The House Built Upon the Rock

The House Built Upon the Rock

The in-depth summary of each bible study is much different from the small group bible study laid out before the leader and the students.  The small group studies are intended to be interactive, provide a learning atmosphere for students, and open discussions allowing for interpretations of what the gospels’ witnessed.  The in-depth summary is designed to help the leader with expansive information, much more than what is in the text notes found at the bottom of every bible page.  An exhaustive search was completed on each verse to help the Leader answer questions that may come up during the study.

The parable of a man who built his house upon a rock and another man who built his house upon sand.

Matthew and Luke both describe the parable of the man who built his house upon the rock and the man who built his house upon the sand.  Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:46-49.  This verse from the bible is one of the favorite bible stories among geologists.

Jesus concludes the sermon on the mount with an excellent comparison, explaining the benefits of putting His words into practice.  It is not adequate to hear His words. His words need to be the fundamental foundation of a person’s being.  There are people who hear His words.  They even go so far as memorizing countless verses and may even recite them.  However, if the person does not put His words into practice, the person is no better than someone who has not heard His words at all.  Jesus’ words are not for our entertainment.  He is providing humanity a pathway to His kingdom. 

Description of the terrain:  The Jews, gentiles, Pharisees, and Sadducees were very familiar with the topography and territory of the land.  There are coastal plains, mountains, hills, the Jordan river, and a southern desert.  The Palestine area is on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering the Jordan valley.  The people in the area would understand Jesus’ description of building a house on the rock, another man who built his house on sand.

Jesus describes a literal physical house to illustrate how critically important the foundation is to the entire structure of the house.  Matthew specifically calls out that the man who built his house on the rock is like a “wise man.”  He also calls out that the man who built his house on sand is a “foolish man.”  In this beautiful illustration of the man’s house build on rock versus the man’s house built on sand, the lesson learned is NOT their external appearances of the house.  The lesson learned is the metaphor between the wise man who built his house on the rock and someone who builds and creates a foundation with Jesus’ words, obeys them, and puts them into practice.  This demonstrates a long-term discipline and provides a strong house that will endure the external obstacles and the test of time as we go through life.  Similarly, the same comparison can be said between the foolish man who built his house on sand and the person who hears Jesus’ words but does not obey them and does not put them into practice.  This contributes to the individual being overwhelmed by circumstances.

Luke 6:46 (outlined in green):  Jesus calls out to the listeners on the mount, asking them, “why do you call out to me when you do not do the things I say you should be doing?”  This point is at the very heart of this lesson.  Jesus knows they either forget, ignore or reject His teachings.  It is not enough to call ourselves “Christians,” attend church, and read the bible.  The intent to “act” does not match the behavior.  “Lord” is from the Greek root word Kurios, which means ruler. Another observation that those who call out to him “Lord, Lord” probably call out His title in respect.  Calling out to the Lord for help is a familiar request the Lord hears.  They probably respected Him and His teachings but did not act on them.

Matthew 7:24 and Luke 6:47-48a (outlined in red): In the first part of each verse, Matthew and Luke state, “whoever hears my sayings and does them.”  Luke adds one more statement, “whoever comes to Me.”  We hear and listen to things actively and passively.  Hearing a pleasure book read to you is an example of passive listening.  Sitting in a classroom with a pen and paper ready to take notes is an example of active listening.  Hearing Jesus’ teachings is not enough.  People must implement His words into their lives and then act on them.  Putting Jesus’ words into practice creates a solid foundation for living and making decisions.  People will observe you by your actions and decide for themselves if you are who you say you are.  They will see if you truly walk the walk and not just talk the talk.  In the second part of each verse and part of Luke 6:48, the person who implements Jesus’ words is like a man who built his house on a rock.  Only Matthew refers to that person as a “wise man.”  Because that person heeds His words, he has a strong foundation.  Houses built on a solid foundation are sturdy and can weather the storm; they can withstand heavier loads and not shake by circumstances.  Also, notice where Luke describes the man who “dug deep and laid the foundation.”  Buildings secured to a bedrock foundation are sturdy.  The man’s house is his spiritual strength.  The house, just like a person’s spiritual strength, can be strengthened or weakened throughout its life. The same is valid with a person’s foundation.  When someone’s foundation is firm and solid, that person can take on additional burdens or challenges throughout life and ride out the storm.  Luke’s mention of “whoever comes to Me” is a further step than simply listening to Jesus’ word.  To come to Jesus is an individual’s action and a choice.  It is their free will to choose to come to Him.  Jesus represents the rock.  Each person represents a house. It is important to build our house with a strong foundation.

