Exegisis of Matthew 7:24-27

Exegesis

Greek Definitions for key words:
1)Everyone:(pas) all, any, every, the whole1
2)hears:(akouo) to hear2
3)on them may be compared: (homoioo) to be made like, similar3
4)wise: (phronimos) thoughtful4
5)built: (oikodomeo) to be a house builder5
6)house: (oikia) residence, or abode6
7)on this rock: (petra) rock7
8)descended: (katabaino) to descend, come down8
9)blew: (pneo) to breathe9
10)fall: (pipto) to fall, fall down10
11)burst against (proskopto) to strike, surge against, beat upon, dash, stumble11

For the purpose of the exegesis, it will be mainly focused on Matthew 7:24-27. While it acknowledges the parallel in Luke 6:46-49, there is little difference to necessitate a exegesis, of this kind, to be carried out on both. The main point in which this paper will deal with is presented in both accounts of the parable. However, there are few textual differences. In Luke, he likens the wise man to someone who digs through the dirt. This is useful because he paints the picture of someone having to dig through all the false hood in the world to get down to the real foundation. Also in Luke, the foolish man is likened to someone who builds his house with no foundation as opposed to someone who builds his house on the sand.
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them...”12 Jesus, at the end of the sermon on the mount, proclaims this as his conclusion to one of the greatest teachings ever. Like so many of his other teachings, he uses a parable to teach a point and concludes with it here.( The defining of the parable will come later on.) First off we need to understand that according to the words he speaks here, there will be two kind of people in the great multitudes listening to him speak. There will be the ones who listen to God's words and act upon them, and ones who hear them and fail to act upon them. He likens the former “to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.”13 In Adam Clark's commentary he notes that “..true wisdom consists in getting the building of our salvation completed.”14 Jesus is stating that a wise man, as opposed to a fool, would listen to what he has to say and follow his words. He is not saying that one must be wise in order to listen and to put into action, but rather it would be wise to listen and put into action. In other words, it is a wise action to take but not a action that only a wise man would take. Wisdom from God is something that he does not keep for only the smart or the elite, but it something that he openly gives to all. It is interesting to note that in James 1:5, it is said that “... if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”15
The high level interpretation is that a rock is more stable then the sand. When the natural elements come after the house it will be able to stand because of the wise action taken by the wise man who built the house. The rock also signifies Jesus and his word. As it is stated in John chapter one, Jesus has always existed and he is the word. So for Jesus to put stock in his words, it is something that should be expected. He is more then someone who is speaking truth, he is something that is truth. He is not telling us about some wise saying that was once said by someone else, but he the wise one giving us the building blocks of life. This, I believe, is the reason for the listeners response after the parable is over. (Matthew 7:28-29) He taught differently than anyone they had ever listened to.
“Everyone who hears the words of mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.” The contrast of the wise man is not a foreign contrast in the bible; with it occurring in, but definitely not limited to; Ecclesiastes 10:2, Proverbs 14:16, Ecclesiastes 10:12, Proverbs 10:14, and many more. The general consensus between the comparisons usually revolves around one that follows after God and listens to him, and one who does not. The fool here, according to Jesus, will see his house fall when natural elements come and beat upon the house. According to John Sailhamer, “Jesus calls for absolute trust in the heavenly Father and commitment to his Kingdom.”16 The comparison leaves the listener with something to think about. You are either going listen to his words, do something about it and survive Jesus' new kingdom, or you are not and are going to fail.
When Jesus says “...will be like...”17 he is stating that this is something that will happen in the future. This may represent an eschatological view point here. That in the future Jesus will liken the fool and the wise man to these builders. There is a coming judgment that will be placed on the entire earth. Since Jesus, in the future, is going to liken the fool and the wise man, this may be referring to the end Judgment. Jesus believed that the eschatological judgment was coming and it was coming soon. This belief was not something the he held secondary to other beliefs, but this was something that played a central role in Jesus' ministry. He came with the belief that he was preparing people for the judgment. Jesus was on a mission here on earth, and he wanted everyone to be ready. He was not someone who would simply be content preaching from one place; instead he went everywhere proclaiming his eschatological message.
To get his message across, Jesus would eat and drink with whom ever he came across. The message of the parable, if we are aligning with the rest of his ministry, did not care who the listener was, be it a Jew or Samaritan, rich or poor, male or female, young or old, sinner or religious. “He ate with 'sinners', and kept company with people normally on or beyond the borders of respectable society.”18 The new kingdom is inclusive of everyone on the condition though that they keep Jesus commandments. The parable sermon on the mount encourages people to go above and beyond what had been previously asked upon them. The kingdom was bigger and better then a people, a temple, or a nation.