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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]