TWO FOUNDATIONS

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24–27).

The Great Teacher told this parable at the conclusion of His most famous sermon – the Sermon on the Mount. He had expounded upon deeply important issues. He had boldly condemned the Pharisee’s do-good-ism by saying, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

Speaking of the fundamentals of Godly living and the religious establishment’s hypocrisy, Jesus said, “whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do…” (Matthew 6:2).  He continued, “whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites…” (Matthew 6:5) and “whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites”(Matthew 6:16).

He also challenged His followers to focus on what matters most. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20–21). “Don’t worry” (Matthew 6:25) but “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus also invited His disciples to pray faithfully to the faithful Father. “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).

When Jesus finished teaching, He told the Parable of the Two Foundations. What did it mean? “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” and “everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” In other words, “You’ve heard my teaching, now do it and you will be blessed! If you don’t, peril is certain!”

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).