The Tale of Two Builders

Matthew 7:24-27

Today we come to the final paragraph of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Without a doubt, it is the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest teacher the world has ever known. Our first lesson on Matthew 5 was almost a year ago and this is the 42^nd sermon I have preached on these three chapters. And yet, as we finish it, I feel like we have just barely scratched the surface of its marvelous truths.

I hope that the main point has been crystal clear. God demands righteousness.[1] The only way to enter the kingdom of heaven is to be righteous. Jesus taught, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:20). Jesus showed that God’s standard of righteousness is more than an external conformity to the commandments of the law—it must be an internal righteousness of the heart. It must result in us being different from the rest of the world. In this sermon Jesus taught, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48).

And Jesus’ teaching has shown us how far we fall short of God’s perfection, of His righteousness. And that would be a terrifying revelation were it not for the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ came and gave His life for us so that our sins could be forgiven, and God could make us righteous through Christ’s death and resurrection. We know from the whole New Testament, that through Christ’s death and resurrection, God saves sinners. Our sins were imputed to Christ on the cross and He died for them. His righteousness is imputed to us when we believe and we are justified, given a right standing with God.

Jesus teaches us in this sermon that righteousness before God comes as a result of seeking it as a gift of God’s grace. Jesus taught at the beginning, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). It comes, not to those who “earn” it (because no one can), but to those who hunger and thirst for a righteousness they do not have. Jesus taught us to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7). We are to ask and seek it as a gift. And God gives the gift of righteousness by His grace because He is the good Father. The rest of the New Testament shows that this righteousness comes to us as a gift of God’s grace by faith because of the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What Jesus makes clear in His teaching is that those who are His disciples, who have that gift of salvation, will then live holy, righteous lives. Jesus came not only to save you from the penalty of sin, He came to save you practically from sin. What Jesus’ sermon shows is that those who have been given God’s righteousness must live righteously. Can I really convince myself that I am righteous in God’s sight if there is no hint of righteousness anywhere in my life?

That is what the conclusion to Jesus’ sermon is all about. The warning that Jesus gives is that even though people live without any semblance of Christ’s righteousness in their lives, many still manage to convince themselves that they are saved, righteous in God’s sight. There may be no trace of the beatitudes in their character, they are not salt and light to the world, their obedience to God’s law is superficial, their religion is only skin deep, they love the world, they hypocritically judge others, they are on the broad, easy road—yet, they still manage to convince themselves that they are saved.

Jesus warned about this false assurance last time, saying,

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt. 7:21-23).

Jesus taught that many people would call Him Lord and even perform religious feats in His name, and never really know Him. They never really did the will of the Father. They had an empty profession and a life of lawlessness. They were not righteous. They substituted a false profession and religious works for the righteousness of God in Christ. They may have fooled others and even fooled themselves, but on the day of judgment, they could not fool God. Christ confesses to them, “‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Now, in the final paragraph, Jesus gives us an illustration where He demonstrates the folly of merely hearing His word and not doing it. Jesus insists that neither a verbal profession of Him nor an intellectual knowledge of Him can substitute for a life transformed by Him. John Stott summarized the conclusion of Jesus’ sermon writing,

So Jesus confronts us with himself, sets before us the radical choice between obedience and disobedience, and calls us to an unconditional commitment of mind, will and life to his teaching. The way he does it is to warn us of two unacceptable alternatives, first a merely verbal profession (21–23) and secondly a merely intellectual knowledge (24–27). Neither can be a substitute for obedience … The question is not whether we say nice, polite, orthodox, enthusiastic things to or about Jesus; nor whether we hear his words, listening, studying, pondering and memorizing until our minds are stuffed with his teaching; but whether we do what we say and do what we know, in other words whether the lordship of Jesus which we profess is one of our life’s major realities.^[2]

Jesus illustrates this with a story of two men who built two houses on two different foundations with two radically different results. Jesus uses “house building” as a way to describe how people build their lives and whether their lives will stand in the judgment.

First, let’s look at

1. The Similarities of the Builders

The two people Jesus pictures here have several important characteristics in common. Let me point them out.

