THE TWO BUILDERS

The Gospel of Matthew begins with a prologue (chapters 1-4), then is divided into five parts, each containing what Jesus said (discourse) and what He did (narrative). The Gospel itself indicates this, closing each division of teaching with a similar statement that Jesus had then ended His teaching (7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1). The Sermon on the Mount is the first of these five discourses, and the text for the present lesson comes at the close of that sermon (Matthew 7:24ff; Luke 6:47ff).

Body

I. THE REAL CHOICE FACING THE HEARER OF GOD'S WORD IS SIMPLE: DO, OR NOT DO.

   A. There was a Jewish tendency (not foreign to people today, either!) to want to hear and simply discuss the question (see Luke 10:25ff). Jesus says here, either do what I say, or do not do what I say. You must choose.

   B. James, in the most "Jewish" of the epistles, stresses this same point for Christians (James 1:22-25).

   C. Men must learn that when all the talking is done, God is looking for action!

II. IN DOING, MEN MUST HEAR JESUS, NOT THE SCRIBES.

   A. This amazed Jesus' audience, for He taught with divine authority, paying no attention to the formulations and human reasonings of the religious leaders (Matthew 7:28,29).

   B. Men today need to learn to discern between the Word of God and the opinions of men. Preachers and teachers are responsible to God to give His Word, not that of human beings, whether themselves, great preachers, commentators, or some paper. (There is a proper use of tools in Bible study; of course we are not eliminating that.) Much that is repeated in the name of religion comes from human tradition and not straight from the Word of God - and we ought to begin checking for this with ourselves personally! (II Timothy 2:22,23; Titus 3:8,9.)

   C. This emphasis in Jesus' teaching so distraught the scribes that they sought His death. 'Me person today who ignores human authorities and gives God's Word will also make many enemies of those who do not.

III. THE ONLY SURE FOUNDATION IN THE STORM OF JUDGMENT IS HEARING AND OBEYING JESUS CHRIST.

   A. Jesus is a sure and safe stone of shelter in the storm (Isaiah 28:14-18).

   B. For others who disbelieve He is a stone of stumbling (Isaiah 8:12-15).

   C. Christians and others decide which He will be personally (I Peter 2:6-8).

   D. The song, "My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less" beautifully illustrates this truth.

Conclusion

Do you hear Jesus, or human "authorities"? Do you do what Jesus says, or simply hear and forget? Decide today to follow Him, and truly to follow Him. Only then will you be ready to face the stormy test of judgment!

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