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📖 Check Your Understanding
2
The Story
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Not just words. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven” (7:21). Calling Jesus Lord is right, but saying the word does not make someone belong to Him.
The Father's will. The people who enter are those who do “the will of My Father in heaven” (7:21). What does the Father want first? Jesus told us: “that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life” (John 6:40).
Busy but far away. Some people will tell Jesus that they preached and did miracles in His name (7:22). They will point to what they did. But they never trusted Jesus Himself.
“I never knew you.” Jesus will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (7:23). Jesus knows every fact about every person, so He is not talking about facts. He means a real friendship with Him.
The good news. Jesus does not want anyone to hear those sad words. He promised, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). Jesus will never turn away anyone who comes.
What this means for you. Do not just say the right words about Jesus. Come to Him, trust Him, and get to know Him by talking to Him and reading His Word. He loves you and wants you to be His.
“Lord, Lord” (7:21). The Greek word for Lord is kyrios (say: KOO-ree-os), the title of a master and the word the Greek Old Testament used for God's name. Saying it twice shows strong feeling. These people spoke to Jesus with warmth and respect, yet Jesus said words alone are not enough.
The Father's will. Jesus did not say that the people who enter are the ones who work hardest. He said “he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” In John 6:40 He explains that will: “that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life.” Doing the Father's will begins with trusting the Son.
A list of works (7:22). “Have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” Every claim points to what they did. Not one speaks of what Jesus did for them. Their hope rested on their own record.
“I never knew you” (7:23). Jesus is God, so no fact about anyone is hidden from Him. He means something deeper: a real, personal relationship. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Eternal life itself is knowing God: “that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).
Lawlessness. Jesus calls their works “lawlessness.” Religious actions can come from a heart that never bowed to God. Outward success in ministry does not prove that a person belongs to Christ.
A warning that points to Jesus. These verses are not meant to make a believer lie awake wondering if they are good enough. No one is. They turn us from trusting our record to trusting Jesus, who promised, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).
Application. Ask yourself honestly: do I know about Jesus, or do I know Jesus? Talk to Him today as the Lord who knows you by name.
Jesus said some people call Him “Lord, Lord.” They say the right words about Jesus. Some of them even do big things in His name. But Jesus will tell them, “I never knew you.” They say the right things, but they do not love Him. Being a Christian is more than saying words. It is knowing Jesus as your Savior and Friend. Jesus said we must do what His Father wants. The Father wants us to believe in Jesus first. Nobody is too bad or too young to come to Him. Jesus welcomes everyone who comes to Him. He will never send you away.
Jesus wants us to know Him. Saying nice words about Him is not enough. Jesus welcomes everyone who comes to Him.
👨👩👧 Parent Prompt
How can we get to know Jesus better?
Hearing and doing. Jesus said the wise man is the one who “hears these sayings of Mine, and does them” (7:24). The wise man does two things: he hears, and he does.
Which sayings? These sayings are the whole Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7: love your enemies, pray to your Father, forgive others, do not worry, and treat people the way you want to be treated (7:12).
Wise means thinking ahead. The wise builder thought about storms before they came. He chose rock even though it was harder to build on.
Digging deep. Luke tells the same story. The wise man “dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock” (Luke 6:48). Building on rock takes work. Obeying Jesus sometimes means saying no to what we want.
The Rock is Jesus. The Bible calls God our Rock: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 18:2). Paul wrote, “that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Building on Jesus' words means building on Jesus Himself.
Love, not wages. We do not obey to earn God's love. We obey because we love Him: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
What this means for you. Pick one thing Jesus said in Matthew 5–7 and do it this week. Ask Jesus to help you.
“Therefore” (7:24). The parable ties the whole sermon together. Everything from 5:3 to 7:23 is included in “these sayings of Mine,” and all of it is meant to be heard and done.
Wise. The Greek word phronimos (say: FRON-ih-mos) means sensible: someone who thinks ahead and acts on what he knows. The wise builder judged the future correctly. Storms were coming, so he chose rock.
Luke's account (Luke 6:46-48). Luke records Jesus asking, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Then the builder “dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.” In Israel a dry, sandy stream bed looked like an easy place to build in summer, but winter rains could turn it into a rushing flood within hours.
The Rock in Scripture. The Old Testament calls God the Rock: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). When Jesus says His own words are the only safe foundation, He speaks as God speaks.
Hearing and doing belong together. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). A person who hears and does not do is fooling himself about where he stands.
Grace comes first. The sermon began with “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (5:3): people who know they have nothing to offer God. The house is built by people who first receive God's grace. Obedience is the fruit of grace, not the price of it, for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).
Application. Which of Jesus' sayings do you know well but are not doing? Start there this week, and ask the Holy Spirit for help.
