Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.” Jesus continued, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples about “a wise man” who“built his house upon a rock” where we read:
Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
The verse reads, “Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, ...” Matthew began with the word, “therefore” or “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “whosoever” which refers to “whatever person whether male or female” “hears” which means “is endowed with the faculty of hearing, understands, considers and perceives the sense of what is said” “these sayings” or “these utterances, declarations and proclamations” “of mine” which refers to “belonging to Jesus”, “and does them” or “and performs, makes, produces, bears and shoots forth Jesus' teachings”. Jesus referred to people who “listen to and obey” all the “things” He proclaimed.
The verse continues, “... I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” Matthew added the words, “I will liken him” or “Jesus compared the person who hears His words” “unto a wise man” which means “to an intelligent, prudent and mindful person whether male or female”, “which built” or “who constructed, founded, established and erected” “his house” which refers to “the person's inhabited edifice and dwelling” “upon a rock” or “on a large stone which is firm and and strong”. Jesus said the person who “hears and obeys” His “sayings” resembles someone who “establishes” their “dwelling place” on a “solid rock”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how important a “strong foundation” is within a person's life. There is no greater foundation than the one built upon the words of Jesus, and when a person submits themselves to Him, God establishes their life with the most firm basis with which to live. God wants every person to listen to and obey Jesus, and their lives will be benefited from the blessing of being built upon the “solid rock”.
Next time Jesus tells His disciples what happens to the house, “which was founded upon a rock”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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