Matthew 7:21-29

These final words in the Sermon on the Mount entail a heart-searching message that will cause you to examine yourself, because they deal with the judgment of God. For some, thinking about God’s judgment brings fear, anxiety, and concern. For others, they are assured that Jesus has taken their judgment on the cross, and are assured of His sacrifice for them. But every person must consider God’s judgment, because one day we will all stand before Him to give account of our lives. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29). Jesus made it clear in this passage that there are two resurrections, one to life and one to condemnation. The most important question for you to answer is, which resurrection will be your eternal home? Never forget that we all live forever, and Jesus allows us to make the decision where we will live it.  

Jesus said to those who followed Him, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!’ Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken to him a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at his teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

What was the overall point of what Jesus taught in these verses?

The message in this last section of this sermon is a simple warning. Jesus was communicating that there will be a consequence for what we believe, how we live our lives, and what we put our trust in. If we choose to trust in external religious acts to try and please Him, instead of a true love relationship, we are missing the point of why He came and died for our sins. This is why Jesus first makes clear in these verses that there are three things that you should not put your trust in. 

1. Don’t trust in religious words.

Notice the statement that Jesus made in verse 21 when He said, ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Not everyone who says to Me.” Jesus made this statement because He knew people very well. He knew it was so easy to say religious words, but not live by them. Jesus also identified this problem as one of the basic characteristics of the Pharisees. He taught His disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Matt. 23:2-3). In other words, the Pharisees could talk a good talk, but they were not men of their word. They could use religious words to gain advantage over people, but they had no personal follow through. We have all met individuals like this, who profess faith in Christ, and are very persuasive with Christian jargon, but when you watch their lives there is little reality to their words. A person can sound so spiritual, but when you really get to know them, you realize that they know little of Him. Some professed Christians are even living double lives. When you see this reality, you think to yourself, Wow, how can that be? The answer is simple; these are not true believers, or they have not truly submitted their lives to Jesus Christ. Don’t trust people like this. In Titus 1:16, Paul also warned us about people like this. He said, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.” In other words, your life and works must be in harmony with what you profess. If a person’s actions are not in harmony with their profession, Jesus will declare to them on judgment day; “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23). In addition, the Apostle John taught the same thing about people like this when he said, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4). Therefore, Jesus, Paul, and John were all in agreement that religious words mean nothing to God. He wants to see behavior that is in harmony with your words, otherwise you are living a lie.

2. Don’t trust in religious works.

The second thing Jesus warned the disciples about was not to trust in religious works. He said, “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name.’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt. 7:22-23). Notice that Jesus can identify the difference between those who make professions of faith and are doing religious works for Him, and someone who has a real relationship with Him. Religious words and works cannot create a personal relationship with Jesus. This is why He will say to this person, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23). Why will Jesus say these words to many on judgment day? Because they practiced lawlessness and sinful behavior, while at the same time that they were pretending they had a relationship with Him.

Notice also that these were some mighty religious works that Jesus mentioned here. These people prophesied in His Name; they cast out demons in His Name, and they did miracles in His name. Now when most Christians read this they think, Wait a minute, how in the world could somebody do a miracle, or cast out a demon, or prophesy in His name, and not really be a true believer? There is a simple answer to this question that many forget. When a miracle is done, sometimes it is the faith of the person that is being prayed for, that is the reason the person is healed, and has nothing to do with the character not the preacher or evangelist. Another possibility is that a person doing a miracle or prophesying could be empowered by Satan. Paul acknowledged this fact when he warned the Thessalonian church about the coming Antichrist and declared, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9). So, note this fact, the Antichrist will be accepted by people at that time specifically because he will do miracles. Also, the second beast of Revelation, the false prophet, will also do miracles to deceive the people on the earth. John wrote, “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” (Rev. 13:13-14). Now you may wonder, Were these two men doing these miracles by the power of God? Absolutely not! Just because you see a miracle, or hear a powerful prophecy doesn’t mean anything. You need to examine the fruit of the person’s life, the content of the prophecy, and compare that with the Word of God. Why? Because someone can do these things by the power of Satan. Even in the Old Testament the people were warned that if someone came and did a miracle, the people were told to examine what they were told to do. If they were told to follow after some other god, they would know that this person was a false prophet, and that they had not been sent by the Lord (Deut. 18:20-22). Balaam is another example of a man whose religious works were false. Jude proclaimed judgment on Balaam and those like him when he wrote, “Woe to them! For they had gone in the way of Cain, they have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah” (Jude 1:11). Balaam could prophesy all he wanted, but he was obviously an evil man, because he prophesied for money. Therefore, trust only in the fruit of a person’s life who does any miracle, and the content of their message!

