24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions
(1) What do the images of “builders” and “house” represent?
(2) Who is the “Rock” for us and what are the specific characteristics of this Rock?
(3) How do you interpret the picture of “a house on the rock”?
(4) “Rain, streams and winds” in verse 25, what do they represent? Can you give one or two examples?
(5) How are these two kinds of builders different?
(6) How do you distinguish “putting words into action” from “salvation by works”?
(7): Did you experience a struggle when you acted on the words of Jesus and how did you manage to overcome it? (Optional sharing)
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References
(1) His house. "house" of character?? his whole life?? Including “Body”???(1 corinthians 6:9)
(2) Rock: Christ (Rock) The Lord Jesus Christ is the "rock" on which the individual Christian and the Christian church as a community of character builders are to be built (see on ch. 16:18).
A tested Rock as a firm foundation: Isaiah28:16 or 1 peter 2:6 Hebrews 4:15
See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
(1) His house. "house" of character?? his whole life?? Including “Body”???(1 corinthians 6:9)
(2) Rock: Christ (Rock) The Lord Jesus Christ is the "rock" on which the individual Christian and the Christian church as a community of character builders are to be built (see on ch. 16:18).
A tested Rock as a firm foundation: Isaiah28:16 or 1 peter 2:6 Hebrews 4:15
See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
There are some other characteristics of Rock, which may not relate to this parable.
A Rock providing spiritual drink, the ROCK from which flows LIVING WATERS.
1 Cor. 10:4 They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual food, for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them and that rock was Christ.
Exodus 17:6 Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.
Numbers 20:8 Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.
1 Cor. 10:4 They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual food, for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them and that rock was Christ.
Exodus 17:6 Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.
Numbers 20:8 Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.
A Rock that causes those who disobey the words to stumble
1 peter 2:8 A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.
King James Version: A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Gen 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel
(3) The house on the rock pictures a life founded on a proper relationship to Christ, which simply means “hear his words and act on them”.
How to build a house upon a rock? According to Luke 6:48 the builder need to "dig down deep" in order to have a firm foundation. To build firmly requires much time and effort; it is far simpler to build a house without going to the trouble of providing a solid foundation.
(4) The "winds" might mean temptations, trials, and tribulations, maybe including all the difficult times in our lives, something happening out of our expectation, something uncontrollable like earthquakes.
Temptation is from one’s own evil desire or Satan; Temptations are used to test our faith in Jesus and God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear and he will also provide a way out so that we can stand up under it. (1 cor 10:12)
Trials are from our own deeds, the sinful world, Satan. They can also come from God. (Proverbs 3:11-12)
A storm from God is coming that will try every man's work, similar to the fire which is going to test each man’s work (1 corinthians 3:13).
Or perhaps it means the winds of false teaching that tend to remove a person from the firm foundation of faith. Eph. 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
A storm from God is coming that will try every man's work, similar to the fire which is going to test each man’s work (1 corinthians 3:13).
Or perhaps it means the winds of false teaching that tend to remove a person from the firm foundation of faith. Eph. 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
(5)James 1:22 Hearers and doers
Building process: easy or hard (digging down deep) Luke6:48
The investment might be similar, such as your time, income, gift, strength, relationship.
In consequence: didn’t fall or fell down
(6) We are saved by God's grace alone, and nothing that we can do ourselves
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
True repentance does require a change of heart, and if a heart truly belongs to God, that heart will earnestly seek to honor Him. A true believer belongs to God and therefore he will bear good fruit in the kingdom.
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