Matthew 7:26-29

 

Mat 7:26 (KJB)

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

 

Then Jesus contrasts the person who hears His words and acts on them with the foolish man who thinks that he can make it to Heaven on his own. It is like building a house on the sea shore and then when a hurricane comes, it does not take much of the winds to take that house and have it come tumbling down. I think we all have seen what happens to a house in a hurricane or a tsunami. There is nothing left of the structure and that is the point that Jesus is making, that those who try and work for Heaven or who follow false teaching, will be completely consumed in the lake of fire, just as a house is in a major storm. (Mat 10:28 KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

Mat 7:27 (KJB)

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

 

It fell - Perished, fell in ruins, or go astray

 

Then the same intense storm which hit the house that was built on the rock now hits the house built on the sand. The difference is that all the attacks which could be mustered by the kingdom of Satan has a different effect on this person. They believe they can get to Heaven by works and they follow false teachings because they are palatable. The result of all the satanic attacks is that in the end, they will fall in ruins. False teachings and works gospels will have their reward of eternal damnation. This is why Jesus states that when they fell, the fall was great because there is no greater fall for man than eternal punishment in the lake of fire. The Greek word for “the fall” can also be understood as calamity. So the result of following false gospels is not a light thing but one of eternal consequences.

 

Mat 7:28 (KJB)

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

 

Astonished - Amazed, overwhelmed, or beyond measure

 

When Jesus had finished His sermon, the people were overwhelmed at what they heard. This was because the Scribes and Pharisees did not teach anything like this, so it was all new to them and they had much to meditate on. These crowds were literally struck dumb with amazement but those who would become saved, the Holy Spirit would bring these teachings back to their minds. This is the type of scenario a person runs into when they bring the true Gospel to bunch of unbelievers. I remember many years ago I brought a message to an elders conference in my birth church and they were all unsaved except for a very few. One of the elders commented to another and said, “who is he to tell us how to live?” Instead of considering what was taught, they remained in their house built on the sand just biding their time until the storm arrived.

 

Mat 7:29 (KJB)

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

Here is the reason the people were astonished beyond measure. Jesus spoke as the living word of God incarnate. (John 1:1 KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Whatever Jesus spoke on the mount, became Scripture and that was the authority. The scribes had based their teachings on traditions. (Mark 7:7 KJV) Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Human traditions carry no authority in the Kingdom of God and does not have the ability to convert a person to Christ. This verse has tremendous application for us today. God gave His children the authority to speak with authority. The way that is accomplished is by means of using the Scriptures in all teachings. When we use the Scriptures to preach or teach, we can use them with authority because it is God who stands behind those Scriptures. The Bible has the ability to convert people and to change lives because it is the living, written word of God. If the King James Bible is your authority, then your ministry will bear fruit and it will not be dull and stale like those who are always quoting commentaries or theologians. God’s Word in the King James Bible is your authority and not the modern versions because of their corruption and false manuscripts used in their translations. God blesses purity and not corruption.

Back