Two Builders Series

The Two Builders

Matthew 7:24-29

One of the economic indicators that are spoken about often is that of “home building.” In recent years, the building of new homes is “down” considerably, but Jesus takes a different look at SPIRITUAL HOUSE BUILDING in Matthew 7:24-27:

"Therefore everyone who hears THESE WORDS of Mine and acts on them, (DOES them) may be compared (“is an example of”) a wise man (“prudence of mind and heart”) who built (root word is “OIKOS”) his house (OIKOS- can mean: “House of God, tabernacle, home, household family, extended family”; metaphorically- “family of God, or the Church”) on the rock. 25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded (established) on the rock. “

The Wise builder does not just hear with his ears but understands and comprehends with his mind and heart, and then acts upon them in his LIVING.

26 "Everyone who hears THESE WORDS of Mine and does not act on them, (does NOT DO them) will be like a foolish (moronic and godless) man who built his house on the sand. (NO FOUNDATION) 27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell -and great was its fall." (metaph.: to fall under judgment, from the verb meaning: came under condemnation)

Similarities of the Builders

Earlier in Chapter 7, Jesus taught us concerning two types of judging, two ways in life which produce two types of fruit, two different ways to view Jesus, two types of teaching, and “how to spot a false teacher”: He teaches that there are two different conditions of the human heart: a Kingdom of God-Heart in which Jesus is honored as SOVEREIGN LORD and God, or a kingdom-of-the-world-heart, which honors self and satan and which will result in eternal destruction.

There are a number of similarities in the parable of the TWO BUILDERS. Both are, or at least, SEEM to be, BUILDERS which means they are both alive and living in this life. (One actually must be a “pseudo” (false) builder because his house doesn’t stand.) Living your “LIFE” is really the significance of a “house that is built”.

Both BUILT houses. Both are active in house-building and both of them were able to complete their houses. I want you to take note that it doesn’t say that they built “perfect” houses; no “house” is perfect, just like no life is perfect.

It is important to note that both battled EQUAL ELEMENTS: Both houses (lives) received rain, floods, and wind. No life is without struggles, challenges, tests, and STORMS.

They both had the same privilege, in that both of them heard Jesus’ WORDS. These “words” would include ALL of the words of the Sermon on the Mount and all of God’s Words, not just the words of this story.

Differences of the Builders: The Wise Builder

Although there are similarities between the builders, there are very distinct Differences between them. Any builder knows that the foundation is the most important part of the house, but only a WISE builder will take the necessary time to make sure that the foundation is perfect. Everyone who hears Jesus’ Words (logos) and BUILDS UPON on THEM…. IS LIKE A wise man who builds his house on the rock. The Wise builder’s house was built on a rock solid foundation.

What constitutes a PERFECT ROCK SOLID foundation? This same parable is recounted in Luke 6:46: "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?(from last week) 47 "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like : 48 he is like a man building a house, WHO DUG DEEP and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” You have to dig deep and have a foundation on the rock, not shifting sand.

The word for “deep” means “the deep things of God, things hidden and above man's scrutiny.” They are the SPIRITUAL things which belong to God; They are the WORKS OF God, not the surface things and NOT YOUR WORKS! This man realized that “asking God, seeking God, and knocking” on God’s kingdom door was far more than just scratching the surface. Far more than what you SEE and what you DO! The foundation is not even yours.

Listen to these verses: In Exodus 33:19, Moses was told by God: "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place NEAR ME where you may STAND on a ROCK. 22 When my glory passes by, I WILL PUT YOU IN a cleft in the ROCK and COVER YOU with MY hand until I have passed by.”