Matthew 7:21-29
[21] Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [22] Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
[23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
[24] Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.
[26] But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”
[28] When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, [29] because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
From this amazing text, there are three observations to remember.
1. Saying “Lord, Lord,” is not enough.
Notice that these folks didn’t just say Lord, Lord, but claimed to have worked for him.
Maybe they were lying and did not do as they said. Maybe they did the works they claimed but did them to praise themselves. Maybe there was some other reason. We don’t know. What we do know is what they said and not what they claimed. They said, “Lord, Lord.” Here is one fact we can learn from this, words are not enough, the heart and the deeds must follow what we say.
2. The Wise and Foolish Builders
The main teaching of this parable is that before you build, make sure you are building on the right foundation. This parable refers to building one’s life. Each of us must build a life. When you do, if you listen and follow the words of Jesus, you will build on a foundation that will not fail when a storm comes. If you ignore God’s words, you will eventually fall. There is no other way. The storm will come. How you weather the storm depends on your foundation.
3. The end of the Sermon on the Mount.
The people who heard the sermon were amazed. Why? Because Jesus taught them with clarity and authority. Jesus knew what he was talking about. He does not quote from the traditions of the elders or rabbis, but speaks with his own authority, as the Son of God and the Messiah.
Lonnie Davis