Both heard the words of Christ. The opening words of Jesus to describe each builder are exactly the same: everyone who “hears these sayings of Mine …” (Matt. 7:24,26). Notice that Jesus says “whoever” and “everyone.” This applies to all of us. There will be no exceptions to what Jesus teaches about either builder in this story. Also, notice the importance of hearing. Romans 10:17 says: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” What do they hear? “… these sayings of Mine.” In fact, in the original language, the word translated “of Mine” is in the emphatic position. He is stressing the relation these words have to Himself. They are His; and He cannot be separated from them.[3] The thing these builders have in common is that both of them “hear” Jesus’ teaching. Both heard exactly the same words from exactly the same Lord.

The second similarity is this: They both built houses. It’s not that one of them built a house, and the other one didn’t. Both built houses. Each of these people built a house based on their understanding of what Jesus said. The house in this parable is a picture of a life. We are all building a life. You are building a life. Step by step, stone by stone, decision by decision, minute by minute, day by day, you are building a life. You only get one chance to do it, and you don’t want to waste it.

Both built in a similar place. They were close enough to the other house that the same storm affected both houses. Both built similar houses. Jesus says nothing about their houses being different. They may have used similar materials, and a similar design. From outside appearances, they probably looked similar.

When I think of these similarities. I can’t help but think of the similarities there are between those who are true Christians, and those who are “Christians” in mere name only. It’s sometimes hard to tell them apart. They may both go to church. They may both hear the same sermons or attend the same Bible classes. They bow their heads at the same prayers. Often, they even say prayers in much the same way. They talk the same kind of talk. They profess the same kinds of doctrines. And what’s more – as we learned from Jesus’ words in verses 21-23 – they may even both profess the same Lord.

The final similarity is that both houses were tested. And Jesus uses identical language to describe the testing. Both times he says, “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house.” (Matthew 7:25,27) Both builders built a house, and both houses were tested by the storm. Some view the storm as the trials of this life. All people will face storms in this life and often these trials will reveal whether your faith in Christ is genuine or not. Peter writes about the various trials we face, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:7).

But I think that the storm Jesus pictures here is primarily a symbol of the final judgment. That is the context. Matthew 7:24 begins with the conjunction, “Therefore”. This word points our attention back to all that Jesus has said to us in this sermon, but especially to His words in Matthew 7:21-23. There, Jesus spoke about “that day” (Matt. 7:22) when everyone will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment. Even if you get through this life without much difficulty or struggles, you must face the storm of final judgment. Everyone will be tested in that day.

And so those are the similarities between the two builders and their houses. Both heard Christ’s words. Both built houses. Both houses were tested. Next, let’s look at the differences between the two builders and their houses.

2. The Difference between the Builders

The difference is not readily seen. But it is there; and it is profound! the difference is found in what the houses are resting on. That’s not something that you can necessarily see just by looking at the house on a superficial level. By all outward appearances, the houses may look the same; but that’s because you can’t see the foundation of a house just by looking. The wise man’s house was founded on solid rock, while the foolish man’s house was founded on sand.

The main difference here is what the listeners do with what they’ve heard. Jesus describes the first builder as: “whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them” (Matt. 7:24), and the second builder as: “everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them” (Matt. 7:26). Jesus does not say “he who hears and understands,” or “he who hears and admires,” not even “he who hears and believes,” but rather “he who hears and does.” Both builders heard Christ’s words. But the first builder put Jesus’ words into practice, while the second did not.

As we already said, hearing is important, but it is not enough. Reading the Bible, going to church, listening to sermons – these are all good in and of themselves, but what will you do with it all? The contrast in Jesus’ story is not between hearing and not hearing, but between hearing and doing. The difference wasn’t knowledge, the difference was obedience.

John Stott points out again, “This is not, of course, to teach that the way of salvation, or the way to enter the kingdom of heaven (21), is by good works of obedience, for the whole New Testament offers salvation only by the sheer grace of God through faith. What Jesus is stressing, however, is that those who truly hear the gospel and profess faith will always obey him, expressing their faith in their works.”^[4]

The house represents the life of the man and the wise man’s life survived the judgment because built it on the foundation of righteousness through Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Later in Matthew 16, when Jesus asked His disciples who they thought Jesus was, Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:17-18).

