Matthew 7 verses 24 - 27
"So, everyone who hears these words of mine
and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on
bedrock. The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the winds blew and beat
against that house, but it didn't collapse, because its foundation was
on rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on
them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. The rain
fell, the rivers flooded, the wind blew and beat against that house, and
it collapsed - and its collapse was horrendous!"
Jesus punctuates His teaching here by saying "words of mine." His
teaching is not His own, but comes from the Father, and yet He claims
the Words as His own. Could this be a direct reference to His deity? He
also says that the preferred course of action (building on rock) comes
from "hearing and doing." Both of these must be done in concert in order
to build on the proper foundation. Hearing only is not enough. Doing
without understanding is not enough either, although doing can lead to
understanding, just like hearing can lead to doing.
How do we
know if we are building on rock? Well, Jesus says that if your house is
not on the rock, it collapses. So if you are sitting (or have sat) in a
pile of rubble from a collapsed house, then you did not build on rock.
If your structure shakes in a light breeze, if you are fearful, anxious,
worried, scared, or otherwise "shaking," then it's time for a foundation
check. And you'd better make it quick because there is a whole lot more
than a light breeze headed this way if current events are any indicator.
This is one of the reasons why I think the Law was never eliminated
as popular teachings suggest. It was never, ever, intended as a method
of salvation - it was always intended for sanctification. Paul says in
Romans 10:4 that Jesus is the 'end' of the Law for righteousness,
meaning 'the goal.' And in the following verses (Romans 10:8,9)
Paul says:
But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU,
in your mouth and in your heart"-that is, the word of faith which we are
preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved;
Romans 10:8,9 are quoting Deuteronomy 30:11-14:
"...if you obey the LORD your God to keep His
commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law,
if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. For this
commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor
is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will
go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may
observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will
cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may
observe it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your
heart, that you may observe it."
To me, the meaning is obvious. Paul says in Romans 10:8 that the
"Word that we are (he is) preaching" is the "Word of faith" which is the
same Word taught by Moses in the Law Deuteronomy 30:14, and is directly
quoted by Paul in Romans 10. This also means that Moses taught the same
Word of Faith as Paul - see? Compare Romans 10:9 and Deuteronomy 30:14
very carefully. If we do His Word, in whatever fashion is available,
then it contributes to our learning, our growth, our maturity, and leads
us on to the Messiah. The Law is a beautiful way to learn and grow, a
discipleship program designed to perfection by Jesus Himself, to help
lead us to Him. It's simple logic. God "saved" Israel by faith (do you
really think that animal blood on the doorposts and lintel saved
anybody?), THEN gave them His Ways to walk in and be a light to the
World.
Some may say that Romans 14 puts the Law on the sidelines,
but they are 'abolishing' or 'destroying' the meaning of the text
through misinterpretation. First, Romans 14 doesn't refer to the Law at
all, but to the interpretations made of the Law by men otherwise known
as 'doctrines of men.' In 14:1 it clearly states that Paul is referring
to 'opinions,' not the Law. What follows is a discussion of things that
are not even a part of the written Law but opinions about the Law. In
verse 5 the word "alike" is not in the Greek. In verse 10 Paul is
clearly referring to "judgment" equaling "contempt" (we should not show
contempt for our brother, although the people who quote this don't
practice what they preach). And in verse 14 he says "nothing is unclean
in itself" which means "nothing can render a person unfit to go into the
Temple" but does NOT mean "anything you stick in your mouth is okay."
Verse 23 wraps up by saying that obedience has to be from faith, which
is what he is establishing in chapter 10.
If we humble ourselves
and submit to His Word, by the Grace of God through faith we can "pursue
righteousness." The heart that "trembles" at His Word (Torah) is the
person of which the Kingdom is made.