(21) "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by Thy name, and by Thy name cast out demons, and by Thy name do many mighty works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
(24) "Every one therefore that heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: (25) and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon the rock. (26) And every one that heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: (27) and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall thereof. (28) And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at His teaching: (29) for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."
Golden Text.—"Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only." James 1:22.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What does Jesus say of those who profess to be His disciples? Who are sure of an entrance into the kingdom of heaven? Verse 21. Note 1. (2) What will many disappointed professors say in the judgment? Verse 22. Note 2. (3) What will be the Lord's reply to them? Verse 23. Note 3. (4) To what does He liken those who both hear and obey His Word? What does the "house" signify? What is meant here by the rock foundation? Verse 24. Note 4. (5) By what is the "house" assailed? And what will prevent it from falling? Verse 25. Note 5. (6) To what is the professed disciple likened who does not obey the Word of the Master? What does the "sand" represent? Verse 26. Note 6. (7) What becomes of a "house" built on such a foundation? Verse 27. (8) What did the people think of the doctrine that Christ taught? Verse 28. Note 7. (9) What was there so peculiar about His teaching? Verse 29. Note 8.
NOTES.
1. Mere profession of allegiance to Christ may be affected by even His worst enemy. The case of Judas is an illustration of this point. The betrayal of his Master was signalled by a friendly salutation and a kiss. The will of the Father is His law. The Spirit of prophecy, by the pen of David, had said to Christ, "Lo, I come; in the volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Ps. 40:7, 8. Again, He said to one who inquired the way to eternal life, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17. And again, "Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46.
2. Neither prophecy nor miracles is a sign of acceptance with God. A prominent deception is that of false prophets (Matt. 24:11; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1-3), and in the very last days people will be deceived by miracles (Matt. 24:24; Rev. 13:11-14).
3. "I never knew you" does not mean that Christ has not an acquaintance with them; for He knows even the inward thoughts of every one. Mark 2:8. But His Spirit implants the seed of the Word in the hearts of all who will receive it, thus rendering them fruitful of good works. Spiritually the word "knew" is here used in the same sense that it is in Gen. 4:1. So Christ disavows the responsibility of their inspiration, and therefore of their works.
4. The house that one builds is his character. No one can build a good character on an earthly foundation; for "that which is of the earth is earthy." No one can of himself establish a foundation better than himself, and "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." There must of necessity, then, be a foundation other than fallible man can lay. See 1 Cor. 3:11; 2 Tim. 2:19; Isa. 28:16.
5. The "rains," "floods," and "winds" represent persecutions, temptations, evil influences, worldly pleasures, appetites, and passions. In Palestine and Arabia the streams (sometimes called "floods") are often quite dry in summer time. But at some seasons there are heavy rains, accompanied by heavy winds. Then the streams become torrents, overflowing their banks and sweeping everything before them. Then the only security for a building is a deep, substantial foundation.
6. The foundation of sand represents human schemes of salvation, human standards of holiness, the traditions of men, false doctrines of all kinds.
7. The doctrine of Christ astonished the people because it was so at variance with the teaching of the scribes and rabbis. They always dwelt on forms and ceremonials as the great essentials, while Jesus taught the principles of "righteousness and true holiness."
8. "Having authority,"—Jesus had the authority of absolute wisdom and power. Of His doctrine He Himself testifies: "We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen." John 3:11. "My teaching is not Mine, but His that sent Me." Ch. 7:16. "I spake not from Myself, but the Father which sent Me, He hath given Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." Ch. 12:49. His Word was authority because it was the Word of God. Ch. 17:14, 17.
