The Sermon on the Mount #13: Weekly Study Questions
Hearing and Doing
Sermon on the Mount (CGS#13) – Matt. 7:24-29
INTRODUCTION: This is our final week in our Sermon on the Mount teaching series, and we will conclude by hearing Jesus’ final warning, a parable of the wise and foolish builders. Jesus often taught in parables. That is, he taught using short stories that connected with his audience and drew from the images of their everyday lives. He did this because he loved them and wanted them to gain clarity of themselves, God, and the life that Jesus offers. Parables function as a lens that allows us to see the truth and to correct distorted vision. They allow us to see what we would not otherwise see, and they presume we should look at and see a specific reality. In the parable of the wise and foolish builder, Jesus wants us to examine our posture towards obedience. The key words in this parable are “hearing and doing.” We get two pictures, one of someone who hears and does. And secondly, of someone who does not. The results are tragic and devastating for not hearing and doing. It is important to remember that Jesus is not talking about the way of salvation here. In that, he is not saying that we earn our salvation by works. Instead, he is giving us a picture of the blessing of obedience. When we hear and live out the commands of God, that is, when we are obedient, it blesses us. How? By giving us reassurance in our relationship with God and uniting us with him. The beauty of this parable is that it teaches us that it is possible to endure faithfully. Our obedience unlocks that reality for us by leading us into greater intimacy with God.
When we read this parable and the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew leaves us with an important context note in verse 29. He tells us that the crowds were “astonished” because of the authority of Jesus’ teaching. He will literally say that it was because Jesus taught like no other authority figure that they knew! The authority of Jesus caused them to sit up a little straighter and lean into what he said. It should do the same for us. Even Jesus’ concluding parable is part of three final warnings that aim to clarify everything that he has already said. Parables in general and this parable specifically are designed by Jesus to shake his audience out of complacency and, as Soren Kirkegaard said, “away from a mild morality.” The greatest risk for his audience then and for us today is to walk away and reflect, “Oh, that was an interesting bit of information,” or “I do most of that, so I think I’m fine.” Jesus wants our whole hearts and our whole lives. He doesn’t want us to be swindled by a gospel of works or deeds. That is why he gave us the stern warning in verses 21-23. So, how do you respond to Jesus’ final warning? Are you more like the wise builder or the foolish builder? Or more accurately, how are you like both? And what is your response to the authority that Jesus teaches with? They were astonished then, and we should be today. Why? Because the clarity and the call of Jesus are unlike any other voice in our cultural moment. When was the last time we heard someone teach with such authority as Jesus does here? Jesus is clearly telling us that there is only one way to life, the narrow road, which is his way. Yet, the authority he teaches with is not founded in fear, but in grace. We are not prompted to submit to Jesus’ authority out of fear of being crushed by him. Instead, it is out of the love that he extends to us that shows us he and his authority are good. That really is the key to the abundant life, knowing and walking in the goodness of God that we have already experienced through salvation by grace. The builder who built his house on the rock did so because he experienced that God’s way was for his good, because God is good. That is what will prompt our faithful endurance as Jesus followers.
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. What was one of the first times in your life that you experienced the goodness of God?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday-Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
- This parable is all about obedience. What motivates your obedience to God? Is it legalism and fear or relationship and love? Or, maybe a combo of both at times?
- What do you think makes it difficult to be like the wise builder throughout the seasons of our lives? What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us live obedient lives? (Jn. 14:15-31)
- What needs to change or shift in your life to help love be more and more the motivation for obedience? We all need to routinely and regularly recalibrate our motivation for obedience.