PARABLES OF JESUS - Wise Builder

Matthew 7:24–29 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 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. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

In this parable, Jesus emphasizes two things: (1) hearing and (2) doing. Men hear, but few obey His commands. Knowing what is right is one thing—doing what is right, is quite another. Many know the Bible, but few practice it. In this passage, Jesus uses two words—wise and foolish. The measure of success and failure in the eyes of God is quite different than that of man.

I. The Wise Man—vv. 24–25 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

A. The symbol—v. 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.

Note the application here of hearing and doing the sayings of Christ.

1. Keep Christ’s commands—Love for Him is judged by our obedience.

John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

2. Keep Christ’s words—Love will honor Him.

John 14:23 – Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 6:29 – Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Matthew 22:37-39 – And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

B. The stability—v. 25 – And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

The winds and the storms came, but the house remained firm because it was established upon a rock. We are kept by God’s power—

1 Peter 1:5 – who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Timothy 1:12 – I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,

Jude 24 – Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

If you build a house – your intention is to live in it – or provide a nice place for others to live in – the foundation is crucial

Isaiah 28:16 – Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

Psalm 118:22 – The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

1 Peter 2:4-6 – As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

What is your spiritual foundation – who is your spiritual foundation? Me? A former pastor?

II. The Foolish Man—vv. 26–27 – 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. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

A. The disrespect—v. 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.

When disobeying Jesus’ commands, we are like the man who built his house on the sand. There was no sure foundation.

1. Sin—When one knows what is right and refuses to do so, he is sinning.

James 4:17 – So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

2. Stubbornness—Refusing the right way leads to death.

Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

John 14:6-7 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

B. The destruction—v. 27 – And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Look at the examples of houses not built on a solid foundation

When the storms came, the house fell. This builder built a hone that was unstable.

John 6:26-27 – Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Some follow only to get more – but Jesus said the solid foundation is built on doing my words – what did Jesus say –

Luke 6:37 – “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Matthew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Note how many heard Jesus, but turned back and refused to follow Him—

John 6:66 – After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

2 Timothy 4:10 – For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.

Revelation 20:11–15. Because of rejecting Christ, many will be condemned.

III. The Wise Message—vv. 28–29 – And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

A. The teacher—v. 28 – And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,

Jesus was a teacher sent from God. The people were amazed at His doctrine. Nicodemus knew He was from God— Though He was divine, Jesus was also human. He wept—

John 3:2 – This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

John 11:35 Jesus Wept.

B. The teaching—v. 29 – for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

What did He teach? His teaching met all the needs of mankind, spiritual and material.

How are you building?

What is your foundation – your beliefs or Christ’s Words?

Are you obeying the teachings of Christ?

David not only heard God’s Word—he hid it in his heart—

Psalm 119:11 – I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Because of this, he was cleansed from sin—

Psalm 119:9 – How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Paul spoke of believing in the heart—

Romans 10:9–10 – because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

When one believes in the heart, he will put his beliefs into practice. As we practice the teachings of Christ, we are building upon a strong foundation, one that will endure eternally—and that others can build onto as well.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 – According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:17 – And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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