3. Don’t trust in religious knowledge.

Third, Jesus taught that you should not trust in religious knowledge. Just because you know about Jesus, does not mean that He knows you! I can guarantee you that there will be a whole lot of people, that possess a whole lot of biblical knowledge, that will end up in hell. Why do I say that? Jesus said a very similar thing in Luke 13:24-28. He said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.” Notice again, Jesus declared that there would be, “many,” who would seek entry into the kingdom, and would be rejected. They obviously knew about Jesus, because they ate and drank in His presence, most likely in the church, and they heard His teaching, but He declared that He did not know them. Notice that Jesus didn’t say that He never knew them, but only that He did not know them at that point in time, on judgment day. This word know is in the perfect tense, which refers to what has been in the past, and what is still continuously taking place in the present. Jesus was declaring that He had no present relationship with them at that point. He was probably referring to those who have sat in church and heard the Word of God preached, and who had fallen away, and were not following Him at the time of their judgment. This revealed that Jesus expected people to act upon the knowledge they had of Him, and continue in their obedience to His Word. This is why Jesus went on to say, “Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matt. 7:26-27). Jesus declared in these passages that the reason people were cast out was because they practiced iniquity. The word, practiced, is also in the present tense, which meant they had a lifestyle of practicing sinful behavior without repentance. This proved that these people were obviously not acting on the knowledge they had of Him.

Who is the ultimate Judge?

It is vital that you not miss the fact of what Jesus was declared here about who the ultimate Judge was to be! Jesus made it clear that He was the ultimate Judge. Each of us will stand before Jesus one day, and He will make these pronouncements. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus declared that He would be the final judge of mankind when He said, “I will declare to them, I never knew you; Depart from Me” (underline added). These statements are in complete harmony with other statements Jesus made concerning judgment day. Jesus taught, “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:22-23). Peter agreed with Jesus when He preached to the house of Cornelius and said, “He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). Paul also taught the same thing when he wrote to the Corinthian church and said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Therefore, Jesus is the ultimate judge, and we will all stand before Him one day. What will be His decision concerning you?

Upon what basis does God judge people?

1. God judges you based on His knowledge of your heart.

On the basis of your relationship with God, or the lack thereof, is what will determine whether or not you enter Christ’s heavenly kingdom. This is what was meant in verse 23 when Jesus said, “I will declare to them I never knew you” (underline added). Jesus must have a personal knowledge of you, and you of Him. This word know is a very important word in Greek. It describes an intimate and personal experiential knowledge. Therefore, this word know does not refer to just intellectual knowledge; it is referring to experientially knowing Him, and Him knowing you. The difference between intellectual and experiential knowledge is best illustrated this way. All of us who have children have told them not to put their hand near an open flame on the stove. Why? Because we know by experience that if they touch the flame will burn them, and cause them great pain. Your words give them and intellectual knowledge that the flame could hurt them, but until they put their hand over the flame, and they feel the fire burn them, they won’t have an experiential knowledge of this fact. Only then will they know by experience that fire can hurt them terribly.

In addition, the Scripture uses this same word know in Luke 1:34, to illustrate the depth and intimacy of this knowledge. Mary used this word when she responded to the angel who told her that she was pregnant, and that she would be having a child. Her response was, “How can this be, since I do not know a man.” She used the word know to describe the physical intimacy between a husband and a wife which would produce a child. The bottom line is this, God must know you personally and intimately, and have a one-on-one relationship with you. Jesus was obviously speaking of a spiritual intimacy in which He would know your heart, and you would know His. You must know Him, His personal forgiveness and regenerating power that transforms your life, which transitions you from being spiritually dead, to alive in Him. This is what it means to know the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:10). This is also what it means to experience eternal life. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The same Greek word know is used in this verse, and it is also in the present tense, referring to you continually knowing Him. Do you know Him in this way? He either knows you like this, or He does not know you at all!

The ultimate proof that you know Him.

What did Jesus say was the ultimate proof that you do truly know Him? Jesus said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Jesus continued, “Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand” (Matt. 7:24; 26 – underline added). Why did Jesus use this simple contrast between the wise and foolish man? He used this illustration to highlight the fact that if you truly knew Him, then you would obey what He told you to do. Jesus was clearly making obedience to His word the ultimate proof that you, in fact, truly did know Him.

