Matthew 7:24 … To Build on Stone (01/11/17)
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine & acts on them will be like a Wise Man who built his house on stone.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 7:24)
There are two key phrases in this verse of great significance – two key phrases that many overlook (to the great detriment of their understanding of The Way of Christ) … Please consider:
01) There is the phrase “these words,” with most readers assuming thereby that Jesus is talking about the previous few passages—or even the previous few pages – of biblical text, when in reality this verse comes at the very end of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount;” a monologue that starts all the way back at Matthew 5:3 and flows uninterrupted all the way to Matthew 7:27. As such, Jesus is not merely saying here that we are to pay attention to a few morsels of his previously spoken wisdom, but rather that we are to attend to each and every word that he uttered starting at Matthew 5:3 …
02) Immediately thereafter, we read an even more important phrase – “and acts on them” … For, contrary to the beliefs of the vast majority of Christians (including Paul, the founder of the modern-day Christian church), Jesus was not at all concerned about whether folks thought about his teachings, or memorized his teachings, or worshiped his teachings as religious dogma, or felt emotionally attached while reading his teachings. He didn’t even care if folks paid any homage to him as the relayer of those teachings (see Mark 10:18, John 7:16, John 8:50:54, John 12:44 et al). No, Jesus only wanted one thing from his followers – only one thing from those who heard him utter his teachings in person, and only one thing from those of us who read his words today – and that wish was for us to set his teachings into motion – for us to emulate them – for us to enliven them – for us to act on them in our everyday lives …
Indeed, that was the lone key to Salvation as far as Jesus was concerned (see John 13:15-17), and that was the sole purpose of his Gospel (see Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14) … Indeed in-Deed, in this very verse the English “acts” is actually the Greek word “poiei” in the ancient manuscripts – a word that didn’t mean merely “to act”, but that actually meant “to construct” or “to hone” or “to fulfill” or “to complete” (see Strong’s #4160).
Amen … Let it be so.
;