Matthew 7:24-29 – Where to Build My House
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.
We are back where we started. Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine… It has been an amazing journey for me. The sermon on the mount has challenged how I am living as a believer in Jesus Christ. In thinking back, I realize I’ve read this sermon many times. I’ve heard countless sermons, bible studies and small group discussions. But I now find I had missed the point. The realization that this is one sermon with a central theme throughout changed the way I read each portion. Most of the sermons, bible studies, etc. have taken bits and pieces of the sermon and concentrated on that., but without the whole, the point could easily be missed or misconstrued. Yes, there are individual points and yes, there are things you can take from them, but, without the whole, the full meaning of these points are missing. It’s like the marvel universe (sorry I’m a huge fan). There are individual stories to be told, but they are all intertwined together to make up one huge story with a central theme. Without that central theme, the marvel universe would fall apart into scattered bits and pieces. They might tell some individual stories, but it would be missing the purpose. No, it’s not the perfect illustration, but I hope the point is made. Without the theme of the whole sermon, the beatitudes, Lord’s prayer, and this last parable lack their full meaning and richness. So in conclusion, I want to go back and look at the sermon once again with the central theme in mind.
The central theme of the Sermon on the Mount is the heart. What is in the heart – it’s what’s inside that matters. Each of the beatitudes deal with heart issues. Poor in spirit, mourning, gentleness, righteousness, mercy, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecution for righteousness sake. All these are traits of the inner man. You want to be like Christ? Well, practice these things. Paul put them this way in Galatians 5:22-23 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. This is the fruit Jesus talks about that will come out when we are rooted in Him. It is the same when Jesus says we need to be salt and light. If the inside is ugly, the salt looses it’s saltiness and the light is dimmed. We no longer have any influence in the world for Christ when this happens. Again, any good fruit we bear comes out of a heart for God. And when we bear good fruit, we are able to be an influence in today’s world. Otherwise we are just a bunch of banging gongs. Loud, but pretty obnoxious. After all, rotten fruit isn’t great to eat.
Jesus tells us our righteousness has to surpass that of the Pharisees and scribes in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. We can’t just look good, we have to hunger and thirst after righteousness. The rest of chapter five gives a look at all the things the Pharisees and scribes followed to a tee on the outside, but didn’t on the inside. Murder, adultery, oath taking, divorce, loving enemies, and going the second mile. On the outside, we might be ok on most of these. I haven’t murdered anyone or committed adultery. But there are times when I have looked at things I shouldn’t or prejudged someone. There are times when I have dismissed people out of hand as foolish and become impatient with what I see as inferior work or behavior. In doing that, I have committed these sins in my heart. I have not been a peacemaker, or merciful or pure in heart. My righteousness looked good on the outside, but the inside needed a good cleaning.
Chapter 6 of the sermon deals with fasting, prayer, giving, possessions and anxiety. Jesus continues with having us look inside. What is our motivation for each of these things? Do we fast, pray, give etc. to be seen as holy and righteous by those around us? Or, do we do these things out of love for God who’s name is hallowed? When we hold each of these things, fasting, prayer, giving, possessions and anxiety, up to the beatitudes, we find where they need to come from. When we fast we are to become poor in spirit. When we pray we are to mourn or hunger and thirst for righteousness. When we give we should show mercy. When we are looking at our possessions we should be gentle, thinking of others before ourselves. When we give up anxiety, we are at peace and then can then extend peace to others as true peacemakers. God’s desire is for us to surrender our stuff, our anxiousness, our strife so that we can look to Him as our provider, comforter, healer, Father and Lord.
And finally, chapter 7 continues our look at the inside. How do we judge others? Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? Are we selfless? In the model prayer, Jesus reminds us that God will forgive us as we forgive others. He asks us to pray for deliverance from the evil one. And then in this chapter he tells us to be on the lookout for false prophets and false teachers. To ask and it will be given, to seek and you will find, and to knock or examine and the door will be opened. It is only when we truly desire for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven that we can ask with a pure heart.
This finally brings us to the choice. Is it going to be a rock or the sand? Of course we would want to choose the rock. Sandcastles are beautiful, but I wouldn’t want to live in one. So, the real question is, do we really want to empty ourselves of all of the ME and allow God to fill us with all of HIM. If we are to heed Jesus’ words and be the sensible follower, this is what will have to take place. It’s all about the heart and what’s inside really does matters. As I conclude my study, my desire is to choose the sensible way – to build on the Rock that is Christ. For when the winds and rains of life come my way – Yes, they will come my way – I want to stand.
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