THE PARABLE OF THE TWO BUILDERS (Matthew 7:24-27)

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.

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

THE TWO WAYS

“Therefore” (Verse 24) points to the conclusion of the most influential sermon ever preached.  Luke also records this powerful parable with some minor differences in detail (6: 47-49).  There are only two possible responses to the teaching of Jesus: obedience or refusal to obey.  The narrow versus the wide road (Verses 13-14), the good versus the bad fruit (Verses 15-23), and the wise versus the foolish builder (Verses 24-27) illustrate this warning in parallel ways.

In this story Jesus used the image of two builders (wise and foolish) and different foundations (sand and rock) to illustrate his demand for practical and unquestioned obedience to “these words of mine” i.e. his doctrine or teaching.  The idea of the wise man and foolish man is found in the Old Testament wisdom literature like the book of Proverbs.  This parable concludes the Sermon on the Mount; it is challenging, personal, uncompromising, and direct.

Jesus makes the astounding claim that obedience to his teaching is the only sure foundation for living.  The parable contrasts “hearing” and “doing” and emphasizes the importance of doing as well as hearing.  The contrast between the “wise” and the “foolish” is a reminder of the parable of the wise and foolish village girls in Matthew chapter 25.  The parable does not teach salvation by works; instead it is a reminder that salvation by grace through faith requires loyal discipleship and total acceptance of the claims of Christ.  When we rely on nothing but the grace of God in Christ, we build our salvation on solid rock.

THE TWO FOUNDATIONS

The parable contrasts two builders: one with good sense and foresight built a house on solid rock while the other unwisely built on shifting sand or gravel.  As a carpenter Jesus knew about the building of houses and the importance of a right foundation.  The difference between the two builders was a question of depth.  The foolish builder did not consider the future whereas the wise builder took the long view.  Both the houses were hit by a violent storm but one builder took the time to dig through the sand until he found rock.  The wise builder represents those who put the words of Jesus into practice.  The “will of the Father” (verse 21) is defined by what Jesus calls “these words of mine” in verse 24.  There is urgency about this parable, as the foolish man does not realize his mistake until the storm arrives and it is too late.  He then faced final and irretrievable loss.

The man who built his house on the rock represents those who are prepared for God’s judgment while the man who built on the sand portrays those who are unprepared for it.  The foundation of sand represents a rejection of Christ, or an outward profession of faith, or the self-righteousness of the Pharisees.  It seems that foolish man wanted the blessing of a life built on God but he did not take the trouble to “dig deep” (Luke 6:48).  Perhaps he confused wishful thinking with what Christ called “the will of my Father” (Verse 21).  Jesus insisted that only those “who do the will of my Father” will enter the kingdom of heaven.  True discipleship demands an inner integrity that submits our will to do the will of God (John 7:17). 

THE ONLY SOLID FOUNDATION IS CHRIST HIMSELF

The two builders were judged not by the materials they used to build their houses but by the foundation on which they stood.  The apostle wrote to the Corinthian church, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11).  As the foundation of a building determines its shape and size, so the way of life defined by Jesus must rest upon his teaching.  We are eternally safe if we build on Jesus who is “the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6).  The Christian way of life can only be built on the foundation of the truth of Jesus Christ revealed in the Scriptures.

The storm in this story is usually understood as the final judgment of God on a person’s life but it also may refer to any of life’s disasters, disappointments, and trials.  It took a storm to reveal the quality of the work of the two builders.  Those who build a Christian character on Christ himself will weather the storms of life.  Those who pay lip service to Christ and who have disobeyed God’s will, lack a sure foundation for life and ultimately face God’s condemnation.  In following Christ there is stability and security but in rejecting him there is eternal disaster.

OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST

The story of the two foundations explains that the key issue is our response to Christ’s teachings. 

Thus the house on the rock symbolizes hearing and doing the teaching of Christ while the house on the sand represents hearing it only.  The Greek tense implies habitually hearing and habitually doing, and points to a lifetime of obedience, or alternatively, habitually not doing and a lifetime of disobedience.

Hearing is of little use unless it is followed by practical action.  It costs something to turn hearing into doing.  Jesus requires practical obedience; believing means obeying.  Obedience to Christ is the only safe foundation for life and eternity.  We learn to obey by obeying.  Our journey of faith is a series of new beginnings as we repent of disobedience and obey the Holy Spirit. 

The apostle James says that obedience is the evidence of genuine faith: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” (2:22).  Jesus warned against self-deception: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).  He also cautioned: “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?”  (Luke 6:46).

This parable does not teach legalism.  No self-righteous works based on mere human effort are of any spiritual value, but faith in Christ the Rock brings about the born again experience that results in dedicated living.

A PERSON OF AUTHORITY

The common people were “amazed” (Verse 28) literally “struck out of their minds” at Jesus’ teaching.  It is not just the content and the style of Jesus’ teaching that makes it so impressive.  Its uniqueness stems from the authority of Christ.  Jesus has authority in himself; he did not teach by repeating the traditions of other teachers.  Whereas the scribe or “teacher of the law” held a position of authority, Jesus was a person of authority. 

The scribes quoted authorities but Jesus spoke with authority.  While the scribes appealed to the teaching of other rabbis, Jesus, in contrast, repeatedly said with authority, “But I tell you”.  Since God spoke directly in the person of his Son, the message of Jesus was conclusive in its origin and in its decisiveness.  To hear Jesus’ teaching is to hear the word of God.  The temple guards in Jerusalem were later to say, “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” (John 7:46)

However, to be astonished at Christ’s teaching and to recognize his authority is not the same as acting upon his teaching and surrendering to his authority.  This remains the main point of this parable that applies to the final judgment as well as to the crises of life.  He claimed that one’s eternal security or eternal loss depends entirely on how one responds to his words.

CONCLUSION

“The sermon [on the Mount] ends with what has been implicit throughout it – the demand for radical submission to the exclusive lordship of Jesus, who fulfills the Law and the Prophets and warns the disobedient that the alternative to total obedience, true righteousness, and life in the kingdom is rebellion, self-centeredness, and eternal damnation.” [1]

FOR REFLECTION