There are two reasons given in these verses for why Christ would reject someone at the judgment seat. The first reason I have already explained above, which is, if a person practices lawlessness and sin, this will lead Jesus to say to them, “I never knew you.” The second reason Jesus will refuse to receive someone into heaven is when a person who professes Christ doesn’t continue to practice righteousness. Their failure to practice righteousness is because they have turned away from Him, and have gone back to their previous lifestyle (1 John 3:10). Jesus referred to this problem in Luke 12:42-47. Jesus was answering Peter’s question concerning disciples that would not be ready when the Second Coming occurred. Jesus answered him and said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” Jesus made it very clear in these verses that the basis of His judgment will center around if a person was truly following Him. When a person’s heart turns away from their faith and hope in the Lord’s return, and their behavior returns to the way they used to live, they are in danger of His judgment. It is essential that a believer must persevere in his or her walk with Jesus. But I meet professing believers all the time who are living carelessly in sin, and practicing lawlessness. They are living with their boyfriend; they are getting high on drugs; or they are getting drunk on the weekends before they go to church on Sunday. But, they still believe that they are going to heaven. But that is not what Jesus taught here! If you are a follower of Jesus and you meet someone like this, in love, tell them the truth. Paul said, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Encourage that person to wake up and make a decision, because their lifestyle will determine whether or not they enter the kingdom of heaven. This is why we are encouraged in Galatians 6:1 to restore those who have been overtaken in a fault. If you know a professing believer in this self-deception, overtaken by their sin, not coming to church anymore, please go and seek to restore them today. If you truly care about them, go after them, and reach out to them.

2. God judges you based on your love and faith in Him. 

Think for a moment about what Jesus knows about you. He knows if you truly love and believe in Him. What did Jesus say to the church at Ephesus? He revealed His knowledge of their lack of love toward Him when He said, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). Notice He didn’t say you have lost your first love. No, He said, “you have left your first love.” This statement clearly identified a willful choice on their part, and He knew all about it, and warned them to return to Him.

What did Jesus ask Peter after his denial? “Do you love me” (John 21:16)? Did Jesus ask this question because He doesn’t really know if Peter loved Him or not? No! Jesus knew exactly whether or not Peter loved Him. But, did Peter have a firm grasp about where his own heart was at? I don’t believe so. Love for God is the essential quality needed for a close and intimate fellowship with the Lord. Without it, you can’t know the Lord as you desire. So, do you love Him with that first love experience that you had when you came to faith in Him? Does that passionate desire to know more of Him still dwell within you? He knows your heart, but do you know the truth? Notice what Jesus said about the Pharisees. In John 5:42 Jesus said to these men, “But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.” This knowledge of their hatred of Him was the basis of His dealings with these religious leaders. In John 8:42, Jesus also said to the Pharisees, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God.” In John 8:45, Jesus said again to the Pharisees, “Because I tell the truth, you do not believe in Me.” All Jesus was concerned about was whether or not they loved Him and believed in Him. Why are these two questions so important to the Lord? Because if you love and trust Him, then He knows that He has your heart (Rom. 10:9-10). All that you do for Him will flow from love and faith. You must have a personal love relationship, and a sincere faith in Him. Paul declared that these were the goals of God’s commandments. He taught, “Now the purpose (goal) of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk” (1 Tim. 1:5-6). If we stray from these goals, we will end up with a profession of empty words. If these issues are the goals that God has sought to bring about in your life, then these things will also be the basis of His judgment.  

3. God judges you based on the fact that you are actually a doer of the word. 

Jesus made this basis of judgment absolutely clear when He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21 – underline added). Jesus taught the same thing a few verses later when He said, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to be a wise man” (Matt. 7:24 – underline added). In both of these verses the word does are in the present tense, which refers to the continuous practice in your life. This is what the Scripture calls the practice of righteousness (Gal. 5:21; 1 John 1:6; 1 John 3:10). Now some of you are probably thinking right now, Does anyone really obey His commands, and consistently practice righteousness? Yes, absolutely. I would venture to say that most of you reading this right now consistently obey Him. But I know some of you are still thinking, But you don’t know what I did yesterday when I got angry at that person, and I exploded on them. I am such a sinner and I fail like this at times. Yes, I agree with you, that was sin. But you don’t have to remain in that state. What did you do after you exploded? Didn’t you repent and asked God to forgive you? After you prayed, didn’t you go back, and ask that person to forgive you? Do you realize that doing these things after you have sinned, is actually practicing righteousness? When you repent and seek reconciliation you are not practicing sin, but practicing righteousness. Sin that is practiced is sinful behavior for which you have not repented. Sin that has been repented of will be forgiven, which reveals that you are a changed person. Jesus considered anyone who repents as a person who was consistently doing the will of the Father. Jesus taught this concept in the Parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32. Jesus said, “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him” (Matt. 21:28-32). What is the point of this parable? Don’t be like the Pharisees who knew the commands of the Father, had promised to obey them, but then refused to repent and follow Jesus. Rather, be like the tax collectors and harlots who at first refused to follow Him, and continued in their sinful behavior, but then repented and chose to obey and follow Him.

