Being A Hearer And A Doer Of The Words Of Jesus.

Jesus Christ concluded the Sermon on the Mount with a final, searching call to the multitude. He said, “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

With these words, Jesus Christ revealed two critical aspects that must be in our lives as believers in establishing a firm and sure foundation for our lives. Believers must not only be hearers but also doers of His words.

Jesus Christ has established a clear and essential principle for our lives to enable us to have the strength, stability, and endurance in our lives as believers, this happens as we build our lives on the bedrock of His Word .

Jesus continued, “And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:25). 

The image that Jesus Christ is portraying is unmistakably clear. Strict obedience and adherence to the words of Jesus Christ will form a foundation in our lives that can withstand any adversity and any situation or circumstances that may come against us.

Jesus then issued a solemn contrast of the consequences of failing to be grounded in His words.: “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 rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”(Matthew 7:26-28). 

It must be understood that the same storms came, the same winds beat upon the house, yet “it fell. And great was its fall”  The difference was not the storm, but the structure of the building’s foundation.

The teachings of Jesus Christ are given to govern our lives. His words are not suggestions to be considered or left to our discretion, but in reality, they are admonishments to be received, believed, and obeyed.

When Jesus taught, He spoke with divine authority, calling people not only just to hear, but they were urged to follow; they were cautioned not only to admire His words, but to submit their lives to His word.

As believers, we are commanded not only to listen, but to put action to what He teaches us. It is imperative in our lives that we successfully build our lives upon what He has said.

This is important; what must be understood is that Jesus Christ never promised His followers a storm-free life. On the contrary, He warned, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33).

Therefore, we are to understand that although the winds may howl, the waters may rise, and the stream may strike with great force, the life anchored to the words of Jesus Christ will stand firm.

Through His words, believers are given access to a foundation that cannot be moved when storms come.  Again, this is a word of caution to those who build their lives on a faulty, inferior foundation.

The preservation of our lives as believers comes through abiding in His word and walking in it day by day. The rock, therefore, is not merely hearing the Gospel; it is hearing and doing its instruction.

It is coming to Jesus, receiving His words as final authority, and shaping our lives around them. It is allowing His teaching to govern our lives, ultimately defining the path of our obedience to His word.

Those who build on this rock will stand, no matter the storm. Those who build on anything else will fall. Jesus spoke these words not to condemn, but to save. His warning is mercy. His words are the sure foundation given to preserve every person who hears and obeys them.

They are the wisdom of the Father offered to fallen humanity, the mercy of the Father revealed in truth, and the unshakable rock upon which every life must rest now and for eternity.