The Parable of:

The

“Two Men That Built

Houses”

( TheBiblethe Basis forAll Beliefs)

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TheParableof:

“The Two Men that built Houses”

(Matthew 7:24-29)

In the previous several parables, Jesus has beenwarning

his listeners of thedangersthatfalse teachersput them

in. Theireternal lifedepends upon their recognizing the

differencebetween thetruthandfalse teachings!

He has warned them that ”many” Christians will belost

while thinking they are saved!He has told them to ”test” the ”fruit” of their teachers and warned them that they will “look good” on the outside (sheeps clothing) but inwardly they are likewolveswho want to destroy them!Not only did Jesus constantly implore his listeners to ”do right” with Hiswords, but Hislifewas a constant example of ”doing right”!

In contrast to this Hewarnedhis listeners against teachers who had learned the truth to ”do right“, but thenturnedaround and began ”doing wrong“all over again!These ”false teachers” would tell their listeners that theyno longerhad toobey the commandmentsbut that they were ”free” and coulddo whatever they liked. The Bible comparesthemto being like a ”pig” thatwas”washed” whoreturned towallowing in the mud.

“Christians” thatfollowed their teachingswould be like ”salt” that hadlost its savourand was fit for nothing but to be cast out!

Now, Jesus gives theParableof:

“The Two Men that built Houses”

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Matthew7:24-27The Two Men that built Houses

24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

Paraphrase:

The one whohearswhat Jesus says anddoes it, is awiseman!He is like a man that built his house upon arock. The one whohearswhat Jesus says anddoes not do it, is afoolishman!

He is like a man that built his house onsand. When the rain, wind, and floods beat upon the two houses, only the one built upon therockremained.

The house built uponsandwasdestroyed.

Comments:

Nothing is said in the parable about thetypeof house being built. One house could have been a mansion on the sand by the seashore and the other house a log cabin on a rock in the mountains. Nothing is said aboutthe materialsthat the houses were built out of. One house may have been built with marble stones and gold and silver, while the other house may have been built from wood and iron. There are several things that the parabledoes tell us. It tells us what themenbuilding the houseswere like!91

Comments:(cont.)

One man was awiseman. The other man wasfoolish. The parable also tells us that there was a difference between thefoundationsof the two houses. The wise

man had chosen to build his house upon arockfor his

foundation. The foolish man had chosen to build his house uponsandfor his foundation. No one forced either man to build in a certain way. Each manchosethefoundationforhis house. The whole parable seems to center around the fact that choosing theright foundationis what made one manwiseand one manfoolish. Jesus compares this choice to being like two men who listened to what He said.

One man listened anddidwhat Jesus said to do. The other man listened anddid not dowhat Jesus said to do. Thus, the primary teaching of this parable is very clear. You willDo what Jesus says if you are wise!!

The second teaching of this parable is also clear. You mustchoose the right foundationto build on or

all the rest of your efforts will be in vain!!

Let’s compare

our two choices for ”foundations” :

1.rockor 2.sand

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Summarizing

Thedifferencesbetween these twofoundationmaterials:

Physical rockPhysical sand

1.Immovable1.Easily moved

2.Changelesswith respect 2.Changesconstantly.

to time.

3. Anythingattachedto it 3. Anythingattachedto it

is secureand can’t beis unsecureand can be

moved. easily moved.

4. Itwill supportanything 4. It willnotsupportanything

that stands upon it and that stands upon it, but will

will not let it sink. allow it to sink.

5. The Physicalelements5. The Physicalelements

of rain, wind, floods of rain, wind, floods

willnot affect it.will affect it.

Spiritual rockSpiritual sand

1. SpirituallyImmovable. 1. Spirituallymoved easily.

2. SpirituallyChangeless. 2. Spirituallychanges const.

3. Anything attached is 3. Anything attached is

SpirituallySecure. Spirituallyunsecure.

4. SpiritualSupportfor 4.NoSpiritualsupportfor

anything that stands anything that stands

upon it. upon it.

5. SpiritualElements5. Spiritualelements

willnotaffect it.willaffect it.

