Sermon Devotional: Parable of the Builder

Sermon Title: Parable of the Builder

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:28-29 ESV

"The parables of Jesus make our heads tilt with wonder and our heart spin with curiosity. We listen to each story and are arrested by the profundity of its message...it points us toward the priorities of the Kingdom of Heaven and persistently invites us to embrace the way of Jesus." (From Praying the Parables of Jesus by Steve Macchia). Today we begin looking through Windows Into Reality—the reality of God’s perspective—as we engage the parables of Jesus. When we linger with Jesus and listen to his heart and teaching revealed in these parables, we will be changed!

The first parable is brief and succinct—just four verses in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 7:24-27) and four verses in Luke (Lk 6:46-49). In the parable of the builders, we are invited to consider a wise and a foolish builder who each make strategic decisions that have life-and-death implications.

But first, the context. This parable comes at the end of the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus presents some of his most memorable teaching. Matthew tells us that “when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them” (5:1-2). Matthew 5 – 7 includes the Beatitudes (5:3-12); the contrast between salt and light (5:13-16), the choice of “an eye for an eye” or love for our enemies (Mt 5:38-48), the core of Jesus’ best prayer practice (6:9-15), and teaching about “treasure” (6:19-24), judging others (7:1-6), the “narrow gate” (7:13-14) and more. Jesus taught the people from their everyday lives using familiar, everyday things. And the people listened!

The Sermon on the Mount ends with the parable of the two builders. One of the builders “hears these words of [Jesus] and puts them into practice” (7:24) while the second builder “hears these words of [Jesus] and does not put them into practice” (7:26). Both builders create a house. Both builders experience a violent storm: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house” (7:25 and 27). The house built on a solid foundation stood firm while the house built on sand “fell with a great crash” (7:27).

Hearing requires doing. “The point of this analogy with wise and foolish builders is that security depends on hearing and doing Jesus’ teachings and that mere hearing without doing leads to destruction.” (Stories with Intent, K. R. Snodgrass, 335)

“And when Jesus finished these sayings,”—that is, the sayings of the entire Sermon on the Mount—“the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (7:28-29).

The authority of Jesus that is being established in the teachings of the Sermon, and concluding with this parable, was apparent to those who listened to Jesus then and to those who listen today. Jesus says that those who hear but do not obey are fools choosing a path of destruction. “Obedience will not happen without choices, commitments, and the Spirit-energized exercise of will. Salvation is not attainable otherwise. Looking good is not good enough. Knowing right is not right enough. We must actually put into practice what we know is right.” (Stories with Intent, 337).

Consider –
╬   What is one teaching of Jesus that you know is right but that you hesitate to obey? Why do you resist? What fear underlies your disobedience? Turn to Jesus and seek his help to obey.

╬   Some Christians are happy to receive the goodness of God’s grace extended to us in Christ but turn away from the hard work of obedience to what Jesus teaches. The Lord tells us that this is not the truth of the Gospel. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (7:21). Do you know someone who loves the idea of Jesus but who resists obedience to Jesus? Pray for them, and for ourselves, today. Love them with the compassion of Christ.

╬   Thank you, Lord, for the riches of the knowledge of God revealed in Christ Jesus. Enlighten our minds and our hearts to know you more. Expose our fears and enable us to obey what Jesus asks us to do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.