The importance of a strong foundation:  The building’s strength lies in its foundation.  The primary purpose of any foundation is to support the entire structure.  There are many different strategies for best creating a foundation for a house, a bridge, a skyscraper, or just a simple road.  Engineers, architects, builders, and contractors work separately and together on projects to create robust, safe, and beautiful structure.  The foundation is the key to building and creating a successful and long-lasting design. 

How to prepare for a solid physical foundation:  When constructing the foundation of a house, there are specific critical steps required to guarantee the substructure will support a home for many years to come.  Although this is not all-encompassing, we will provide this comparison to building a solid foundation on Jesus Christ.  The foundation of a building has a specific sequence of events.  A foolish example would be, pouring plain concrete on the ground as the first step.  (1) The first step commonly is to inspect the soil’s condition.  (2) Excavate a trench or dig to bedrock to accommodate the footings. (3) Install reinforced rebar.  (4) Build the footings.   (5) Prepare the concrete.  (6) Pour the concrete.  (7) Layout the foundation and slab.  (8) Inspect the foundation. 

How to prepare for a solid spiritual foundation: To build a solid foundation on Jesus Christ, there are several vital steps to follow; however, they are not as stringent to require them to be in a specific order.  (1) The first step is to inspect and evaluate your relationship with Jesus Christ.  (2) Faith.  We must put our trust in God.  (3) Have family and Godly friendships.  (4) Obedience to God demonstrates a person’s commitment and outward sign of having a deep and genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. (5) Finances.  God entrusts you to be a good steward over the Lord’s finances.  Live within your means and manage His money responsibly.  (6) Food and Fitness.  Our bodies are God’s living temple; the Holy Spirit resides in you.  Maintain your body with a healthy spiritual discipline.  (7) Fellowship with other believers.  These are good roots for a solid spiritual foundation with Jesus Christ.  Remember, this is just the foundation.  Asking for forgiveness of our sins, walking with the Lord, and things like the serenity prayer, and many others are important but are building blocks on top of the foundation.  The foundation needs to be established before a deep meaningful relationship can exist.

Matthew 7:25 and Luke 6:48b (outlined in blue):  Both Matthew and Luke write Jesus’ metaphor of a wise man to a physical house with a strong foundation built on rock.  Think of a lighthouse being hit by some mighty waves.  Lighthouses are known for being built on rock.  The wise man’s house has a strong foundation and can withstand life’s obstacles and challenges.  Similar to the description of the winds that blew and beat on the house, and the stream beat vehemently against the house.  Both demonstrate life’s obstacles and challenges everyone faces. No person can escape the storms of life.  Yet the house stood firm and was not shaken, for it was founded on a rock foundation.  No person can escape the storms of life.  The person who hears Jesus’ words and acts on His sayings is prepared for judgment, and he will withstand the storm.

Matthew 7:26 and Luke 6:49a (outlined in black):  Both Matthew and Luke write of the man who built his house upon the sand.  They both write about the man who hears Jesus’ words but does not follow them.  There are two possibilities why he does not put Jesus’ words into action.  The man is unable to do so, or he is unwilling to put them into action.  Jesus compares this man to “a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”  Sand has almost no foundation.  Sand may offer a temporary foundation, as long as the water is not added to the equation. Once water is added to the sand, the foundation will give way and finally collapse under the weight of the house or structure.

What happens to a sand-based foundation: Liquids, especially water, are the worst enemy for a sand-based foundation.  Even sunbaked hardened sand will lose its strength after the first rainfall.  Water from the rain or waves slowly loosens the top layer of sand.  As more water descends through the sand, the sand and water start to mix, and the underground slowly starts to shift and move with the sand-water mixture.  Once water collects on top of the sand, the sand foundation begins its inevitable collapse.  Even sunbaked hardened sand will lose its strength after the first rainfall.   As more water arrives, the muddy substance becomes more diluted water.  As more water is added, either by rain or waves, the mixture soon becomes a slimy substance.  The slimy substance becomes more fluid, flowing, and erratic as more water is added.  The sand particles, still vastly outnumbering the amount of water, still has enough strength to maintain form and a foundation.  As the foundation becomes loose and unstable, the structure begins to sway.  The sand can no longer hold its form and starts to flow wherever the water takes it.  At this point, the foundation begins to give way.  The weight of the house or structure can no longer be sustained, and ultimately the foundation is unstable, and the house collapses on itself.

What happens to someone who does not build a solid spiritual foundation:  When someone does not create a solid spiritual foundation, their soul becomes susceptible to persuasion and allows sin to be entered easier.  Satan uses temptations to conquer people’s souls.   There are several reasons why someone does not build or does not want to make a solid spiritual foundation.  Here are some main reasons in no particular order, but they may be very familiar. 

