Part 2 of 2 A Discussion of Luke 6:46-49 Foundation Part 2 of 2 A Discussion of Luke 6:46-49

Wise Man, Foolish Man The wise man built his house upon the rock And the rain came tumbling down. The rain came down And the floods came up And the wise man's house stood firm.

Wise Man, Foolish Man The foolish man built his house upon the sand And the rain came tumbling down. The rain came down And the floods came up And the foolish man's house went "splat!"

Wise Man, Foolish Man So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ And the blessings will come down. The blessings come down As your prayer go up So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Parable of the Builders Just a simple story with an obvious moral? Song based on Matthew’s version in 7:24-27 Luke’s version in 6:46-49 *Reduced to a simple children’s story. *Is it just a simple moralistic tale? *Is the theology in the song sound? *Just because it isn’t wrong doesn’t mean it is right either. *Important to take in context, language, history, culture. *Take a look at Luke’s version, the “forgotten” one.

Luke 6:46-49 (ESV)  46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built…

Luke 6:46-49 (ESV) 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

Exodus Similarities Sermon on the Mount/Plain Exodus The Twelve selected Jesus and mountain Disciples and crowd “New law” given Parable of builders Hears and does Hears and does not Israel chosen Moses and mountain Israelite assembly Law given Construction of sanctuary Hears and obeys Hears but rebels

Where We Paused… Similarities between Sermons and Exodus Giving of Law Construction of a house  sanctuary Is there connection between “Law” and “House?” “Law”  Reflection of God’s nature/character “House”  ??? Hearing by itself is insufficient Insufficient for what? Why? Jesus’ call to his disciples is to “hear and do” What about the builders and the houses?

Builder Parable in Isaiah Isaiah 28:14-18 (ESV)  14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem! 15Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter";

Builder Parable in Isaiah Continued… 16therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.‘ 17And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter."

Builder Parable in Isaiah Continued… 18Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it.

Beautiful Voice Parable Ezekiel 33:29-33 (ESV) 29 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed. 30"As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, 'Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.'

Beautiful Voice Parable Continued… 31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. 32And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

Beautiful Voice Parable Continued… 33 When this [destruction and desolation] comes—and come it will!— then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

Marrying of Parables Parable of Builders in Isaiah Refuge and shelter of lies Storm motif (whip, hail) Sure foundation found in the true God (rock) Destruction of false refuge Parable of Beautiful Voice in Ezekiel Hear but not do Destruction of those that hear but don’t do

Marrying of Parables Jesus’ Parable of Builders in Matthew/Luke Builder who does hear and do Digs down and digs deep to lay sure foundation on rock House withstands storm Builder who does hear but doesn’t do Does not go down to rock and does not lay foundation When storm hits, house is destroyed Overlay the Exodus references… Builder Parable is no simple story

What Is the “Foundation?” Jerusalem Leaders  Temple A physical rock where Ark was said to stand Physical building Traditions and rituals around the Temple Perfect obedience Qumran  12 men and 3 priests Perfect interpretation of and obedience to Law *How did Jesus’ hearers interpret “foundation?” *Qumran  Essenes, Dead Sea Scrolls.

What Is the “Foundation?” Jesus  Hearing and doing His teachings Be perfect as God is perfect (Matthew 5:48) Be merciful as God is merciful (Luke 6:36) Law is about relationships and community Law is about service to others *What is Jesus’ interpretation of “foundation?”

What is the “House?” Purpose of a house Refuge, shelter (Isaiah) Sanctuary (Exodus) A place for family Gather Relate Learn Communicate Rest Nourishment Encouragement

Church as New Temple 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 (ESV) 9For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Church as New Temple Continued… 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

Church as New Temple Continued… 14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Church as New Temple Continued… 16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Purpose of Temple A place… Both horizontal and vertical directions Gather Relate Learn Communicate Rest Nourishment Encouragement Both horizontal and vertical directions

Applying the Parable Hearing and doing Law Construction of House  Temple Family and community Purpose of church

Importance of Foundation Implications

End of the Parable A storm hits… What happens to the houses? One survives, the other is destroyed What happens to the builders? Hmm… What happens to the inhabitants? *Frequently, the ending of Jesus’ parables are left for the hearer to complete in their own minds and lives.

Why Does the Parable Matter? What we choose to believe Leads to… How we choose to live; i.e. … Apply Christ’s teachings; i.e. … Do His words… Which then… Draw towards or Drive away from God Encourage or Discourage others re: God When storms of life hit, how do they/you believe? *Where do people turn for refuge, for sanctuary, for salvation? *Who or what do people trust to deliver them from the storms of life? *The Builder Parable teaches us (taking into account rest of Sermons that precede it) that God’s people, God’s community, God’s house is the primary means through which He reveals His perfect Law – love and mercy – to the world. *Those who do not live God’s law are building without a foundation. They don’t really know God and when a storm hits, they will be exposed for what they really are. Where will that then lead? Will it lead to a search for the true God, or will it lead to a complete rejection of any refuge outside of themselves? *OTOH are those who do live God’s law and build a strong shelter on an immovable foundation. When storms hit, even when suffering and loss are experienced, their trust in God remain unshaken. *John’s Epistles: Explore further – foundation, building upon it, the Law, importance of hearing and doing, Christian perfection.

Cultural studies from Kenneth E *Cultural studies from Kenneth E. Bailey’s Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, IVP, 2008