January 21, 2004

Reading: Matthew 7:24-29

 

“I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (24)

 

It doesn’t seem to matter how old we are, most of us enjoy hearing the commendation of one whom we respect and admire. As a child we stood a little taller when our teacher commended us for doing a good job on our homework or our parents said, “We are proud of you.” We enjoy the satisfaction that comes when our boss or supervisor slaps us on the shoulder and says “nice job.”

At the conclusion of His sermon on the mount, Jesus, the Architect of the universe, commends a builder as wise, as having done a good job. Who was this man and why did Jesus, the Master Craftsman (Prov 8:30) speak well of him?

Jesus had just laid out the ground rules by which His disciples were to abide. They were not replacing the Law with which they were very familiar, but rather they expanded or extended them. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law but to complete or fulfill them—Matt 5:17. To those who wish to be His disciples He said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old…But I say to you”—Matt 5:21,27,33,38,43. Disciples of Jesus are to love their enemies, pray for those who persecute them, pay their debts, and judge no one. They are to pray and fast in secret rather than make a spectacle of themselves as did the Pharisees. These are but a few of a disciple’s ground rules, and Jesus commends those who hear and keep them—Matt 7:24.

Jesus does not hand out commendations freely. While I was a District Manager for an insurance company and responsible for agents who worked for it, I would look for every opportunity to commend and reward them. I would reward an agent who did not deserve it in order to motivate him. If he or she improved their performance over that of the previous year, even though that improvement fell short of what was expected of them, I would reward them with a plaque. Jesus does not do that. To receive His commendation we must both hear and keep His ground rules—trying and failing is not enough. He expects, rather demands compliance. Only such performance qualifies us to receive His commendation as a “wise man.”

Jesus likens this disciple to one who built his house on a rock, in comparison to him who built on the sand. In other words, the rules for discipleship are the foundation for the Christian life. These rules are but the introduction in the manual of discipleship. If we skip the introduction, a common fault in many Christians, Jesus likens us to one who builds on sand and refers to us as foolish. Such a builder is a hearer only and not a doer—Matt 7:26.

I have just reread Matthew 5-7 and am challenged by these ground rules. How do I rate when I read “Love your enemies,” or “Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you?” What is my reaction when someone slaps my right cheek? How secret are my “charitable deeds?” etc. Unlike a builder who, once construction has begun on the foundation, you and I can and should return to the ground rules and prayerfully repair the weaknesses we find. Now is a good time to reread the introduction, to examine our foundation—it is the wise thing to do.

“The wise in heart will receive commands” Prov 10:8. To receive means to obey.

“A wise son makes a glad father” Prov 10:1. Such a disciple pleases his heavenly Father.