2. Two Builders: Wise or Foolish
The Sermon on the Mount Series [32]
Matthew 7:24-29
© September 18, 2016
Pastor Paul K. Kim 2

3. OVERVIEW OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: JESUS’ RADICAL CALL TO OBEDIENCE
THEME of the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not be like them.” – Matt 6:8
Be radically different in your CHARACTER. [5:3-12]
Be radically different in your CONDUCT. [5:13-7:12]
Be radically different in your CHOICES. [7:13-7:23]
CONCLUSION: Put them into PRACTICE! [7:24-29]

4. 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:24-29

5. TWO BUILDERS: THE SIMILARITIES
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house... 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house...  (vs )
Both builders hear the words of Jesus’ teaching and are building the same kind of house [i.e., the Christian life].
Both houses look quite secure in good weather [i.e., nothing to test of the integrity of each house].
Both houses are struck indiscriminately by floods and storms [i.e., trials, hardships, and ultimately the final judgment day of the Lord].

6. TWO BUILDERS: THE DIFFERENCES
like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 . . . like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (vs )
Only one builder takes time to build a strong foundation.
The wise (v.24): builds it on rock patiently.
The foolish (v.26): builds it on sand in hurry.
Only one house withstands floods & storms.
The wise (v.25): it does not fall.
The foolish (v.27): it falls with a great crash.
The subtle difference hinges not on hearing but on OBEDIENCE.
The wise (v.24): puts them into practice.
The foolish (v.26): does NOT put them into practice.

7. NOTICE THE SUBTLE DIFFERENCE... JESUS DID NOT SAY:
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who does not hear these words will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (vs )

8. NOTICE THE SUBTLE DIFFERENCE... JESUS SAID:
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like  a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (vs )

9. THE ROOT OF OBEDIENCE: FOUR LEVELS OF HEARING THE WORD
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17)
Level 1: Hearing the Word superficially.
physical hearing
“roadside soil” (Mark 4:15)
bears no fruit/obedience
Level 2: Hearing the Word for knowledge only.
mentally responsive hearing
“rocky soil” (Mark 4:16)

10. THE ROOT OF OBEDIENCE: FOUR LEVELS OF HEARING THE WORD
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17)
Level 3: Hearing the Word with feelings only.
emotionally responsive hearing
“thorny soil” (Mark 4:18)
bears no fruit/obedience
Level 4: Hearing the Word with realization in heart that leads to action.
wholeheartedly responsive hearing [i.e., surrendering the will]
“good soil” (Mark 4:20)
bears fruit/obedience —thirty, sixty or even a hundred times

11. HOW CAN WE APPLY JESUS’ TEACHING ON ON TWO BUILDERS?
We are to examine ourselves on SELF-DECEPTION by looking at your obedience/fruit.
Evaluate whether you are building wisely or foolishly.
Repent from self-rationalization, if any.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!     Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,     and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24

12. HOW CAN WE APPLY JESUS’ TEACHING ON ON TWO BUILDERS?
We are to improve our hearing of the Word by surrendering ourselves wholly to THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST.
Resist the temptation of substituting hearing for doing [obedience].
Get rid of obstacles in your heart when hearing the Word.
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings,  the crowds were astonished at his teaching,  29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 7:28-29

13. HOW CAN WE APPLY JESUS’ TEACHING ON ON TWO BUILDERS?
We are to obey what we HEAR FROM SCRIPTURE—put them into practice.
Start with the lessons you’ve learned from the Sermon on the Mount.
Aim for practical application in your daily Quiet Time.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-25

14. Needed: Prayerful, Relational, Obedient Listening
So what is the way in regard to scripture? How do we receive this text? Here's how: by listening and responding and submitting. “Let it be to me according to your word” is the way I read this text. Our reading of this text is a personal listening to a personal God. We listen to God speak our lives into being. We listen to the story that provides a narrative shape and meaning to a life of following Jesus in the conditions of the world. It is a prayerful, relational, obedient listening. But that's not the American way of reading. Too many of us read only for information, for know-how, to better ourselves, to prepare for a job, for a profession. When we need a break from that, we read for diversion, for entertainment.
— Eugene Peterson

15. THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
What one insight hit home for you from Jesus’ teaching on building your Christian life on a solid foundation? What will you do about it?
What would it mean for you to surrender yourself wholly to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
What is your first step toward putting Jesus’ words into practice as you follow Jesus daily?