“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

We are experiential people—we know what we have lived. God designed us to know Him through our experience of Him. Because of this the Bible uses many word pictures (analogies, metaphors, similes) to make spiritual life a hands-on experience for us.

 A House, Founded on the Rock

In Matthew 7, Jesus compared the building of a house to hearing and doing His words. A life of obedience is built by integrity, which is righteousness, wholeness, and stability.

The words “hear and do” in Matthew 7, echo language used in Deuteronomy 6, which teaches that individuals and families should build a life of obedience by hearing God and living according to His commands. Click here to read the SHEMA (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, ESV):

The comparison of obedience to house-building is powerful. The word-picture of the house is personal, we can all relate to that image. Looking at the other uses in scripture, of the word House, enriches th reading of Matthew 7:24-27:

• Family/household: “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).  As we set the Word as the priority for determining the direction of our family, we build a firm foundation that provides us with security, shelter, and comfort which enable us to grow.
• House/the body/life on Earth: “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).  It is life with Jesus, it is His sacrifice, and our dependence on Him, that gives us the hope of eternal life and changes our perspective on this earthly one.
• House of God (the Church):  “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5-6).

Jesus said:

Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me. I have spoken these words while I am here with you.  The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you (John 14:23-26, VOICE).

The foundation for a life of hope and peace is built by hearing Jesus’ words and doing them. What a wonderful promise. Do believe that obedience is rewarded? Do you feel the presence of the Lord more when you read His Word and put it into practice? Do you have the awareness of bringing the Lord to the world, as His Spirit resides within you?

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