Jesus told about a wise man. The wise man heard Jesus' words. Then he did what Jesus said. Hearing is good, but doing is wise. It is like building a house on solid rock. Rock does not slide or wash away. Building on rock is harder at first. But it is worth it when storms come. Jesus' words are like that rock. They are always true, and they never change. When we obey Jesus, our lives stand on Him. We do not obey to make God love us. We obey because Jesus already loves us. His Holy Spirit helps us do what He says.
The wise man built on the rock. He listened to Jesus and did what He said. Jesus is our strong Rock!
👨👩👧 Parent Prompt
What is one way you can obey Jesus today?
Same words, same storm. Both builders heard Jesus. Both houses got “the rain,” “the floods,” and “the winds” (7:25, 27). The only difference was what each house stood on.
Storms come to everyone. Following Jesus does not mean life will always be easy. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Tribulation means trouble.
What storms look like. A storm can be a sickness, a family moving, a friend who turns mean, or someone you love dying. It can also be a time when you are tempted to do wrong.
The foolish builder. He built a whole house, just like the wise man. But he built it on sand. He heard Jesus and did not obey, so he had nothing solid under him when trouble came.
A great fall. “And it fell. And great was its fall” (7:27). Jesus ended His sermon with a serious warning because He loves people and does not want anyone to be lost.
God is with us. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).
What this means for you. When hard times come, run to Jesus and keep doing what He says. Tell a grown-up you trust, too. Jesus is the Rock that holds.
Two builders, one difference. Jesus describes both storms with the same words: “the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house” (7:25, 27). The only difference between the builders is whether they did what they heard.
Foolish. The Greek word is mōros (say: moh-ROSS), which means dull or senseless. In the Bible a fool is not a person with low grades. A fool is someone who lives as if God's word does not matter.
Building on sand. The foolish man did real work. His house looked like the wise man's house on a sunny day. The difference was hidden under the ground until the flood came.
Storms now and on that day. The storm pictures the troubles every life meets. It also points to “that day” of 7:22, when every life will stand before Jesus. Only a life built on Him will stand. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Tribulation. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). The word Jesus used means pressure, like grapes squeezed in a press. Faith does not remove the storms. It gives us a Rock under our feet.
“Great was its fall.” Jesus ends the sermon with a warning, not with a soft word, because love tells the truth. A doctor who never mentions a dangerous sickness is not being kind.
God's presence. “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
Application. Think of a storm you are in now or have been through. What were you standing on? Jesus invites you to build on Him today.
The storm hit both houses. The wise man's house got rain and wind too. Being wise did not stop the storm. Hard times come to everyone, even people who love Jesus. A hard time can be a sickness or a sad day. It can be moving away or friends who are unkind. The foolish man heard the same words from Jesus. But he did not do them. He built the easy way, on sand. When the storm came, his house fell. Jesus told this story because He loves us. He wants our lives to stand strong on Him.
The same storm hit both houses. Hard days come to everyone. But Jesus holds us close in every storm.
👨👩👧 Parent Prompt
Who can you talk to when you feel scared?
Astonished. “The people were astonished at His teaching” (7:28). Astonished means very surprised and amazed. They had never heard anyone teach like this.
Not like the scribes. The scribes were teachers of the law. They often taught by repeating what other famous teachers had said.
“But I say to you.” Again and again in Matthew 5, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said,” and then, “But I say to you” (5:43-44). Jesus spoke as the One who gave the law in the first place.
Authority. “For He taught them as one having authority” (7:29). Authority means the right to be in charge and to be obeyed.
Jesus is the Judge. In 7:22-23 Jesus said that on the last day people will stand before Him. Only God judges the world, so Jesus was telling us who He is.
All authority. After He rose from the dead, Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Words that last. Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
What this means for you. Jesus' words are not just good advice. They are the words of our King, and He loves us. Listen to them and do them.
Amazed (7:28). This is the same crowd that gathered in 5:1: “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain.” Their amazement was a good first response, but amazement is not the same as obeying. The parable had just said so.
Authority. The Greek word exousia (say: ex-oo-SEE-ah) means the right and the power to act. The scribes' authority was borrowed: they leaned on the sayings of earlier teachers. Jesus never did. He said, “But I say to you” (5:44).
The Judge on that day. In 7:22-23 Jesus pictured Himself on “that day,” deciding who enters the kingdom. No prophet ever spoke of himself that way. Jesus said the Father “has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
Authority over everything. Right after the sermon, Jesus used the same authority over sickness, storms and sin (Matthew 8–9). After the resurrection Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
The Word Himself. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The One whose sayings are the rock is Himself the living Word.
Words for every age. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). His sayings do not wear out or need updating.
Application. Treat Jesus' words as commands from your King, not as suggestions from a wise teacher. Then obey them with joy, because the King who speaks is the Savior who died for you.
The crowd was amazed at Jesus. Their teachers of the law often repeated other teachers. Jesus did not need to do that. He said, “I say to you.” He taught like someone in charge. That is what authority means. Jesus has the right to tell us how to live. He is God's own Son. Later He died on the cross for our sins. Then He rose from the dead! Now Jesus says, “All authority has been given to Me.” We can trust every word He says.
