Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The words of Jesus warn us of the consequences of hearing His words and doing nothing with them. To hear His words and think them good but not build our lives upon them is equivalent to building our lives on a sand that awaits sure destruction. Only by taking His words and structuring our lives upon them will be withstand the storms of this life that introduce the opportunity for hurt, fear, anger, shame, and uncertainty. Only by taking His words and structuring our lives upon them will we pass the test of ultimate judgement one day.
This invitation to decide what to do with His words requires reflection, but there is more to this passage than our cultural context provides.
The people of Jesus’s day had heard other rabbis teach that if you build your life on the Torah (the Word of God), then your life will stand the storms of life and judgement. Jesus effectively states in this passage, “my words are God’s words!”
This radical statement removes any opportunity to view Jesus as just another teacher or just another prophet.* Jesus speaks these words and challenges the hearers of His words to accept Him as the ultimate judge, the Word made flesh. To build our lives upon the words of Jesus is to build our lives on the words of the One who created it all, including us.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to take HIs words seriously enough to build your life upon them. Maybe in some area of life, you like His words. Perhaps you think that His words are good, or you wish that you could receive them. Maybe today God is asking you to take the leap of faith to believe His words enough to structure your life upon them.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 181-183, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 7:24-27) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).