Introduction
Throughout this discourse Jesus has been addressing disciples, but it seems to go back and forth between genuine and false disciples. Blessings are followed by woes. Our love should be different than the self-serving love of the world.
We should know the difference between rebuking and condemning. We should be the first to repent before calling others to repent.
We come to the conclusion of Jesus’ discourse which contains a very direct question of the integrity of his audience.
The Christian’s security on the Day of Judgment is a faith that goes beyond words.
Read Luke 6:46-49
The Question to the Professor (46)
Anyone who considers Jesus to be their Lord, or Master, must honor him as their Lord by obeying his commands. You cannot call him Lord and then act like he has no authority over you. Your obedience is the evidence of his Lordship over you.
Once again, Jesus ensures that his hearers know he is talking to his disciples who profess him as Lord. He does not merely have the Pharisees in mind as he challenges them with convicting words.
Matthew’s parallel account provides helpful details including the crowd’s reaction (Matt. 7:24-29).
Jesus understood that doing his will included believing he was their Lord.
Calvin These words, therefore, do not exclude faith, but presuppose it as the principle from which other good works flow.
In other words, justification is presumed in this teaching (cf James 1:22-25).
A professor may experience…
The Security of the Obedient (47-48)
Notice the work involved. You don’t just come, you must also listen. But then, you can’t just listen, your hearing must be followed by doing.
That’s the man who builds his house by digging deep in order to lay the foundation upon the rock.
Digging is not easy. You will grunt and sweat during the work. You will be exhausted and sore after the work is done. If your hands haven’t grown callous from manual labor, you will likely have blisters from gripping the shovel. And it’s probably going to take a long time.
What is the evidence/fruit of faith? It’s good works. What else could it be?
What’s going to cause your faith to be unshakeable? It’s the faithful, pain-staking application of Jesus’ commands.
- Kill pride, self-righteousness, laziness, and rebellion.
- Put on the fruit of the Spirit.
On the other hand…
The Destruction of the Disobedient (49)
Notice what is done by this person. He has come to Jesus and even listened to his teaching. Maybe he even walked away feeling encouraged and refreshed. Or maybe he felt convicted and challenged. The problem is that nothing ever changed. He never obeyed!
This isn’t anything new to the covenant community (Ezekiel 33:31). Many have professed to believe in God, but their lives proved otherwise. Apostasy has occurred in every age of the church.
It’s sinful and detrimental to your soul, to sit under the preaching of God’s Word and never apply it.
Beware: Profession without practice!
J.C. Ryle The object of the parable is not to teach the doctrine of justification, but the folly of Christian profession unaccompanied by Christian practice, and the certain ruin to which such profession must lead if persisted in…The passage is a warning against Antinomianism.
In summary…
Conclusion
- The Question to the Professor
- The Security of the Obedient
- The Destruction of the Disobedient
The truth is, both of these builders can be in the same church, hearing the same message. Their buildings may even utilize the same blueprints from an expert builder! But only one had a faith that went beyond mere words. The other might as well have been a movie prop at Universal Studios. It provided no true shelter. There was no real security there.
Jesus will not be mocked by false professions of faith. Are you building your house on the solid rock of obedience to Christ?