Wise and foolish builders parable illustration showing house on rock and house on sand from Matthew 7:24-29

Build Your Foundation on Christ the Rock-Matthew 7:24-29

The Wise Builder: Building Your Foundation on Christ The Rock 

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.


Building on The Rock: Hearing God's Word, Obeying God's Word

The Bible says in Romans 10:17, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God". Your solid foundation of Faith becomes built up by Hearing God's Word, on a consistent basis, following Jesus's teachings, building on a strong, obediant foundation.

"Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments". (John 14:15) Obeying God's Word is showing how much you love Jesus and recognize that he alone is worthy. "If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;" Isaiah 1:19

The Foolish Builder: Building on Sand

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.
The foolish builder is the one who hears the words, but does not act on them, who ignores the teachings of Jesus, and when the storms of life come, the shifting sand of their foundation will not be able to withstand them.

Jesus Taught with Divine Authority, not as the Scribes

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 Difference Between Jesus and the Scribes

Jesus spoke with all auhority in His teachings, and "not as the scribes". Scribes would often cite authorities in order to lend credence to their statements.

Jesus Spoke Self-Authenticating Words: "I Say to You"

Jesus's words were self authenticating. Note His phrase, "I say to you" in 5:20, 22, 26, 28, 32

Matthew's Gospel: Jesus as King of Heaven's Kingdom

The book of Matthew presents Jesus as the King, but king of a totally different kingdom-- the kingdom of heaven. But most important, the Book of Matthew proves Jesus' legitimate authority by highlighting His wise teaching and righteous life (7:28,29) 

The discipling process involves instruction in the words of Christ, and the Gospel of Matthew revolves around five of Jesus's discourses. The one spoke about in Matthew 7, verses 28, 29 is "The Sermon on the Mount" Matthew 7 starting at verse 24 depicts the steps Jesus took from Capernaum to the Tyre and Sidon Area, after preaching His sermon. 

Building Your Foundation on The Rock

Starting in Verse 24; The key difference in the two houses is not their external appearance. Pharisees and scribes may seem to be as righteous as heirs of the kingdom. The key to the story is the foundations. The "house on the rock" pictures a life founded on a proper relationship to Christ (16:18, 1 Cor. 10:4; 1 Peter 2:4-8) It will stand the test of Christ's judgement, but the "house on the sand" will fail the test (1 Cor. 3:12-15)

When the Storms of Life Come: Jesus is the Rock

When the Storms of Life come, Jesus is the Rock of your foundation. Having the Solid Rock of Christ as your firm foudation to stand on is the Peace that passeth all understanding.

Guide: Practical Steps to Build on The Rock 

First and foremost, have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by Repenting of your sins, asking for forgiveness, and accepting Him into your life as your Lord and Savior, and being filled with the Holy Spirit who will help you and guide you in your walk with the Lord.

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)  Incorporate these steps into your life, walking and talking with Jesus, and watch your life be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

  • Daily Bible Reading

  • Prayer and Worship

  • Living Out Biblical Principles

  • Putting God's Word Into Practice

Building a Solid Foundation on the Rock 

Build a solid foundation, on the rock of Christ, by praying without ceasing, listening to Christian, Bible-based sermons, reading the Holy Bible scriptures outloud, allowing them to go from your head to your heart, praising God as you're listening to Worship music. Then one day, all of the faith that has been built up within you, will come bubbling up out of you and will knock the socks off of you with miracle after miracle occuring in your life and you will go from Glory to Glory! 

When you put God's Word into practice, you are like a "wise man who built his house on a rock" (verse 24) 

 

Take a few moments to reflect on this powerful worship song that captures the heart of Jesus's teaching about building on the rock:

This song beautifully expresses what it means to run to Christ as our refuge and foundation—the very truth Jesus teaches in the parable of the wise and foolish builders.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


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