Built on the Rock
TRANSLATION
(21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ (23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.’
(24) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (25) And the rain fell, the floods rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded upon the rock. (26) And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. (27) And the rain fell, the floods rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell. And great was the fall of it.”
(28) And when Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, (29) for he taught them as one who had authority and not as the teachers of the Law.
OBSERVATIONS
In this concluding segment of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus chose strong contrasts to apply his message. In the first paragraph, he juxtaposed those who pay him lip service by calling him “Lord, Lord” (found twice in vss. 21 & 22) with those who live in conformity with the will of God. Those who merely invoke his name imagine that they will be welcomed into “the kingdom of heaven” (used twice in vss. 21 & 22) because of their outward allegiance and superficial faith. However, only those who submit themselves to obeying God from the heart will gain entrance into his eternal dwellings.
In the second paragraph, the parable of the two builders, almost everything was stated in contrasting terms. The one who “hears these words of mine and does them” (vs. 24) was juxtaposed with “everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them” (vs. 26). The “wise man who built his house on the rock” (vs. 25) was contrasted with the “foolish man who built his house on the sand” (vs. 28). What happened to these two houses was described as “and the rain fell, and the floods rose, and the winds blew and beat on that house” (vss. 25 & 27). The first house stood firm while, in the second case, “great was the fall of it” (vss. 25 & 27).
Matthew closed his account of Jesus’ sermon with the response of those who had heard him teach. They immediately recognized him to be “one who had authority,” unlike the teachers of the Law. They were faced with the choice of either believing and submitting to what he had taught or with rejecting his words and facing God’s judgment for their unbelief.
OUTLINE
I. Jesus set forth two powerful contrasts:
– those who claim a relationship with God vs. those who actually do the Father’s will. (21-23)
– the wise man who built on a rock vs. the foolish man who built his house on sand. (24-27)
II. Jesus amazed his listeners because he taught them with God’s authority. (28 & 29)
IDEA STATEMENT
When we back up our claims to being Jesus’ disciples with wholehearted obedience, we will not be shaken by the trials and opposition that we will inevitably encounter.
APPLICATION
Faithful obedience to Jesus’ words not only demonstrates that we are truly his disciples but also secures our lives in the face of inevitable opposition and difficulty. The image of a house built on a rock that can withstand all storms and floods fittingly demonstrates how we can victoriously endure whatever life brings our way. Those who merely acknowledge the wisdom and insight of Jesus’ teachings without a commitment to obeying all that he said are facing certain destruction.
Psalm 1 described how believers, anchored in God’s revealed word, will flourish like trees planted by rivers of water which nourish them and enable them to endure whatever difficulties or problems they may face. This holds true not only for individual believers but also for the church as a whole. The health of each group of believers gathered as the local body of Christ will be determined by their being grounded on the Rock. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 described his apostolic work as laying a foundation upon which others would build. The foundation is Christ Jesus, himself. Those who build on this foundation should make sure that obedience to “these words of mine” as described in this parable is how the Body of Christ is built up and nurtured.