar 13:14, Mat 12:3, Mat 19:4, Mat 21:16, Mat 22:31, Luk 6:3
The stone: Psa 118:22, Psa 118:23, Isa 28:16, Mat 21:42, Luk 20:17, Luk 20:18, Act 4:11, Act 4:12, Rom 9:33, Eph 2:20-22, 1Pe 2:7, 1Pe 2:8
Reciprocal: Gen 49:24 – the stone Zec 4:7 – headstone Mar 8:31 – rejected Luk 17:25 – rejected Joh 5:39 – Search Joh 12:48 – rejecteth Rom 4:3 – what Jam 2:23 – the scripture 1Pe 2:4 – disallowed 1Pe 2:6 – it
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1
Jesus began opening their understanding of the parable by referring to a prediction in the Old Testament.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
[The stone which the builders rejected.] The Targum upon Psalms_118, thus the builders rejected the child. And Mar 12:27; “Bind the child to the sacrifice of the solemnity with chains, until ye shall have sacrificed him, and poured out his blood upon the horns of the altar: said Samuel the prophet.”
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Verse 10
Psalms 118:22,23.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Another right jab to the chin – you have rejected this stone, but one day the builders will realize it was the cornerstone and it will be set in its rightful place in the building. Psa 118:22-24 is the text that Christ was reminding them of, “The stone [which] the builders refused is become the head [stone] of the corner. 23 This is the LORD’S doing; it [is] marvellous in our eyes. 24 This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
This was first speaking of David according to Barnes but the Lord uses it of Himself.
The cornerstone was normally the best and nicest looking of the stones when building a house. It was placed with great care since the entire building was built in relationship to the cornerstone. It was the most important part of a project yet Christ tells them they have rejected it. In a very real sense it could be said that all their building for God had been askew since the corner stone had not been placed thus the building cannot be built correctly. (Act 4:10 and 1Pe 2:7 relate to this quote if you would like some further study.)
Verse eleven is very interesting in this context. “This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” Was this a Calvinistic statement of some sort? Was Christ referring to the thought that Israel had been blinded so that they could not understand as in the explanation of the parables? What does “the Lord’s doing” relate to in this context? Does it mean that the rejection of the Messiah is of the Lord’s doing and the apostles are finding it as marvelous?
Of ten commentaries I checked, none dealt with this phrase quoted from the Old Testament. Evidently others have found they had more questions than answers in relation to verse eleven.
Just some observations of the verse might be in order.
1. Whatever it is it is of the Lord’s doing, not meaning Christ but God in general as in the Old Testament quote.
2. “Our” in the Old Testament context was —- (See later in the study for more on this.)
3. “Marvelous” would seem to be something very good. Thayer mentions of the word “1) wonderful, marvelous; 1a) worthy of pious admiration, admirable, excellent; 1b) passing humancomprehension; 1c) causing amazement joined with terror; 1d) marvelous; 1d1) extraordinary striking, surprising”
4. Only Matthew and Mark mention this passage but neither gives explanation of the text.
5. It would seem that the evaluation is being done by those with Christ – the apostles, and that they find it very pleasing.
6. The King James places a question mark behind the phrase. Most of the major translations do the same though not all follow the King James.
7. Verse ten and eleven seem to be one sentence thus very closely linked. Of the ten translations I checked only the Geneva Bible has a period between the two verses.
8. The question boils down to whether the Lord’s doing is related to the rejection, the making of the stone the corner, or whether it is related to both.
Some possible conclusions:
1. The trinity is in view, and their evaluation of “marvelous” is based on the result of the stone becoming the cornerstone. The Calvinist would probably insist that the rejection is also included though I would not go that far. I am not sure that God’s evaluation of so many being lost would be one of joy.
2. The apostles are finding joy in the rejection and/or the exaltation of the stone. The fact that the Lord is saying this would seem to preclude the apostles as being within the comment.
3. The Lord was simply quoting the entire passage, not meaning that anyone in His time was finding it marvelous but only that those in the Old Testament quote were involved. This would require a study of the context of the quote mentioned. Let us take a quick look at that topic.
a. In the context of the Psalm it is a person speaking of his own trials but calls upon Israel and the Priests (house of Aaron) to acknowledge the Lord for what He is.
b. The account would fit King David and since He wrote many of the Psalms this might be a good decision. Gill takes the Psalm to be related to David but does not mention the writer. Matthew Henry suggests David as the author though Henry suggests a possible later writer remembering the occasion. It would seem to be about David if not written by him.
c. In reading the entire Psalm it would seem that all Israel would be the “we.”
Now to the Mark passage, by inference it should be suggested that Christ was indicating that all Israel should be viewing these things as marvelous, though the Jewish leaders did not agree with that conclusion of “marvelous.” To continue with the historical context, David had been anointed but had been chased extensively before he finally became king. Indeed they attempted to kill him as they were going to be doing to Christ. The similarities in the situation Christ was in are strikingly close to the situation that David had been in and survived to glorify God over the results.
Now to the question of whether the marvelous was being related to the rejection or the installation of the stone. The dispensationalist might see in this the marvelous rejection by the Jews and the giving of to the Gentiles, though that would be a slight over statement. The Old Testament context was on the installation, not the rejection, so it would seem that Christ would have seen the same relationship to His situation.
It would also fit that the leaders in both cases had done the rejecting, while the people benefited from the rejection. Don’t loose the poignancy of the Lord using this passage in light of the proclamation of the people as He entered the city, (Mar 11:10) “Blessed [be] the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”
The men Christ was addressing would have known this passage since they were well taught in the Old Testament. They would have caught all the irony in the situation and that most likely just added to their desire to have Him killed.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
Jesus carried His revelation concerning the fate of the Son further by referring to this psalm. This is the same psalm the crowds chanted at the Triumphal Entry (Mar 11:9; cf. Psa 118:22-23). The stone in view is probably the capstone for the building that God is building. In its original use, the stone represented Israel. Here Jesus made Himself the stone (cf. Act 4:11; 1Pe 2:7). The Father’s reversal of the Son’s fate elicited wonder from the beholders because it was an unexpected turn of events that demonstrated divine sovereignty.
It appears that Israel’s leaders rejected the Stone that was to be the capstone to complete Israel, God’s temple, through which He would work to bring blessing to all mankind (Gen 12:3). The Stone rejected has become, not the capstone, but the most important Stone in the foundation of a new temple that God is now building, namely, the church (Mat 16:18; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4-10). After God removes the church from the earth (1Th 4:13-18), the Stone will return to the earth (cf. Dan 2:34-35; Dan 2:44-45; Rev 19:11-16), and Israel will accept Him (Zec 12:10). Then He will complete Israel (Isa 59:20), and Israel will, during the millennium, function as the temple that God intended her to be (Dan 7:22). He will then bring blessing to the whole earth through Israel.