The Two Builders

Introduction

Jesus teaching the parable of the wise and foolish builders is recorded in Matthew 7: 24 - 27 and Luke 6: 46 - 49. I encourage you to read those accounts now, before we look at how they may apply to us today.

This is a well taught parable as, I suppose, are most of the parables of Jesus, and with good reason. This one is a particular favourite of mine. I like the clarity and simplicity with which it sets out what the Christian life will be like. In both recordings of this parable there are two builders, both build houses, both have the choice of where to build, and both face storms.

As Christians we will face storms, following Jesus is not a ticket to an easy, storm free life. Following Jesus is choosing the right foundation to build upon.

Before we dig into this parable let’s look at why this passage is here.

In both Matthew and Luke the parable concludes a significant passage of teaching. If we look back at Matthew 4: 18 - 22, or Luke 6: 12 - 16 we see the calling of the first disciples and the appointing of the twelve apostles. Jesus then, with crowds around, begins teaching his disciples. We get the sermon on the mount. Our passage concludes the sermon with an exhortation to practise what Jesus says.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…”

Matthew 7: 24

“I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.”

Luke 6: 47

At this point we should be asking “what are the words of Jesus?”, we’ve already said this parable is the conclusion to the sermon on the mount, so let’s review that teaching.

This is a brief summary of the themes, rather than an in depth study of the sermon on the mount.

• The beatitudes

• Lifestyle of being salt and light

• Love

• Murder

• Adultery

• Divorce

• Oaths

• Revenge

• Love you enemies

• Prayer

• Fasting

• Eternity and money

• Worry

• Judgement

• Access

• Fruitfulness

In all of these Jesus either teaches the opposite of the culture of the day or He extends it as in His teaching on murder and adultery. In many ways the same is true when reading his teaching in light of today’s culture.

I encourage you to take time now to read these passages; Matthew 5: 1 - 7: 23 and Luke 6: 17 - 45. These are the words of Jesus we are to hear and put into practise.

Personal Question

• What teaching of Jesus really spoke to you today?

• How can you commit to put this into action from now on?

Knowing means hearing and practising

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do what I say?”

Luke 6: 46

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 7: 21

The warning in Matthew goes further. It seems possible for people to do the works of Jesus without doing the will of the Father; acting without a personal relationship, without the real deep connection of true discipleship.

“...unaware (like the ‘goats’ of 25: 44) that their discipleship does not match up to Jesus’ criteria of obedience (v. 21) and personal relationship (v. 23)”

(France, R.T. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries Matthew, 2008, p152)

Obedience and relationship are far more important than the outward displays, more important than the miracles. Many may call “Lord, Lord”, a cry of master/disciple, but do not actually have a real relationship with Jesus. This relationship is key, without it Jesus asks “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’” (Luke 6: 46). Following Jesus is not just about copying Him, or imitating Him, it is a real relationship of love and trust. This is where Jesus stands out from the Rabbinical practice of the day. Rabbis would have disciples. Those disciples would follow their Rabbi, copying him in every way, imitating him, and becoming like him. When we follow Jesus we are called to be like Him, however, it is not our efforts of copying that achieve this. Rather it is the work of the Holy Spirit drawing us into ever deeper relationship with Jesus and transforming us day by day to be more like Jesus.

This relationship, as Jesus talks about it here, comes down to two main aspects; hearing and practising. This is the same in Matthew and Luke.

The hearing described here is somewhat active. It is not the hearing we use when watching TV, where the words go in and are pretty much forgotten right away. In Greek the word is ‘akouō’, which conveys a sense of hearing and comprehending. As we read the teaching of Jesus we are to be active hearers, comprehending the words. We are to engage our minds as we read, pondering the words and how they apply to us. Without comprehension we have no chance of putting them into practise.

In the NIV, the translation I use for these studies, the Greek word ‘poieō’ is translated as ‘into practise’, other translations use ‘to do’ or ‘does’. Perhaps this is more accurate, the original word does allow for both. What I like about ‘practise’ is the sense of repetition. Repetition is a key part of practise.

As a runner I practise certain disciplines; the fast run, the long run, hill runs etc. I don’t just do it once and say it’s sorted. I keep repeating, I keep practising. The best professional sports stars practise. Think about rugby, the penalty taker practises those kicks for hours each session, in all weathers. In football the free kick specialist does the same. This is true of all sports; practise is key. The technique is not simply taught or read about, it is practised.

For the same reason it is not enough to simply read the teaching of Jesus, we must take action, we must practise and keep on practising. This is the mark of deep relationship with Jesus, the parable of these builders teaches us why this is so important.

Personal Question

• Spend time listening, what is Jesus drawing you to today?

• What teaching of Jesus can you practise today?

Build on Jesus

Both builders hear, both builders make a choice. We get to learn from them today, and everyday. The choice isn’t just our initial choice to follow Jesus, it is our ongoing choice to hear and practise, a choice we may face everyday.

For example, when I feel upset, hurt, or let down, or even offended and insulted do I retaliate and point out equal flaws? Or do I turn the other cheek, or perhaps thank the person as they have helped me to deal with the plank in my own eye? These small decisions crop up every day, how we respond is key, it is a sign of our relationship with Jesus.

The decisions of the builders vary between the two accounts. In Matthew it is location; rock or sand. In Luke it is about process; with or without foundations. We don’t need to be builders, or architects, or engineers to know that building on sand, or without foundations is a bad idea. But when we do not put into practise Jesus’ teaching this is effectively what we are doing in our lives. We are hearing the best way to build our lives, and then doing something different. It really makes no sense.

As I said at the start I love that both builders face the same storm. Building on Jesus does not mean no storms, but it does mean we can stand firm, sure of our foundation, sure that the rock on which we stand will not move.

What are these storms? I think that these storms represent two things, first the storms of this life, the difficulties we all face at some point. Second, the coming, ultimate test of God’s judgement (for more detail on this topic watch this talk on Life, Death, and Eternity by James Shepherd).

“On this practical response (as opposed to the enthusiastic but superficial allegiance of vv. 21 - 23); depends the ability of the disciple to survive the floods and winds, which probably symbolize both the pressures of life in the world and, particularly in connection with vv. 21 - 23, the ultimate test of God’s judgement.”

(France, R.T. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries Matthew, 2008, p153)

Building on Jesus is for now and for eternity. We can see this fuller picture when we read Isaiah 28: 14 - 19, or Ezekiel 13: 10 - 16. Both passages speak a warning against building on a lie, or relying on the flimsy and superficial. What Jesus does, in this parable, is bring the same warning but also the practical instruction of what, or rather who, to build your life on instead.

If we build on Jesus we build on the rock as Matthew puts it, we build with deep foundations as Luke puts it. When storms come the rock doesn’t move, the foundations remain firm and the building stands. We know that Jesus is our firm, unchanging foundation because that is what the writer of Hebrews tells us.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13: 8

Each of us has the choice of where and how to build our life. Do we build on sand, or without foundation trusting in our own ability? Or do we build on the rock, with a firm foundation, trusting in Jesus, knowing He will never let us down?

Personal Question

• What are you choosing to build your life upon?

• Bring your life to Jesus, commit to building it all on Him.