Matthew 7:24-29
The Structure of Life (vv. 24-25)
- The Rock
- The sand
The Storms of Life (vv. 26-27)
- The same storms
- The different outcomes
The Sovereign of Life (vv. 28-29)
- The astonishment
- The Authority
More to Consider
The reason you often cannot tell the difference between them is that the deep foundations of their lives are hidden from view. The real question is not whether they hear Christ’s teaching (nor even whether they respect or believe it), but whether they do what they hear. Only a storm will reveal the truth. Sometimes a storm of crisis or calamity betrays what manner of person we are, for ‘true piety is not fully distinguished from its counterfeit till it comes to the trial’. If not, the storm of the day of judgment will certainly do so. Stott, J. R. W., & Stott, J. R. W. (1985). The message of the Sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian counter-culture (p. 209). InterVarsity Press.
From picturing two ways and two trees, our Lord closed His message by picturing two builders and their houses. The two ways illustrate the start of the life of faith; the two trees illustrate the growth and results of the life of faith here and now; and the two houses illustrate the end of this life of faith, when God shall call everything to judgment. There are false prophets at the gate that leads to the broad way, making it easy for people to enter. But at the end of the way, there is destruction. The final test is not what we think of ourselves, or what others may think. The final test is: What will God say? Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 31). Victor Books.
A person who comes to Christ for salvation comes to Christ the Lord, who has the right to demand obedience because of His lordship. Note that Jesus did not teach here that works save us, but rather that doing good works is a reflection of our obedience to God’s will (7:16–20, 24–27; cp. Jms 2:14–26). Attempting to earn salvation by works is a rejection of Christ’s sovereignty. Sin replaces God’s sovereignty with our human bent toward self-will and rebellion against God’s will. Cabal, T., Brand, C. O., Clendenen, E. R., Copan, P., Moreland, J. P., & Powell, D. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p. 1416). Holman Bible Publishers.
