The Wise Builder

Intro

Text - Matthew 7.24-27

Matthew 7:24–27 NASB 2020

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

Title - The Wise Builder

Subject - The importance of the Christ’s sermon on the mount to Christian living

Background

The Text

The text (Matthew 7.24-27) is the concluding portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7.

So, it is important how this relates to the whole sermon by our Lord.

The Sermon on the Mount

This sermon was delivered on a mountain or hill near Capernaum.

The Sermon is outlined as follows -

The beatitudes - Matthew 5.1-12

grk. makarios - also translated happy

blessedness/happiness is not the end goal, but the benefit of doing the right thing

The disciples as salt and light - Matthew 5.13-16

“you are the salt…light…” refers to the “blessed ones” described above

The purpose of Christ’s coming - Matthew 5.17-20

to fulfill the law, not abolish it

to move us to be perfect as God in heaven is (Mt.5.48)

The Law magnified - Matthew 5.21-48

Godly devotions:

giving, praying, fasting - Matthew 6.1-24

“when”, not “if”

for God’s eyes only

Prioritizing the kingdom and righteousness of God - Matthew 6:24-34

Godly mindsets - Matthew 7:1-12

judging yourself first

Sharing your treasures wisely

treating people rightly

Discerning between right and wrong - Matthew 7.13-23

the narrow gate

the good tree

Conclusion: becoming a wise builder - Matthew 7.24-27

The parable of the wise and foolish builders

Christ was teaching His disciples how His teachings in this sermon relate to their lives -

everyone of us are builders of our own lives

2. but not everyone is a wise builder. This is evident in the ways our life turns out as time goes by

many start the journey without knowing what it takes to finish

it takes a wise builder to have a fulfilled, God-pleasing life

His teachings are the keys to that kind of life

like a building codes of today

3. but everyone can become a wise builder

Jesus has given us the “building codes” in this sermon

the key is - “hear and act on the words of Christ”

So, how do you become a wise builder?

Know who you are (supposed to be)

The keys to your blessedness is found in who you are, not in what you have or have not.

foolish builders base their happiness in material things

wise builders find their happiness in who they are according to God’s word

The Beatitudes tell us who we are supposed to be and how it benefits us.

if you are the poor in spirit, you are blessed

if you are mourning, you are blessed

if you are the gentle, you are blessed

if you are hungering for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemaker, the persecuted… you are blessed!

Matthew 5:12 NASB 2020

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The purpose of life is found in who you are

Matthew 5:13–16 NASB 2020

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

“you…” refers to the blessed ones in the Beatitudes

Your God-given purpose is to be salt and light in the world

You are salt and light because of who you are, not what you have or have not.

Your ultimate purpose is to glorify God - Matthew 5.16

Matthew 5:16 NASB 2020

16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Know what you need most in life

What you need most is to be (or stand) righteous before God.

Matthew 5:20 NASB 2020

20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

True righteousness is found in Christ.

Christ fulfilled the Law and the Prophets on our behalf.

He became the righteousness of God for us -

Only True righteousness fulfills the law of God.

Know how to please God

Life is not only to be lived with God, but also FOR God.

We please God through our devotions to Him.

Our devotion of giving

Matthew 6.1-4

Our devotion of praying

Matthew 6.5-15

Our devotioin of fasting

Matthew 6.16-24

These are a matter of “when”, not “if”

when you give, pray, fast…

These are for God’s eyes only

your Father who sees in secret…

We please God by putting His kingdom and righteousness FIRST in everything

Matthew 6.25-34

Matthew 6:33 NASB 2020

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

Know how to judge people and things

Judge yourself first…

Matthew 7:1–5 NASB 2020

1 “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye!

Share your treasures wisely

Matthew 7:6 NASB 2020

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Treat others as you would yourself

Matthew 7:12 NASB 2020

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Know how to discern right from wrong

Discern between the narrow and the wide gates

Matthew 7:13–14 NASB 2020

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Discern between the good and the bad tree

Matthew 7:15–20 NASB 2020

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Discern between the true and the false disciples

Matthew 7:21–23 NASB 2020

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 will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Conclusion

Be a wise builder

All the broken lives and homes that we see today are the results of foolish builders by the previous generations.

Either they never received the words of God or refused to act on them

All the broken lives and homes in the future are the results of unwise builders today.

the foolish are those who repeat the mistakes of the past

The foolish are those who disregard the wisdom provided by the Master Builder

Learn from the Master Builder - Jesus Christ!

He who made the heavens and the earth

He upholds all things by the word of His power - Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 1:3 NASB 2020

3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Song - The Solid Rock