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Now we need to discover what the Bible says that ”rock” and ”sand” representSpiritually, so that we will understand why these two ”foundation” materials are so important!

Rock= Christ (God)

Sand= people (man)

Thus, the two possible ”foundations” upon which we can build are either:

1. Rock ---God’s Words

or

2. sand ---man’s words

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Let’s look again at the “differences” between

“rock” and ”sand”

Spiritual ”Rock” (Christ)Spiritual ”sand” (man)

1. God isImmovable. 1. man iseasily moved.

2. God isChangeless. 2. manchangesconstantly.

3. Anyone “attached” to 3. Anyone “attached” to

God is (Spr.)Secure. man is (Spr.)unsecure.

4. God will ”Support” 4. man cannot ”support”

anyone who “stands” or anyone who “stands” or

depends upon Him and depends upon him and

He willnotlet them anyone who does depend

“sink” Spiritually. upon manwill”sink” (Spr.).

5. God isnot affectedby 5. manis affectedby the

the Spiritual ”Elements” Spiritual ”Elements”

of Satan and isneverand iseasily deceived.

deceived.

These “differences” clearly show us the advantage of ”building on Rock” (God) for a “foundation” instead of ”building on sand” (man).

Now we knowwhyChrist gave this parable right after the parable of the Two Ways (broad and narrow), and after telling us tobeware of false teachersand to ”test their fruits“.

Now, He has once again warned usnot to trustin thewords of men, but ratherto trustin theWords of God!

Jere.17:5…Cursed be the man that trusteth in man…

:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord…

So, the ”foundation” ofour beliefsMUSTbe based on the ”Words” of God instead of the ”words” of men or we are “foolish” and “cursed”!!

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Why would anyone want to have theirbeliefsor their ”foundation” based on the ”wordsof men” ?

Theywouldn’t!They have beendeceivedinto thinking that ”mens words” are ”God’s Words”!

Many people donotread God’s Word (Bible) themselves, but ratherdepend upona “man”

(their preacher) to tell them what “God’s words” are!!Their “foundation” is whatever the “man” (preacher) says!!

The preacher “man” may have the best intentions but he may bewrongin what he says!!

Jesus warned the people that theirleaderswould “teach” the ”commandments of men” fordoctrinesand that their worship would bein vain!

Matthew15:9; 12-14

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

(Worship is ”in vain” if the “doctrines” and “commandments of men” are being followed.)

12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were “offended”, after they heard this saying?

(Religious teachers will be “offended” because

“their teachings” are questioned.)

13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

(The “religious teachers” were ”blind” to the truth and caused the people to be “blind” also, the result being thatboththeteachersand thepeoplewill be lost!)

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Conclusion:

Thus, the primary teaching of this parable is that

Christ(God)andHis Words(Bible)are to be the ”foundation” (rock) forallourbeliefs!

We arenotto base our beliefs on the

“sandy foundation” of the ”wordsofmen”

(preachers or teachers)!

The ”Words” ofGodare contained in theBible.

The ”wordsofmenare contained in otherbooksas well as in ”sermons”!

The House

Now that we know that the ”foundation” that we are to “build on” representsGod’s Words(Bible), we need to discover what the ”house” being built in the parable represents.

Thus, the Bible tells us that the ”house” being built represents theChurch. So, this is a parable about

“the church” and how the ”foundation” of ”theChurch” is very important!The parable describes

two different ”houses” or two different ”Churches“. One”house” or ”Church” built by afoolish manand another “house” or ”Church” built by awise man.

One Church built upon the foundation ofGod’s Words.One Church built upon the foundation ofman’s words.

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The parable also tells us the ”result” of building a ”house” or ”Church” upon each of these ”foundations“.

The ”Church” built upon the “foundation” of

God’s Wordwillstand firmagainst anything!

The ”Church” built upon the “foundation” of

man’swordwillfalland bedestroyed!

The Elements:(wind, rain, floods)

The parable tells us that after the “houses” were built they were “tested” by the elements of wind, rain, and floods.

