Obedience: Solid Foundation

Intro: Call to obedience is based on the knowledge of God’s teaching and the wisdom to put these teachings in action. We are called to obedience and God has given us the instructions to walk a life of obedience before him. The choice is yours. You can get with this or you can get with that. Choose wisdom or foolishness? Nobody likes to play the fool.

Know the teachings of Jesus

Matthew 7:24 NIV

24 “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.

NIV has the word “Therefore” there for a reason. This is the summary of the sermon on the mountain and the sermon on the plain in Luke. Jesus begins the sermon with the blessings we know as the beatitudes. He addresses moral living in view of the law and the call of the kingdom.

is the conclusion of this all with the first parable given in the gospel of Matthew. is in an essence a summary to the sermon on the mount/plain and directly to the previous three teachings as ordered in Matthew:

is in an essence a summary to the sermon on the mount/plain and directly to the previous three teachings as ordered in Matthew:

-Narrow and Wide Gate

- Good tree and bad tree - Beware of False prophets who are wolves in sheep clothing. The look good on the outside but are evil on the inside.

- Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom.... “I never knew you who practice lawlessness”

Choose who you will follow:

In concluding on the blessings and the curses.

Jesus teaches the way of righteousness verses the way of the wicked.

He teaches against false prophets in the compare and contrasts of good fruit and bad fruit.

He speaks of the judgement of the pseudo disciples who will be rejected in the end.

So this is the conclusion of the matter.

The therefore is there because all is coming to a conclusion.

Listening to the words of Jesus is one thing but obeying is also needed.

Grace is involved in this teaching because time is given to get it right.

Let us get into our text for today.

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

24 “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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 7:24–27 NLT

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

This parable is a call to discipleship.

This parable is showing that living for the Kingdom is wise commitment. The obeying the Lord will show endurance in the test of life.

This parable is dealing with eschatological judgment. The place meant of this parable at the end of the sermon on the Mountain/plain serves as a summary of the teachings. It is the first parable used in the Gospel of Matthew and the development of Peter as Rock is hard to be implied. Also the reference of Jesus as the chief cornerstone rejected is not alluded in this parable as well. This parable is an analogy and not an allegory. Analogy is a comparison of two things and the two being compared are obedience vs disobedience; wise or foolish. The wisdom is demonstrated by obedience. Obedience is defined by the hearing and obeying the teachings of Jesus. Foolishness is the hearing but not showing the work fo the teachings.

Wisdom is obedience to Jesus

Therefore is there for the summary of obedience to the teachings. Jesus is seeing for the truth that is in you to be shown in your living. This over the time of your life you may have a bad season but then again you may have string of good seasons. Jesus will judge at the end you can not fool Jesus with one good season and the rest of evil living.

Therefore is there for the summary of obedience to the teachings. Jesus is seeing for the truth that is in you to be shown in your living. This over the time of your life you may have a bad season but then again you may have string of good seasons. Jesus will judge at the end you can not fool Jesus with one good season and the rest of evil living.

Wisdom comes from the Lord.

Wisdom comes from listening to the teachings.

Wisdom is following the teachings

Wise is the man who builds his house on the rock.

Wisdom is demonstrated as the one who builds on a rock.

Foolish living is:

Not listening and obeying the teachings.

Just as there are blessings for obedience; there are curses for disobedience.

There are curses for disobedience.

Jesus closes out his teaching in similar fashion in Old Testament

Deuteronomy shows us the teaching method Jesus used.

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 NLT

15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

deut 30:

Wisdom leads to sustainable life before the Lord.

Proverbs 10:25 NLT

25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

Proverbs 12:5 NLT

5 The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

Proverb 12:5

This parable is a call to discipleship.

This parable is showing that living for the Kingdom is wise commitment. The obeying the Lord will show endurance in the test of life.

This parable is dealing with eschatological judgment. The place meant of this parable at the end of the sermon on the Mountain/plain serves as a summary of the teachings. It is the first parable used in the Gospel of Matthew and the development of Peter as Rock is hard to be implied. Also the reference of Jesus as the chief cornerstone rejected is not alluded in this parable as well. This parable is an analogy and not an allegory. Analogy is a comparison of two things and the two being compared are obedience vs disobedience; wise or foolish. The wisdom is demonstrated by obedience. Obedience is defined by the hearing and obeying the teachings of Jesus. Foolishness is the hearing but not showing the work fo the teachings.

The Wicked will fail the test

Matthew 7:27 NLT

27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Matthew 7:

Judgement will come to the wicked. (the mighty crash/great fall)

God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.

The wicked will not stand in the counsel of the righteous.

Psalm 1:4–6 NLT

4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1:

The wise ones will Pass the test.

The wise have been obedient and therefore pass the test. Passing the test is standing in the presence of the the Lord God Almighty. This is possible because your foundation was the word of God. You will discover all of his promises are true. He will never leave you or forsake you. He will keep you until he comes back again. You must choose to obey to know the power of God’s grace.

God will be looking for the faithful in the end.

God will see those who stand up against the trials of life.

The word of God is our foundation and sustains us.

See God’s grace

Judgement will come in the end.

Jesus is calling us to be faithful in word and in action.

Faith and works shows a living faith.