In Matthew 7:13-27 Jesus of Nazareth is speaking to those who believe in Him. He is warning them about false prophets who would try to lead them away from God and into Satan’s web. In verses 24-27 Jesus begins His final statement with the word “therefore,” meaning that He is preparing to summarize what He has said:

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to ….” From this point on He tells of two types of foundations upon which religious men build their spiritual “houses”–conduct their lives. One builds on THE ROCK–one singular entity that is unchangeable and immovable–the Biblical Christ. Another builds his house on sand–tiny rocks that are changeable and movable–church doctrine. In both cases it is what each entity SAYS that serves as the believers’ respective foundation. In the case of Rock builders–God’s church–His Word (the Bible) is the foundation. Sand builders–Catholicism/ Protestantism–prefer Satan’s word (church doctrine). God’s Word is called “Truth” by His Son (Jn. 17:17), Who calls Satan’s word “wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). Instead of stating what every church person has known since childhood, I will summarize the Lord’s warning by listing the characteristics of the people who build on each type of foundation as given in the Matthew 7:13-27 passage. Biblical fact: Man chooses how he will build his “house,” as well as the type of foundation upon which he will build it. As the saying goes: “We pack our own parachute.”

ROCK FOUNDATION BUILDERS:                                                                                                                                  They enter the strait gate and walk the narrow way (vs 13).                                                                                      They do the will of the Father (vs 21).                                                                                                                      They produce good fruit (vs 17).                                                                                                                                     They hear and do Christ’s Words (vs 24).                                                                                                                  They will stand when the end arrives (vs 24,25).                                                                                                 They will inherit eternal life (vs 14).                                                                                                                         They will be few in number (vs 14).

SAND FOUNDATION BUILDERS:                                                                                                                             They enter the wide gate and walk the broad way (vs 13).                                                                                  They are foolish (vs 26).                                                                                                                                                 They produce bad fruit (vs 17,18).                                                                                                                           They neither hear nor do Christ’s Words (vs 26).                                                                                                   They will fall and great will be their fall (vs 26,27).                                                                                                  They will be killed and burned (vs 19).                                                                                                                       They will be many in number (vs 13).

BOTH BUILDERS BELIEVE THEY ARE OBEYING GOD; BOTH  CALL HIM THEIR LORD; BOTH WILL HAVE DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS IN HIS NAME (vs 21,22). THOUGH BOTH BELIEVE THEY WILL BE WELCOMED INTO GOD’S KINGDOM, ONLY ONE WILL WALK THROUGH THE GATES OF PEARL. L.J.