Thus, the two types ofChurcheswill be ”tested” by theSpiritual “Elements” of (Spr)”rain“, and

(Spr)“wind”and (Spr) ”floods” and only

oneof the Churches willremainafter thetest!

TheChurchthatremainsafter the ”test” is theChurch

that has for its ”foundation” theWordsofGod.

TheChurchthatfallsduring the ”test” is theChurchthat has for its ”foundation” thewordsofmen.

Now we need to discover what the ”test elements” of ”wind“,”rain“, and”floods” representSpiritually.

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The “test” Elements:

(Rain, Floods, Wind)

Rain = DoctrinesofGod

Floods = ungodly men

Wind = Doctrinesofmen

Thus, the ”test”Elementswill involve theChurches

in a confrontation ofchoosingbetween:

the ”Doctrines” ofGod

or

the ”Doctrines” ofmen

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Wind

Every ”wind” ofDoctrinethat men can invent will be presented as ”truth” to theChurches!

Just as when the Physicalwindblows against a

Physicalrockthere is no damage, so when the

Spiritual”wind” ofFalse Doctrinecomes against aChurchfounded uponGod’s Wordsin the Bible, there is ”no damage” andno one will be deceivedbecause

theyknowthetruth!

In direct contrast, when Physicalwindblows against Physicalsand, there will begreat damagebecause the ”sand” will be Physicallymovedby the Physicalwindand theresultwill be Physicalcollapseof the ”House“.

Similarly, when theSpiritual”wind” ofFalse Doctrine

is presented to aChurchfounded upon the

“words of men” (sand), the people of that Church

willbe ”moved” by theFalse Doctrines(wind) and

willbedeceivedand theChurchwill ”fall” Spiritually.

Rain

When Physicalrainfalls onrockthere isno change

to therockor thehousebuilt upon it.

Similarly, when the ”Doctrines of the Lord” (rain) are

presented to a Church founded upon Christ and His

Word there isno changeto that Church because

its beliefs are thesame.

But, when Physicalrainfalls onsandthereis a change,

and some of thesandwillmoveor “change its position”.

Similarly, when the ”Doctrines of the Lord” are heard by somepeoplewho have been deceived, they will ”change their position” Spiritually andleavethat

False ChurchandjointheChurchteaching thetruth!!

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Floods

As more and more Physicalrainfalls, at last the ”floods” will come. When the ”floods” beat against

a ”rock” or a ”house”founded upon a”rock” there will beno changeto the rock or the house on the rock.

Similarly, as theDoctrines of the Lord(rain) are presented to more and more people (sand),

ungodly men(floods) will attempt todestroytheChurchteachingtruth(house on rock), to prevent

thepeople(sand) fromleaving the false Churches.

Just as ”sand” being removed from under a ”house” would cause it to collapse, so thepeople(sand)

leaving the False Churcheswill cause them to “fall”.

Thus, the ”test” to come toalltheChurchesand

allthepeopleis the ”test” ofwhowill youbelieve?

Will you believe the ”wordsofmen” ?

or

Will you believe the ”WordsofGod” ?

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Doctrinal Truth(Taught byJesusin the Parable of

“The Two Men that built Houses)

1 If you arewiseyou willdothe things that Jesus has told you to do.

2 If you arefoolishyou willnot dothe things that

Jesus has told you to do.

3 Thewiseperson will have for his ”foundation” (rock)Jesus Christand His teachingsin the Bible.

4 Thefoolishperson will have for his”foundation”(sand)

menandtheir teachings.

5 AChurch(house) founded uponChrist(rock) and

His teachingswillstandagainst anything.

6 AChurch(house) founded uponmen(sand) and

their teachingswillfalland be destroyed.

7Christ(God)is the “Rock” that isImmovable,

Changeless, OurSecurity, OurSupport, and

OurShelterin the time of Storm or “test”.

8Manis the “sand” that iseasily moved,

changesconstantly, isunsecure, willnot supportanything, andcannot shelteranyone in the time of

Storm or “test”.

9 Eachpersonand eachChurchwill be ”tested” and

have todecidewhether they willbelieve:

the ”wordsofmen” or the ”WordsofGod“.

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