Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 7:24

"Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:" — Matthew 7:24 (ASV)

Verses 21–23 contrast “saying” and “doing”; these verses contrast “hearing” and “doing” (cf. James 1:22–25). Moreover the will of the Father (v.21) now becomes definitive in what Jesus calls “these words of mine” (v.24): his teaching is definitive.

In the parable cited here, each house looks secure in good weather. But Palestine is known for torrential rains that can turn dry wadis into raging torrents. Only storms reveal the quality of the work of the two builders (cf. 13:21). The greatest storm is eschatological (cf. Isaiah 28:16–17; Ezekiel 13:10–13), but Jesus’ words about the two houses need not be thus restricted. The point is that the wise person builds to withstand anything.

What wisdom consists of is clear. A wise person represents those who put Jesus’ words into practice; they too are building to withstand anything. Those who pretend to have faith, who have a merely intellectual commitment, or who enjoy Jesus in small doses are foolish builders. When the storms of life come, their structures fool no one, above all not God (cf. Ezekiel 13:10–16).

The sermon ends with what has been implicit throughout it—the demand for radical submission to the exclusive lordship of Jesus, who fulfills the Law and the Prophets and warns the disobedient that the alternative to total obedience, true righteousness, and life in the kingdom is rebellion, a life that is selfcentered, and eternal damnation.