Build on the Rock

In order to ensure that one will not be a bad tree, nor the one to hear the words "I never knew you", Jesus Christ must be the foundation of one's life. If Jesus is that rock, that foundation, then none will fall.

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24, NKJV

Jesus will liken that man to one who built his house on the rock. If we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, then we are first of all wise. This wisdom denotes a sagacious and prudent life. One who follows the wisdom and teachings of Jesus is mindful of the eternal. More than that, however, is that his house is built on the rock. Notice that it is not just a rock but the rock. That rock would be none other than Jesus Christ.

"And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Matthew 7:25, NKJV

Trials will come, trouble does not stop. Just because we build a house on the rock does not mean that trials will stop. This is like saying that weather proofing your house stops the cold outside. The house, because of the preparation will be warm and protected, but the outside will still get cold. The same goes for building on the rock. Preparation ensures the houses stability, but the trials will not cease. The rains will descend, the floods will come and the wind will blow, but the house will stand.

"But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:26-27, NKJV

Jesus likens the man who does not heed to His teachings as a fool. Psalms 14 and 53 both state that "the fool has said in his heart there is no God." Jesus is not speaking of the ignorant, He is speaking of one who has heard and chooses not to do. The rains will descend, the floods will come and the winds will blow and the house will fall. Not only will it fall, but the fall will be great. It will be great only because this person has the knowledge, but chose to not heed. There is nothing worse than willful disobedience. Nothing of what Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Mount infringes upon human rights, nor does it impede morality. Everything that Jesus taught is already instilled on the heart of man. It is a given that one should not murder, however, Jesus took it one step further. Jesus took all the issues of a social order and made it a moral issue. "You should not murder, but also do not hate. You should not commit adultery, but also do not lust."

"And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them with authority, and not as the scribes." Matthew 7:28-29, NKJV

Thus ends the Sermon on the Mount. the masses had not heard anything like the teachings of Jesus before. though Jesus was speaking to His disciples, the outside world was privy to what was being said. Everything from the first beatitude to the foundation of the rock was meant for the people of God, but the masses needed to hear it too. And they were astonished because Jesus spoke with authority. Who better to speak at the Bible, or the things of God I should say, than Jesus, the Word Himself.