The glorious truth is that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The word confess, and the words He is, are all in the present tense. This means that if I am continually confessing my sins, He will be continually faithful to forgive my sins, and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. The continual practice of righteousness means to simply continue to agree with God over your sin, and to come in confession to Him that you might be forgiven. This is the opposite of the practice of lawlessness. Being lawless means, you could care less about the ramifications of your sin, and you go right on committing it. Therefore, confessing your sin to God, is doing the will of your Father, because you are obeying His command to repent, believe, and obey. In other words, repentance and confession are what it means to believe in Jesus. Remember, these were the first words that Jesus preached when He began His ministry. He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). God simply wants us to see our faults and repent. We do that because we believe in Him, we love Him, and want to be right before Him. There is no sinless perfection here in this life, but there is a lifestyle of repentance and faith toward God, which is doing the will of the Father. 

The point of this passage is that your profession of faith will be tested.

Will you stand and be victorious when you are tested? It is not a question of if you will be tested, but when you will be tested. The tests come in your daily life from the pressures you experience (Vs. 24-27), and then on, “that day” in the future, your life will be examined and scrutinized by the King of Kings (Vs. 22). Will you stand these tests? Let’s look at these two tests.

The test on “that day!”

Every individual who has ever lived will one day stand before God for judgment. There is a judgment for believers to determine their rewards, or the loss of rewards for their service to Jesus (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:10-15). There is also a judgment of all unbelievers at what is called God’s White Throne judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). Are you ready for His final assessment of your life?

For believers!

Now, for those of you reading this who are believers, I want you to think about this judgment to come. Let’s say you knew that the rapture was going to take place an hour from now, or you were going to die in a car accident on the way home from work tomorrow, would there be anything that you would not want the Lord to bring up at that moment? Is there anything you would not want Him shouting from the rooftops for everyone to know about? That is exactly what Jesus warned was going to happen. He taught, “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:2-3). If you don’t want those things brought into the light and revealed for all to see, then you should be motivated to repent of these things right now. You have an opportunity today to be forgiven, so that these things will be cast into the depths of the sea, never to be brought up again (Micah 7:19). Then on, “that day,” you can stand in confidence before Him. 

For unbelievers!

There is also a different judgment for an unbeliever. If you are reading these words, and you are not following Jesus, I shudder to think of what that day will be like for you. Jesus said that we all live forever, and we all get to choose where we will spend our eternity. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29). He also said, “I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36-37). These are very clear statements. On that day, you will give account for everything you have said or done. Please, ask God’s forgiveness NOW, and receive Jesus by faith, and you will be saved from the wrath to come. Remember that one thief that hung next to Jesus on the cross who changed his mind in his last moments of life? Scripture records, “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:39-43). This account makes it very clear that it is never too late to change your mind, and cry out to God for His forgiveness!

Standing today’s tests

This second test comes to all of us every day of our lives. It is a test that reveals the foundation of our lives, and if we have built wisely. In life there are constant storms, tests, trials, and difficult times that naturally come with living in this fallen world. The question is, how will you respond to these trials and tests? These tests will reveal to you whether or not your house is built on the rock, or on the sand? Your house will either stand or fall depending on the foundation you have laid. Jesus declared that the difference between the wise builder and a foolish one, was simply determined by their obedience to do what Jesus told them, or the refusal to obey. The wise and foolish men both experienced the same wind, rain, and floods describing their trials in life. So, as a Christian don’t think to yourself, Lord, why are you letting these trials come into my life? I love you. I’m faithful to you. This isn’t supposed to happen! But it is supposed to happen to you, because you live in a fallen world that is in rebellion against God. Problems in this selfish world will be normal life! In fact, because you are a Christian, you will add certain other trials that someone who is not a Christian will not experience (John 15:19-20). Remember, if you speak up for Christ to unbelievers, you are going to be persecuted and hated by these people. People will lie about you and say hurtful things to you, just because you are a Christian. So, don’t think it strange, as Peter said, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13). So, expect these added testings and trials to come your way! Be ready! 

