Matthew 7:24-27 - Is Your Foundation Rock Or Sand?
Mat.7:24-27: Is Your Foundation Rock Or Sand?
Mat 7:24-27 (NIV) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his
house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because
it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish
man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with
a great crash."
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
Faithfully pleasing God is an activity, not just a nice set of
beliefs. It must be a way of life. Twenty years ago, people were asking
the question: Does God exist? Today that question has changed to:
What difference does He make? The answer for too many people is: Not
much. Even for many people who have an enormous amount of Bible
knowledge, God makes little difference in how they actually live their
lives. If Christ doesn't make any difference in my ethics and values
at my job; if He doesn't affect my speech and attitudes toward
co-workers; ... if He makes absolutely no difference in the way I live and
work, then pray tell, what difference does He make?! What's the point
of playing a religious game that is all talk and no action? I take
the matter of obedience as an action quite seriously. I challenge
you to do the same. [Doug Sherman & Willaim Hendricks; Time with
God devotional SB]
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 7:24-27 (KJV) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built
his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for
it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish
man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Mat 7:24-27 (NIV) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his
house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because
it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish
man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with
a great crash."
Mat 7:24-27 (CWR) The ones who respect me and really love me
are the ones who do what I ask them to do. They are like the man who
built his house on solid rock. The rains came, the streams rose, and
the winds battered his house, but it stood firm. The ones who make
a show of respect for me, but don't do what I ask them to do, are
like the man who built his house on sand. The rains came, the
streams rose, and the winds battered his house, and it collapsed with a
mighty crash."
Heareth. Christ doubtless refers here to more than merely
listening. Those who hear these sayings apparently grasp their meaning, at
least to the extent that they have sufficient light to act if they
choose to do so, and thus are responsible before God (see on v. 21).
Doeth them. It is a dangerous thing to hear a divine command if
what is heard is not translated into action, for hearing inevitably
brings with it responsibility for corresponding action. The "sons of
God" are those who follow the leading of His Spirit (Rom. 8:14).
Obedience transforms the words of Christ into personal character.
His house. That is, the "house" of character.
Upon a rock. The Lord Jesus Christ is the "rock" on which the
individual Christian and the Christian church as a community of character
builders are to be built (see on ch. 16:18). According to Luke 6:48 the
builder "digged deep" in order to have a firm foundation. To build
firmly requires much time and effort; it is far simpler to build a
house without going to the trouble of providing a solid foundation.
Rock: Christ (Rock): vv. 24-25; Mat 16:18. (Gen 49:24; 1 Pet
2:8) [Scofield SB]
The house on the rock pictures a life founded on a proper
relationship to Christ (16:18; 1 Cor. 10:4; 1 Pet. 2:4-8). [Nelson SB]
Winds. The "winds" of temptation and trial (DA 314), perhaps
particularly the winds of false teaching that tend to remove a person from
the firm foundation of faith (Eph. 4:14).
Founded upon a rock. That is, upon the "sayings" of Christ,
26 & 27. The parable is now repeated in negative form for
emphasis--repetition being a common feature of the teachings of
Jesus. The difference
in the two instances is in the foundation only; all else is
presumably the same. It is evident that the man here represented knew
better (see on v. 24).
Upon the sand. He who turns a deaf ear to the gospel builds on
the shifting sand of self, upon his own efforts (MB 152), and upon
human theories and inventions (DA 314). [SDA Commentary]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Kingdom citizens have an "in-secret" relationship with God
(6:1-5), knowing how (vv. 6-8) and what (vv. 9-15) to pray. Such prayer
has nothing to do with outward show (vv. 16-18). With our attention
on heaven (vv. 19-24) and our trust in God as Father, we are freed
to concentrate on kingdom living (vv. 25-34). Because relationship
with God is "in secret," we do not judge others (7:1-6), we
consciously depend on our Father (vv. 7-12), and we choose His "narrow gate"
(vv. 13-14). As we do, God's power is exhibited in our good lives
(vv. 15-23) and obedience (vv. 24-29). [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
The first discourse ends with a parable contrasting the sound
structure (on rock) of the wise who hear and obey God with the ruin of the
lives of the disobedient. [Cambridge Annotated SB]
SECTION HEADINGS
Jesus teaches about those who build houses on rock and sand
(7:21-29)
The Two Foundations
Building on a Solid Foundation
Build on the Rock (7:24-29)
Build on the Rock--Luke 6:47-49
Build Your House on the Rock (7:24-27)
Two Kinds of People
Hearers and Doers
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Job 28:28 (KJV) And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the
Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Psalm 111:10 (KJV) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his
praise endureth for ever.
Matthew 5:3 (KJV) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it.
Matthew 12:50 (KJV) For whosoever shall do the will of my
Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and
mother.
Luke 6:47-49 (KJV) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my
sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: [48] He is
like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the
foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently
upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a
rock. [49] But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that
without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the
stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of
that house was great.
Luke 11:28 (KJV) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that
hear the word of God, and keep it.
John 13:17 (KJV) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do
them.
John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:10 (KJV) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in
my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in
his love.
John 15:14 (KJV) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I
command you.
Galatians 5:6-7 (KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
[7] Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the
truth?
Galatians 6:7-8 (KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to
his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
James 1:22 KJV) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.