The solid rock is Jesus. He is the righteous foundation. We build upon Him by faith, confessing He is Lord, receiving His righteousness, resulting in a life of obedience. The wise man saw that there was such a judgment coming, and the only way he could survive would be to anchor his life to Jesus. God’s righteous standard was so high, that Jesus was his only hope. He heard the warnings, and he headed them.

How do we know he had that he had built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ? It showed in his life of obedience to Christ’s words. You are not saved by your works but simply by faith in Jesus Christ. And yet at the same time, true faith in Jesus Christ will always result in good works. We read in 1 John 2: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4).

Keeping Jesus’ commandments is evidences that you truly believe Him. Jesus doesn’t mean perfect obedience here; none of us are perfect. But we are following the one who is perfect. Our desire is to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. That is the direction of our life. That is the narrow road that we travel. Are you doing what you hear? That is the difference between the two builders. One of them put Jesus’ words into practice. The other did not. The foolish man built his house on the sand. He did not have the solid foundation of saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Why would someone be so foolish as to build their house on the sand? Why would people refuse to build their life on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ? One reason might be because they were only concerned to get a house up for appearances. They didn’t really want to be righteous before God, they just wanted to look good before others. Jesus has warned about this hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees in this sermon.

Another reason someone might ignore the need for a good foundation is because they were in too much of a hurry to build. In Luke’s account of this parable Jesus says about wise man, “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.” (Luke 6:48). The foolish don’t take the time to dig deep. Many people are hoping for Christianity to be a “quick-fix” for their problems or a way to prosperity. So, they just rush in and start building their lives on a mere profession of faith in Jesus or an intellectual knowledge of Jesus without true faith in Jesus. For some, the demands of laying a true foundation for the Christian life is more than they wish to pay. Jesus said to count the cost. He said to take up your cross and follow Him. He said to deny yourself and forsake your own life.

Some don’t build on the solid rock because they don’t like what that foundation must be. It must be Jesus Christ and Him alone. It must be the Son of God who died for our sins. Which means what? To be saved, I must recognize that I am a sinner. I must see that it was for my sin that Jesus died. I must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that He is Lord over all. I must submit to Jesus Christ. There are many who reject the foundation, and build anyway. The trouble is, their building will not stand in the judgment.

3. The Results of the Storm

The results are truly dramatic. When the storm came, the house built on the rock did not fall, but the house built on the sand fell with a great crash. When the judgment of rain, flood waters and wind strike on the houses, one stands, the other falls. Jesus says, “And great was its fall”; meaning a terrible crash; a complete downfall; a total and final ruin. Great and ruinous is the fall of the house NOT built on Christ because this man didn’t just lose a house, this man lost his soul. It is a solemn warning to all those who disregard Jesus and his words in this sermon. If you’re not grounded in Christ, you’re going down.

How are you building your life? What is your foundation? Do you want to build something lasting? Something that will withstand the storm of the judgment to come? Then build your life on Jesus and His words. Hearing is good, but it’s not enough. We must not only hear the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, we must put them into practice. “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” It’s all about doing what you hear. It’s about a life that is transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. It is about a life that obeys Jesus because He is Lord.

We only have one life on this earth. What foundation are you building your life on? Is it the sinking sand of your own self-righteousness? Is it the sand of an empty profession of faith? Is it the sand of intellectual knowledge of God and His word? Is it the sand of your own religious works? That life will not stand in the judgment.

Have you built your life on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sin and looked in faith to Christ who died to atone for your sin? Have you trusted in His death and resurrection for forgiveness and eternal life? Does it show in the way that you live? Has it resulted in a life of righteousness? By the grace of God, are you becoming more like Christ? Is it your desire to obey Him, to love Him?

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[1] Rory Mosley, Escape the Coming Storm (Matthew 7:24-29). https://fbcspur.org/escape-coming-storm-matthew-724-29/

^[2] John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 209.

[3] Greg Allen, Building Upon the Rock. https://www.bethanybible.org/archive/2005/062605.htm#f1

^[4] John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 209.