Highland Christian Church

ParablesThe Two BuildersMatthew 7:24-29This parable comes at the very end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7). Jesus ends the sermon not with a pep talk or a funny story, but with a series of warnings. This parable is the final warning.  Jesus says that the wise person is the one who not just listens to his words, but also does and that this is like a builder who builds their house on a solid foundation. Jesus says that the person who hears his words and doesn't do them is like a foolish builder who builds their house on the sand. The storms come to both house; one remains standing and the other falls with a great crash.Jesus is taking a familiar idea from the Hebrew Scriptures, the wise vs the fool, and re-centering it around himself. Wisdom is the path to life while the Fool brings destruction upon themselves. Jesus says that the the way to wisdom, the way to life is by putting his words into practice and that those who don't put his words into practice are bringing about their own destru