The Two Builders: Luke 6:47-48

Luke 6:47‑48
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BOTH Matthew and Luke give this heart-searching parable at the close of our Lord’s sermon on the mount. Multitudes had listened to His teaching with wonder and admiration. His gracious words attracted them, and His authoritative tone (so unlike that of their scribes) commanded at least their respect.
In their estimation “Never man spake like this Man.
So far well, but the human heart is deplorably fickle and unreal. This leads men to hear, and even to approve what they hear, while rendering no obedience to the heavenly message. Hence the importance of the parable of the two builders. “Whosoever cometh to Me and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: he is like a man who built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on the rock” (Luke 6:47-4847Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Luke 6:47‑48)). The man who hears manifestly stands in a position altogether different from that of him who hears not. The latter is utterly indifferent; the former gives more or less attention to the things which are eternal. But unless his sole foundation is the teaching of the Son of God, he has absolutely nothing that will avail him when the storm of divine judgment arises. “Back to Christ” is the cry to-day. Well, be it so; but what has Christ told us? In John 3:55Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) He insists upon every man’s need of the new birth; in the same chapter (vs. 14) He declares the absolute necessity for His atoning sacrifice; and then proceeds to show (vs. 16) that the heart of God has provided what the throne of God demanded. “He so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son.” His own lips have told us also that every man’s eternal future depends upon his attitude towards Himself. “Back to Christ” if really meant, must lead men to bow at His feet in humble acknowledgment of His person and sacrifice. All who have taken this happy place have laid their foundation on the rock, and for them the impending judgment of God, however terrible, has no alarm.
“But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the storm did beat violently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:4949But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:49)). Thus graphically does the Lord of all describe the collapse of all the hopes of such as have not built upon His words. Heaven is silent to-day; no fiery bolts proceed thence to drive the guilty into eternal woe; but a veritable hurricane of divine wrath will burst forth ere long, which will reveal undisputably where men really stand. Every unreal superstructure will then totter and fall. The fairest moral and religious exterior will not shield from judgment those who have not as lost sinners put their trust in the Saviour and in His precious blood. As the prophet declared ages ago: “The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place” (Isa. 28:1515Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isaiah 28:15)). Happy, eternally happy, is the man who has built on Christ, the Son of God. This foundation will stand, and this alone.