(1) Money.  There is nothing inherently wrong with money; it is neutral.  Read 1 Timothy 6:10. Timothy states, “The love of money is a root of all evil.”  God does not have a problem with people having money.  Timothy continues in 1 Timothy 6:17-21 and states we are to be good stewards of God’s riches.  You cannot serve two masters.  You will love the one and hate the other.  See Matthew 6:24

(2) Sex.  Sex is one of the greatest temptations for men to face.  Visual images stimulate men, and our society is filled with sexual images in many areas.  God requires us to keep ourselves free of sexual immorality.  The temptation is great.  The best way to overcome sexual temptations is to remove yourself from the situation.  See Matthew 5:27-30. 

(3) Pride.  In Proverbs 6:17-19, God lists the things He hates. Pride is the first one on the list.  Pride is what got Satan kicked out of heaven.  Simply put, there are two forms of pride.  One, you look better than you are, showing no weakness.  Two, you believe you are better than you are.  The art and practice of humbling ourselves are critical to successfully keeping pride at bay.  See James 4:10.

(4) Envy.  Envy is one of God’s commandments.  Exodus 20:17. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house.”  Keeping up with the “Jones” is not what God has for our plan.  God never called us to measure ourselves or compete with one another.  The best solution is to encourage and inspire one another.

(5) Lust.  Lust is not only associated with sexual sins.  Lust can be for power, position, fame, and recognition.  Lust can lead you to do whatever it takes to satisfy that desire.  As your life journey continues down its path, ask yourself, “Is it for His glory? Or yours?”

What are the reasons why someone loses their faith?  There are several reasons why someone who has faith in God may begin to go down the path of losing one’s faith.  The most common search has been the death of a close relative or friend.  Other events include stress, depression, illness, uncertainty, trauma, betrayal, fear, and loneliness.

Some examples of belief or actions we can regain confidence and re-strengthen our faith are:  Believing that God will work a miracle during an impossible situation.  Having the confidence that the impossible is possible.  Trusting in God that whatever is happening is part of a greater plan.

Matthew 7:27 and Luke 6:49b (outlined in purple):  Matthew and Luke conclude Jesus’ parable of the man who built his house upon the sand.  Both describe a violent storm, with rain, winds, and a stream that beats vehemently against the house.  A foundation made on sand would be no match for the storm.  Matthew and Luke conclude with the destruction of the house and how great the destruction was.  How great that storm will be.  The person who hears Jesus’ words and does not act on His sayings is the foolish man and will be destroyed in the storm of judgment.    

This storm is not to be taken lightly.  This story is not merely about choosing a location to build a house on solid rock versus a house built on sand.  It is a metaphor for choosing to hear Jesus’s words and putting them into action.  Failure to do so will result in the living for all eternity in a ceaseless storm. 

Characteristics of a wise man:

We will try to list a multitude of characteristics and qualities of the makings of a “wise man.”  This is not an all-encompassing list; however, it will provide a great start to identifying someone who possesses the character of one. 

This is what we have found what the “world” considers to be a “wise man”:

They educate themselves and are always learning

They are disciplined

They admit their mistakes and learn from their experiences

They are patient

They are observant and open-minded

They take instruction humbly

They can handle rejection and failure

They know they can only control the controllable

They are guided by wisdom

They know their priorities

They are trustworthy and steadfast

They take calculated risks and accept change

They make the most of their relationships and give fantastic advice to others.

They don’t live beyond their means

This is what the “Bible” considers someone to be a “wise man”:

Not a big surprise; most of the definitions come from Proverbs.  Wise men do the following:

Instead of writing out the verses, it is better received when they are looked up from the bible.  Have someone read them:  Proverbs 29:11; Proverbs 21:20; Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 1:1-33; James 1:5; Proverbs 29:7; Romans 14:1-23; 1 John 4:1;

“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 7:24-25, Luke 6:46.

Conclusion:

The image of a great storm was widely used in the Old Testament.  Many of the prophets described God’s wrath using images of great storms.  The storm that destroys the man’s house that was built upon the sand is an illustration of divine judgment.  This is a metaphor for a person who hears Jesus’ words but does not act on them.  The house is his spiritual strength.  The foundation is built on sand; the house will not stand and weather the storm.  The man’s house that was built on the rock will survive the storm.  This metaphor is a person who hears and acts on Jesus’ words.

For he is prepared for judgment.

His spiritual strength is solid.

We hope this in-depth summary of the House Built Upon the Rock was detailed enough for your search of what you are looking for.