Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

Seems simple, right? Do what Jesus said and you’ll be safe as houses. You’ll be eternally secure and you’ll stand when the storms come. 

Only it’s not simple, because people can’t agree on *what Jesus said*.

What are “these words of mine” that we are supposed to do? 

If you were a Jew listening to Jesus preach the Sermon on the Mount, you might think “these words of mine” are the Sermon on the Mount. Which is to say, “these words” are the laws that Jesus has just outlined. In other words, the words of Jesus are basically the words of Moses.

Which leads to all sorts of confusion.

“These words of mine” are not referring to the whole Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is referring to the words he has just spoken:

📖 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21).

When Jesus says “do these words of mine” he’s essentially saying “do the will of my Father.” That’s the context. Verse 24 comes right after verses 21, 22 and 23 where Jesus is talking about people who didn’t do his Father’s will.

Do you see? 

Jesus is NOT talking about the words of Moses or keeping the law. He is saying those who don’t do his Father’s will are going to be sent away.

And what is the Father’s will? It is that we believe in the Son he sent:

📖 “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).

Many believers are hearing two messages. They hear they are saved by grace, but they also hear “You must obey everything Jesus said.” Since Jesus sometimes preached law to those who lived under the law, the result is confusion and insecurity. 

Jesus does not give us a long list of requirements for entering the kingdom. Instead, he calls us to repent and believe the good news that he is the Son sent from the Father to save us.

If you are trusting in him, you can have confidence that you will stand when the storms come. 

And if someone says “you must do what Jesus commanded,” you can reply, “The will and command of God is that we believe in his Son.” 

Period. The end. Amen. ‼️