The foundation

Jesus said that success or failure with life’s trials will be determined by the foundation you have laid for your life. In other words, you can change the outcome that occurs, simply by making wise choices. What specifically makes a strong foundation that is built on the rock? Jesus told Peter one day, that a foundation built on the rock begins with a sincere confession of faith. Peter confessed to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16-18). This was Peter’s sincere confession of faith. Jesus then responded to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:17-18). It is important to remember that Jesus was not saying that Peter was the foundation upon which the church was to be built. Jesus was making the point that it was Peter’s confession that He was the Christ, that was the foundation upon which the whole church would be built. Once you make this personal confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, you have laid your own foundation firmly on the Rock. King David made his own confession of faith when he said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2). See also (Ps. 18:31; 18:46; Ps. 28:1). Paul also declared that Jesus was the Rock that gave Moses and the Children of Israel water in the wilderness when he wrote, “And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4). No man could ever give the church the stability it needs! Jesus is our only Rock!

Building upon that foundation

Once you possess Christ as your foundation stone, you then need to continue building your life upon that Rock. He is the only sure Rock upon which you should be building your life. Jesus also metaphorically compared our physical body to a tent, as a temporary dwelling place. But even a temporary dwelling place needs a solid foundation. So, how do you build upon the foundation of Christ that will keep your house from falling, or swept away by a flood?  

The only way to build your house so that it will not be built on sand, and stand the tests of life, will only be accomplished as you build your life by obedience to His commands. Once you have believed in Him, and made a confession of faith, you now must obey and follow Him. This is the point Jesus made concerning the wise man who built his house on the rock, and the foolish man who built his house on the sand. Jesus was the one who interpreted this analogy. He said that the wise man obeyed and did what he was told, but the foolish man did not. Jesus taught this same truth in Luke 6:47-48. In this passage He gave a little more insight into what He was teaching. He declared, “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock” (Luke 6:47-48). Notice the three elements that Jesus referred to in this passage. He said, “Whoever comes to Me, hears my sayings, and does them.” These are the three critical elements that Jesus connected together. Consequently, to be a wise man, you must first come to Jesus through the narrow gate. Then you should listen to what He says by studying His Word. Last, you must obediently do what He tells you to do. This is what will cause your life to remain strong during the stress and trials of this life. So, how you deal with those tests and the storms of life that come your way, should reveal to you what foundation you possess, and how well you are building upon the Rock!  

There is no reason for you to ever fall.

Let me leave you with this final encouragement. Do you realize that there should be no reason that you should ever fall? There should be no reason you should fall from the stresses of today. There should be no reason you should not be received into God’s Kingdom on that day? Why do I say this? Look at the context of this teaching concerning God’s judgment. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you.” What a promise! Prayer is how you access the abundant grace of God to be saved. Prayer is how you access God’s strength through the power of the Holy Spirit. All of His grace and power are available to you. Whatever your need is, He can meet that need. But you have not, because you do not ask (James 4:2). Why is prayer so important for you? Because prayer is what brings you into that intimate, personal, one-on-one connection with the Lord. That is where the Lord will meet with you, if you will only come. He wants you to cry out to Him for His help. In 2 Peter 1:10 Peter said, “Brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Now there is another powerful promise! Yes, Jesus warned about falling and being overcome in this study, but I’m leaving you with the promise that you should never have to fall. But I have met very arrogant Christians who declare, “Oh, I could never fall. In fact, I don’t think it is even possible for me to fall.” When I hear believers say things like this, I think to myself, oh how foolishness and self-confident they are. If Paul warned believers, “To him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall,” then any believer should take heed lest he might fall (1 Cor. 10:12). Any believer is very foolish to under-estimate the power of his own sin nature. But, to not fall, you must take heed to put in place the safeguards that will keep you from falling. Not one of you reading this study is doomed to fall. You can pass the test that is coming this week. You can pass the test that will come on judgment day! All you must do, is obey his voice, and follow Him. Come to Him daily, cast your cares upon Him, open your eyes to the love He has toward you, trust Him for all that you will have need of, and you will enter in through the narrow gate, and you will be empowered to walk on the narrow road. Be a wise man or woman by building your house on the rock, Jesus Christ. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). If He is your rock and your foundation, then you will stand the tests to come. 

As we come to the end of this powerful personal message from Jesus to His disciples, I hope you have been challenged and encouraged as I have been. The Sermon on the Mount is truly one of the great masterpieces of wisdom and truth spoken by Jesus. May God awaken these truths within your heart, and may they bring forth the fruit of a changed life!