James 2:17, 22, 26 (KJV) Even so faith, if it hath not works,
is dead, being alone. [22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect? [26] For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
1 John 2:3 (KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we
keep his commandments.
1 John 3:24 (KJV) And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth
in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by
the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 5:3 (KJV) For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Rev. 22:14 (KJV) Blessed are they that do his commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in
through the gates into the city.
Ephes. 3:17 (KJV) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
James 1:12 (KJV) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the
Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Matthew 13:19-22 (KJV) When any one heareth the word of the
kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and
catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received
seed by the way side. [20] But he that received the seed into stony
places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy
receiveth it; [21] Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a
while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word,
by and by he is offended. [22] He also that received seed among the
thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Hebrews 10:26, 27 (KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we
have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and
fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
2 Peter 2:20-22 (KJV) For if after they have escaped the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end
is worse with them than the beginning. [21] For it had been better
for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after
they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto
them. [22] But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb,
The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was
washed to her wallowing in the mire.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart.
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
How can it improve my relationship with Jesus.
"To them which stumble at the word, being disobedient," Christ
is a rock of offense.... Men set themselves in opposition to God, and
all that would have been their salvation was turned to their
destruction. All that God ordained unto life they found to be unto death.... So
it will be in the great final day, when judgment shall fall upon
the rejecters of God's grace.... Because of love rejected, grace
despised, the sinner will be destroyed.... Every warning is for them. The
desecrated temple, the disobedient son, the false husbandmen, the
contemptuous builders, have their counterpart in the experience of every
sinner. Unless he repent, the doom which they foreshadowed will be his.
{DA 600}
Many people are headed for destruction, not out of stubbornness
but out of thoughtlessness. Part of our responsibility as believers
is to help others stop and think about where their lives are headed
and to point out the consequences of ignoring Christ's message.
[Life Application SB]
Teaching has not been effective until obedience has begun. To
build "on the rock" means to be a hearing, responding disciple, not a
phony, superficial one. Practicing obedience becomes the solid
foundation to weather the storms of life. See James 1:22-27 for more on
putting into practice what we hear. [Life Application SB]
Faithfully pleasing God is an activity, not just a nice set of
beliefs. It must be a way of life. Twenty years ago, people were asking
the question: Does God exist? Today that question has changed to:
What difference does He make? The answer for too many people is: Not
much. Even for many people who have an enormous amount of Bible
knowledge, God makes little difference in how they actually live their
lives. If Christ doesn't make any difference in my ethics and values
at my job; if He doesn't affect my speech and attitudes toward
co-workers; ... if He makes absolutely no difference in the way I live and
work, then pray tell, what difference does He make?! What's the point
of playing a religious game that is all talk and no action? I take
the matter of obedience as an action quite seriously. I challenge
you to do the same. [Doug Sherman & Willaim Hendricks; Time with
God devotional SB]
How do we find God and grow in him? Jesus was adamant at this
point. He says we must do what he says. We must put into practical
obedience the knowledge that we have. He continually asked people to drop
their nets, to sell all they had and to follow him. We might say that
Jesus had a theology of obedience. And the object of this obedience
was a living person, not a historical norm, not a code of laws, but
himself. He called people to be accountable to God whether they were
believers or skeptics who were searching. For example, he told his
disciples, "What is the point of calling me, 'Lord, Lord,' without doing
what I tell you to do?" (Luk.6:46 Phi)... Jesus knew that obedience
to his and his Father's words yielded faith ... If I had to sum up
one's response to the gospel message, I would say as William Pannell
has said, "It's paint - or get off the ladder." [Rebecca Pippert;
Time with God devotional SB]
Jesus said that to be approved of God, we must hear what God
says and we must do it. These two are impossible to the unbeliever
and to the carnal Christian. Hearing the Word of God is not just
listening and comprehending. Hearing the Word of God requires that we have
ears to hear, spiritual ears, given by the Holy Spirit. If we really
long to hear from God through His word, then we need to be ready to
walk in obedience. [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom re Luk11:28]
What word of reproof did the Lord Jesus Christ give to those who
confessed Him with their lips but not with their lives? Jesus said in
Luke 6:49 (TEV) "Anyone who hears my words and does not obey them is
like a man who built his house without laying a foundation; when the
flood hit that house it fell at once--and what a terrible crash that
was!" When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we will obey
Him, and, as a result, our lives will be radically transformed. It's
in the doing, the obeying, and the living the life of faith that we
are changed. [Adult SS Quarterly 6/30/05]
To those who believe, Christ is the sure foundation. These are
they who fall upon the Rock and are broken. Submission to Christ and
faith in Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock and be broken
is to give up our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the
humility of a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in
His forgiving love. And so also it is by faith and obedience that we
build on Christ as our foundation. And by connection with Christ, the
living stone, all who build upon this foundation become living stones.
Many persons are by their own endeavors hewn, polished, and
beautified; but they cannot become "living stones,"... Without the life of
Christ in us, we cannot withstand the storms of temptation. Our eternal
safety depends upon our building upon the sure foundation. {DA 599}
The clearest evidence of a vital relationship with God is that
we hear God's words--and put them into practice. The person who
truly loves Jesus will keep His commandments. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
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