Saturday 1 March 2025
"The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall! (v. 27)
Background
We are at the end of studying Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. How has your journey been?
In his book The Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan gives features on the traveller’s journey memorable names such as 'the Hill of Difficulty' and 'the Slough of Despond', with scholars pointing out that many bear a resemblance to places around Bedford, where he lived.
As we have followed Matthew chapter 7 we have been required to make choices about the route to follow. The junctions could easily be given Bunyanesque names: 'Two Gates' (Matthew 7:13-14) referring to the sort of world we want to live in; and 'Got Religion' (Matthew 7:15-23) about the character of our faith. Do you recognise times in your life when you have been at such points on the road?
Now, almost at the end of the road might be called 'Two Houses' referring to the houses built on rock and sand mentioned in today's passage. It leads to a searching question about what might be false in ourselves.
What Jesus celebrates above all is not whether we regularly roll up to listen to God's words (at church, in home groups, online, or in personal Bible reading) but the thoughtful, self-reflective, ongoing decision to act and build a house based on God's words.
Medak Cathedral in India looks remarkably like a large Wesleyan Methodist church. That is not surprising because that is what it originally was – it was consecrated in 1924. Built from standard denominational plans of the time, it embodies the hopes and traditions of those who founded it. So too our 'house' will emerge from our hopes and faithfulness.
So much is to be lived and discovered. The only thing we know for sure is that storms will come (we are definitely not spared) but, thanks to the foundations, the house (ie our Church) will be standing when they are over.
In the Greek text, the last word of Jesus' sermon is about 'greatness'. The theologian FD Bruner has helpfully observed that Jesus was at war with 'greatness' throughout the Sermon on the Mount. It is not the sensational or the powerful, or the religious that he applauds but mercy, meekness and purity of heart. The only thing that Jesus says might be called great about taking another way (ie away from God) is the collapse of the house built on sand!
The sermon ends and the crowd are astonished.
To Ponder:
- As a result of our journey through the Sermon on the Mount do you have plans to build your life centred on his teaching, like the house built on rock?
- If you have heard a sermon recently, how did it end? Is there a sermon where you can still particularly remember the ending? Why is that?
Prayer
Almighty God, give us grace to be not only hearers, but doers of thy holy word, not only to admire, but to obey thy doctrine, not only to profess, but to practise thy religion, not only to love, but to live thy gospel. So grant that what we learn of thy glory we may receive into our hearts, and show forth in our lives: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Written for The Lambeth Conference 1948.)
Bible notes author: The Revd Bob Sneddon
Bob Sneddon is a retired presbyter who lives on the south coast of England. He has had five varied circuit appointments over some 40 years and before that worked in India for a year. In retirement he is enjoying making a garden and walking.