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Part 15: A Solid Foundation

 • Series: Living the Kingdom: The Sermon on the Mount

TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today we have reached the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has taught the new covenant of how we are to live as the kingdom of God on earth. He has redefined and revealed God’s heart behind the 10 commandments. He has taught us how to pray and how not to pray. He taught us to reject worldly kingdoms and seek His kingdom first as the solution to anxiety. He taught us to forgive one another and do the good that we want done for us. Finally, Jesus warned us about false followers and their destruction. Now, Jesus is going to tell us what happens when we obey this sermon, and what happens if we disobey. Before we listen to Jesus’ conclusion, let’s hear the Father’s heart in the Psalms and how He longs for us to listen to Him. Psalm 81:8 ESV 8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me! ​ Psalm 81:11–12 ESV 11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. ​ Psalm 81:13 ESV 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! ​ Psalm 81:14–16 ESV 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” With that in mind, now let’s “listen” to Jesus... ​ Matthew 7:24–25 ESV 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Everyone then = This is a conjunction (then/therefore) that links back to the previous passage, where Jesus stated that those who do not do the Father’s will are evil and will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Hears these words of mine and does them = In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word shema meant to listen and obey. In the Jewish mind, to listen and then disobey meant you weren’t listening. Hearing and obeying were synonomous for Jesus. He expects “everyone” of His followers to DO what He commanded. Will be like a wise man = If obedience is evidence of wisdom, then disobedience is evidence of stupidity. Wisdom is not some magic gift that falls on us, but rather a continual decision to obey. If we do what Jesus teaches, we will be wise. As we obey what Jesus commands, our understanding of the why grows over time. Built his house on the rock = In this passage, the house is a metaphor for one’s life. The house built on the rock is one’s life built on Jesus’ teaching. Therefore, obeying Jesus’ teaching in the sermon on the mount will build your life on solid ground. The rain, floods, winds came = Jesus is saying that the storm WILL come. Life outside the garden in a fallen world will always have storms and difficulties. Followers of Jesus should never be surprised when tragedy strikes. Beat on that house, but it did not fall = Even the best built house will incur minor damage in a violent storm. But a strong house built on a solid foundation will not be destroyed. It may have a few shingles missing or broken windows, but it will still be standing strong long after the storm. ​ Matthew 7:26–27 ESV 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” The one who doesn’t do them is like a foolish man = People who claim to be a Christian but do not obey the teachings of Jesus are fools. Fools read what Jesus taught and say, “I can’t do that, it’s too hard.” Fools believe that they can build their life on their own desires and control the outcome. Fools also believe that they can disobey Jesus continually because He will just forgive them. Fools believe in forgiveness without repentance. Built his house on the sand = If we do not obey the teachings of Christ, we are building our lives on unstable ground that can easily be washed away. James describes a foolish doubter this way, “he is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6) and “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Rain, floods, winds came = The storms of life come to righteous and the unrighteous, the wise and the foolish. We’re all experiencing the same environment of a fallen world, no matter how godly or ungodly we may be. It fell, and great was the fall of it = Literally, the Greek reads “its fall was mega destruction.” Those who disobey Jesus end up in great destruction. Jesus leaves no room for grey areas. This is a guarantee that the storms of life and our own sin will destroy us if we do not build our lives on obedience to Jesus. ​ Matthew 7:28–29 ESV 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. The crowds were astonished = The audience was amazed, astounded, or mind-blown by this sermon. To them, this sounded like a totally new way of life. He was teaching as one who had authority = Most Rabbis taught by the authority of tradition by quoting Scripture and citing the interpretations of other great teachers of the past. Jesus is teaching on His own authority. Wisdom Quotes Himself Jesus, who John called “the Word” (the Wisdom of God) has ended His sermon by quoting Himself in Proverbs: ​ Proverbs 1:20–33 ESV 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Conclusion As we conclude this series of re-learning Jesus’ commands, this is the perfect time to renew our commitment to obedience. As we worship, pray, and take communion, let us recommit our lives to following the One who gave His life for us.