The Parable’s Core Message
The parable of the two builders is a straightforward, searching test for every person who hears the Word of God. The main topic is the difference between a person who hears and obeys Christ’s teachings and one who hears but fails to obey. The two men seem identical on the surface. They both want the comfort, security, and eternal hope of a “house” (a Christian life), and they both hear the same message from the same teacher.
However, the crucial difference lies in something hidden from public view: the foundation. The wise man “digs deep” until he finds bedrock, while the foolish man builds on the unstable ground of sand. The foundation represents the condition of our heart and our willingness to obey God’s Word.
Building on the Sand: The Foolish Man
The foolish man is in a hurry. He is like those who seek a quick and easy salvation, a simple profession of faith without the true repentance, a true sense of sin, and the self-denial that the gospel requires. He listens to the Word of God but only accepts what is convenient and agreeable to his self-will. He builds his life on his own terms, choosing to obey only when it suits him. This approach is easy and requires little effort, sacrifice, or commitment.
This is a dangerous self-deception. It leads a person to believe they are right with God based on their religious performance, church attendance, or a superficial “faith.” This foundation cannot stand up to the storms of life—the trials, temptations, and, ultimately, the final judgment. When the rain, floods, and winds of testing beat against this house, it will collapse with a “great crash,” leading to eternal ruin.
Building on the Rock: The Wise Man
The wise man, in contrast, takes his time. He is willing to do the hard, unseen work of digging deep. This symbolizes a person who takes God’s Word with utmost seriousness. They carefully listen to Christ’s teachings, valuing them more than anything in the world. They examine their heart, repent of their sins, and are willing to count the cost of true discipleship—the self-denial and effort required to obey God’s will.
This deep, painstaking work of laying a solid foundation is not visible to others. The foolish man’s house may be built much faster, leading to mockery from those who value quick results. But the wise man understands that speed is not the goal. The goal is to build a life that can withstand the storms. When the same rains, floods, and winds of testing come, his house remains standing because its foundation is on the unmoving, unchanging rock of obedience to Christ’s words.
In conclusion, this final section of the Sermon on the Mount serves as a final, heart-piercing call to action. It is a challenge to all who hear the gospel to move beyond mere hearing and intellectual assent, and to truly build their lives on the rock of humble, joyful obedience. For only then can we be sure that our faith is genuine and that our house will not fall.
Digging Deep: The Path of the Wise Builder
A wise builder does not make a Christian profession lightly. He counts the cost and seeks a deep, inward, and experimental knowledge of the Truth. This kind of knowledge is not merely theoretical; it is rooted in the soul, affecting the heart, will, and habits of thought. It means:
- Proving oneself: He actively examines himself to see if a supernatural work of grace has truly been done in his heart. He measures himself against the Word of God to see if the fruits of regeneration are being produced in his life. He is self-distrustful, constantly groaning before God and asking, “Lord, is it I?”
- Repentance from sin: He has a profound horror and hatred of sin. His repentance is not just an emotional response but a real loathing of sin itself. He longs to get rid of it and turns his back on it in every form.
- Obedience to God: He understands that God’s Word is not just good advice but the absolute command of the Judge of all the earth. He obeys God’s Word at all costs, regardless of the situation. His obedience is a practical demonstration of his love for God (John 14:15).
A foolish builder, in contrast, builds on sand. This person hears the Word of God but does not act on it. They may have a form of godliness, but their lives are full of hypocrisy and deceit. They constantly have to “patch up” their reputation, hide their sins, and fear being found out.
The Test: Floods, Rains, and Winds
The parable of the wise and foolish builders is a powerful illustration of the testing that every life will face. The “floods, rains, and winds” represent the trials of this world, such as temptations, afflictions, and persecutions. They also refer to the ultimate test of the Final Judgment.
- The foolish builder’s house: When the storm comes, the house built on sand collapses. Its fall is great and its destruction is complete, with nothing left to show for the life lived within it. This represents the ultimate fate of those who trust in a superficial profession of faith. They may have had hopes, dreams, and religious works, but everything will be destroyed in the presence of God’s judgment.
- The wise builder’s house: The house built on the rock, which is Christ and His words, does not fall. It doesn’t even shake. The wise builder is able to rest peacefully because their foundation is secure. The storm does not destroy the house; it only proves its stability.
The Parable’s Message for Today
This parable is a sobering warning that what you believe matters, but what you do is the ultimate proof of your faith.
- Head Knowledge vs. Saving Knowledge: It is a great deception to think that hearing the truth is enough. Many people listen to sermons as if they were a concert—for entertainment, without any intention of obeying. Saving knowledge is not just intellectual; it is spiritual knowledge that the Holy Spirit illuminates to your heart, leading to transformation and obedience.
- The Danger of Self-Deception: James 1:22 warns, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Anyone who hears the Word but does not do it is like a person who looks at themselves in a mirror and immediately forgets what they look like.
- The Call to Obedience: Jesus emphasized that those who are closest and dearest to Him are those who do the will of His Father (Matthew 12:46-50). Faith without works of obedience is a dead and delusive faith.
Today, everyone is either a wise builder or a foolish one. The only way to be a wise builder is to have a true sense of sin, a real faith in Jesus, and to allow that faith to produce a life of holiness. If you are not obeying God, you must examine your faith, because the ability to obey comes only from a truly regenerate heart.
A Call to Action
If your conscience tells you that you are a foolish builder, let that word ring in your ears. Don’t let anything distract you. Go to God and plead for mercy. Ask Him to give you the wisdom to be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.
- Have a true sense of sin: Pray for a broken and contrite heart that abhors sin.
- Pray for real faith: Examine yourself to ensure your faith is a sincere trust in Jesus, not just a superficial belief.
- Seek an experiential knowledge of the Truth: Ask God to burn His Word into you so that it produces personal holiness in your life.
The storm is coming, and only the house built on the solid foundation of God’s Word will stand. Check your foundation today.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 