The people were amazed at Jesus. Jesus is God's own Son. Everything He says is true, so we listen to Him!
👨👩👧 Parent Prompt
What is your favorite thing that Jesus said?
📖 Complete the Open Bible section first!
📚 Story Questions
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The Gospel Connection
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The problem. The wise man hears and does what Jesus says. On our own, none of us is that man all the time. We have all heard God's words and not done them. Even our best days have sin in them. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Our own building fails. The people in 7:22 pointed to their good works, but works cannot save. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus, the Rock. Jesus is the only person who heard His Father and obeyed every time. Every word He says is true, and every promise He makes holds. He is the Rock we build on. “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22).
The cross and the empty tomb. At the cross, the storm of God's judgment against sin fell on Jesus instead of us. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Death could not hold Him.
The response. Come to Jesus, trust Him, and build your life on Him. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Then His Holy Spirit helps you do what He says.
The standard is perfect. The Sermon on the Mount ends with a builder who hears and does. Earlier Jesus said, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (5:48). Measured against that, every one of us has built on sand. None of us can say we have always heard and done. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even the best person in the crowd that day needed a Savior, and so do we.
Works cannot be the foundation. The people of 7:22 brought a list: prophecy, demons cast out, wonders. Their trust rested on their record. God saves “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5). The best list we could bring would still be sand. Paul says salvation is “not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:9).
The one true Builder. Jesus is the only man who heard every word of the Father and did it. He “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). God's family stands on “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). He is the Rock of 7:24, the bedrock that does not move, and the stone the builders rejected, whom God raised from the dead (Acts 4:10-11).
The storm fell on Him. At the cross Jesus took the judgment our sin deserved. The flood that should have swept us away broke over Him instead. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then He “rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4).
Built on Him. Faith is how a person comes to stand on the Rock. “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life” (John 5:24). Then the Spirit grows obedience in us, because “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Obedience is the house. Jesus is the foundation. Trust Him today, and keep building on Him one step of obeying at a time.
Nobody obeys Jesus all the time. We all hear God's words and do not do them. That is called sin. Sin hurts us and keeps us far from God.
We cannot fix sin by doing good things. The people in verse 22 tried that. Being good cannot wash sin away. Good works cannot save anyone.
Jesus is the only one who always obeyed His Father. He never failed, not even once. He is the strong Rock.
Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. On the third day, He rose from the dead! Now He is alive forever.
When we trust Jesus, He forgives us. He makes us His own children. He builds our lives on Himself, and we stand strong. Then His Holy Spirit helps us obey.
We all do wrong things.
We cannot build our own way to God.
Jesus never did anything wrong.
He died on the cross for our sins.
Then He rose again!
Jesus is the Rock we can stand on.
👨👩👧 Parent Prompt
Who is the Rock we can build our lives on?
📖 Complete the Open Bible section first!
✝️ Gospel Questions
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Memory Verse
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“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock”
— Matthew 7:24 (NKJV)
💡 What This Verse Means
Jesus said these words at the very end of His Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore” points back to everything He had just taught in Matthew 5–7. “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine”: whoever means anyone at all, young or old. Sayings are Jesus' own words. “And does them”: hearing is the first step, but Jesus wants more than listening. He wants us to do what He says. “I will liken him”: liken means compare. Jesus was about to tell a word picture. “A wise man who built his house on the rock”: a house on rock stands when storms come, and a life built on Jesus stands too. We cannot obey perfectly on our own, so we start by trusting Jesus, the Rock who died and rose for us. Then His Holy Spirit helps us do what He says, a little more each day. Say this verse when you open your Bible, and ask Jesus to show you one thing He wants you to do today.
Matthew 7:24 opens the closing word picture of the Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore” gathers up all of Matthew 5–7, from the Beatitudes to the warning of 7:21-23. Jesus calls them “these sayings of Mine.” The prophets spoke God's words and said so; Jesus speaks His own words as the final word, which is why the crowd noticed His authority (7:29). The verse joins two verbs, hears and does, and it will not let us split them. James says the same: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The wise man is phronimos (say: FRON-ih-mos), sensible: he plans for the storm he cannot see yet. Building on the rock is not a way to earn salvation. The sermon began with “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (5:3), people who know they have nothing to offer God. The foundation is Christ Himself, received by faith, and the house of obedience rises on Him. Memorize the verse in three parts: who (whoever hears), what (and does them), and what that person is like (a wise man who built on the rock). Then choose one saying from Matthew 5–7 and put it into practice this week.
Jesus said this at the end of a long talk. Whoever means anyone, even kids. Sayings are the words Jesus said. Jesus wants us to hear His words. He also wants us to do them. A house on rock stays up in a storm. A life built on Jesus stays strong too. We cannot obey all by ourselves. So we trust Jesus first. Then His Holy Spirit helps us obey.
Jesus wants us to hear His words. He wants us to do them too. Then we are like a house on the rock!
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