Have you ever realized that the Sermon on the Mount is three chapters long filled with power packed instructions directly from the Lord Jesus Christ? This powerful message begins in the fifth chapter of Matthew and ends just before the eighth chapter begins. Jesus closes this authoritative teaching with a parable that is often quoted but is seldomly practiced.  

This parable begins in Matt. 7:24 which reads, “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.” 

Do you realize Jesus is referring to everything He said prior to this statement? There is a lot to learn from reading these chapters. Also, read Luke chapter 6, which is an abbreviated version of these teachings. For years now, I have recommended that all Christians study Matt. 5 through Matt. 7 and apply these plain teachings of Jesus to their lives. Why? Because Jesus says whoever hears and does these sayings He will consider as wise!!! 

Unfortunately, in many Christian circles, it is taught that a Christian only has to believe on Jesus to be saved, but this is contrary to the plain teaching of Jesus Christ. He says you must hear and do to have a rock foundation. Here are a few verses for you to consider before we continue reading the parable:  

• James 1:22-25 says to be doers of the word and not hearers only. James also explains that God’s law is a law of liberty, not a law of bondage as some claim. 

• John 8:30-32 – Jesus tells those who believe on Him that they can only be His disciples if they continue in His word. He also says that they will know the truth and shall be made free. 
• Rom. 6:15-18 tells us that it is not acceptable to sin because we are under grace. Obedience to God is righteousness. If we are set free from sin, then we will obey the doctrine of God the Father and Jesus Christ from the heart.  

Take some time to read the entire sixth chapter of the book of Romans. It discusses being a servant (the Greek word actual means a slave) of sin versus a servant of righteousness. 

Back to the parable. Jesus is discussing obedience to the doctrines He outlined. Obedience to the doctrine of Jesus is like building a house on a rock foundation!!!  

Standing in the Face of Trials and Tribulation 

“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” (Matt. 7:25) 

In this parable, the rain, floods, and winds represent trials and tribulation. The book of Revelation also uses a flood as a symbol of satan’s attack on the church in Rev. 12:15-16. This spiritual house that this man built was able to withstand various attacks because it was founded on a rock; hearing and doing the doctrine of Jesus Christ!  

Luke 6:48 reads, “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.” 

Here in the companion verse, we see that these attacks on the wise man’s house were not even able to shake the house. According to the Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word translated into shake means to waver, i.e. agitate, rock, topple or (by implication) destroy; figuratively, to disturb, incite. If a man has firmly heard the doctrine of Jesus and has done what He taught, this man’s spiritual house cannot be shaken by trials, tribulation, and the attacks of satan. The logical conclusion is: if you want to withstand these kinds of attacks, you must listen to what Jesus commanded and do it!! 

Sidenote: Anyone not doing as the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded is not His disciple neither is Jesus that person’s Lord. This is why Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) Jesus said this just before giving this parable of the two foundations. This does not mean that a Christian will not make mistakes; however, a Christian must continue to turn away of sin, not continue in it (Rom. 6:1-6).  

Now let’s look at what Paul says about the same foundation.  

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.¹¹ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 3:10-11) 

There is one foundation! That foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus says that hearing and doing His teachings is the foundation of a wise man. Do not mistake the mere belief that Jesus Christ is the Messiah as the foundation for your walk with God. The real foundation is faith which is the hearing and doing of the teachings of Jesus Christ!!! Contemplate on the following verse: 

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) 

What’s the difference between a devil and a Christian? Willful Obedience!!! The verse quoted above was written in context of faith as accompanied by works. The gospel accounts show that the devils know who Jesus Christ is and tremble in His presence (read Matt. 8:28-29 and Luke 4:41 as examples). They do not obey Jesus because they know who He is. They obey because they are powerless to disobey His commands!  

Now stop and think! Do you consider the devils as Christians because the accept that Jesus is the Holy One of God? (Mark 1:23-24) This is why James said, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20) The devils have no works that support their belief that Jesus is who He says He is neither do they support the work the Jesus started. Instead, the devils lead men into all forms of disobedience despite believing in God.  

Sidenote: It also must be said that the devils operating in this world have more than belief in God. Remember these same beings had access to heaven before becoming co-conspirators in a rebellion against God. They know with certainty that God exists. There are even verses that show that the fallen angels know what their punishment is. They know all of this yet they still rebel. If you know and believe God the Father and Jesus Christ yet you actively rebel against what they have commanded, then you are no different than satan. You are making yourself an adversary!!!  

Again, the foundation of a wise man is the hearing and doing of the teachings of Jesus! The rains will come, floods will come, and the winds will blow to beat against the spiritual house being built in each Christian. The wise are building their houses upon the foundation of hearing and doing all of the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ! Their houses will stand firm against external forces.  

“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” (Matt. 7:26) 

Sand is the worse foundation to build a house on. Why? Sand is constantly shifting and moving due to external forces and pressures. Sand is unstable and anything built on an unstable surface is unstable by association. When trials and tribulations come, the foolish will not be able to withstand satan’s attack.  

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Cor. 15:58) 

Exclusion from God’s Kingdom 

The unfortunate reality is that many professing Christians are building on sand according to Jesus Christ’s own words. The unfortunate reality is many Christians are self-deceived according to the apostle James.  Please read Matt. 7:21-23 which is just before this parable. It is a good thing to cast out devils, prophesy, and do wonderful works in Jesus’ name. Jesus declares that some who do these works in His name are those who work INIQUITY! Take time to look up the definition of the word iniquity in a concordance. This word was translated from the Greek word anomia which means illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness. Jesus says these people work violations of the law!  Many want to take part in the glamorous aspects of being a Christian, i.e. the performing of miracles, but do not want to do the other things Jesus taught us to do. This is lawlessness and no different than Adam and Eve choosing the knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life!

Recognize that the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ was the proclamation of a coming kingdom that will remove wickedness in this world. There are dozens of verses that show Jesus will not allow the lawlessness in His kingdom. Matt. 13:41-43; Luke 13:24-28; Matt. 5:19-20; I Cor. 6:9-10; and Gal. 5:19-21 are just few verses that make this point plain. A search on the term the kingdom will reveal many more verses.   

Legalism? 

Is this legalism? If so, then Jesus is legalistic!!! Remember, these are Jesus’ own words we are looking at. If Jesus is our Lord and Master than we must listen to what He has instructed us to do. He vehemently declared that hearing and doing His teachings is a foundation of rock! Yet many think that this has nothing to do with God’s law. This is absolutely flawed thinking when you consider Matt. 5:16-18 which says: 

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” 

These words are part of the same sermon. Remember, Matthew 5 through 7 is one complete sermon. The logical conclusion is that the quoted verses above are a part of the foundation Jesus was referring to! Also, reread verse 18. Jesus says nothing will pass from the law until heaven and earth pass and all is fulfilled. When will this happen? Jesus showed John the answer in Rev. 21:1. Please read this verse several times to let it sink into your mind. Now realize that this happens after the millennial reign of Jesus Christ which is described in Revelation chapter 20!!! 

What Foundation Are You Building On?  

There are two foundations in which you can build your life upon. One is a foundation of rock and the other is a foundation of sand. Building on the rock proves that you are spiritually wise, while building on the sand proves that you are spiritually foolish.  

Jesus says the wise man who builds his house on the rock is he who hears His sayings and does them!  

Are you hearing and doing the sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, you are like a wise man who builds his house on a rock according to Jesus.  

If you are not hearing and doing the sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ, then I humbly encourage you to study the red words in your Bible. Do not wait until after “the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that [your] house” because great will be your fall.  

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)