Luke 6:49

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(49) He that heareth, and doeth not.—More specific than St. Matthew in adding “without a foundation,” somewhat less so in giving “on the earth” instead of “on the sand.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:37-49 All these sayings Christ often used; it was easy to apply them. We ought to be very careful when we blame others; for we need allowance ourselves. If we are of a giving and a forgiving spirit, we shall ourselves reap the benefit. Though full and exact returns are made in another world, not in this world, yet Providence does what should encourage us in doing good. Those who follow the multitude to do evil, follow in the broad way that leads to destruction. The tree is known by its fruits; may the word of Christ be so grafted in our hearts, that we may be fruitful in every good word and work. And what the mouth commonly speaks, generally agrees with what is most in the heart. Those only make sure work for their souls and eternity, and take the course that will profit in a trying time, who think, speak, and act according to the words of Christ. Those who take pains in religion, found their hope upon Christ, who is the Rock of Ages, and other foundation can no man lay. In death and judgment they are safe, being kept by the power of Christ through faith unto salvation, and they shall never perish.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 7:21-27.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

41-49. (See on [1589]Mt 7:3-5, [1590]Mt 7:16-27.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 6:46"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But he that heareth, and doth not,.... Hears Christ's sayings externally, but does not obey his commands:

is like a man that without a foundation built upon the earth: that is, without digging for a foundation, built his house upon the surface of the earth; "upon the dust of it", as the Syriac version renders it; or, "upon the sand", as Matthew says: "against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great"; See Gill on Matthew 7:26. See Gill on Matthew 7:27.

Geneva Study Bible

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 6:49. χωρὶς θεμελίου, without a foundation; an important editorial comment. The foolish builder did not make a mistake in choosing a foundation. His folly lay in not thinking of a foundation, but building at haphazard on the surface. Vide notes on Mt. for the characteristics of the two builders.—τὸ ῥῆγμα (πτῶσις in Mt.), the collapse, here only in N. T. This noun is used to answer to the verb προσέρρηξεν.

The impression produced by the foregoing study is that Lk’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, while faithfully reproducing at least a part of our Lord’s teaching on the hill, gives us that teaching, not in its original setting, but readapted so as to serve the practical purposes of Christian instruction, either by Lk. or by some one before him.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

49. upon the earth] In St Matthew, more graphically, “upon the sand;” e.g. the sand of superficial intellectual acceptance.

Luke 6:49

Vincent's Word Studies

Upon the earth without a foundation

Matthew, upon the sand. The two men are conceived as alike selecting a spot where the sand overlies the rock. The one builds directly upon the sand, the other digs through and down into the rock.

It fell (ἔπεσεν).

But the best texts read συνέπεσεν, fell together, collapsed. Rev., fell in. Only here in New Testament. In medical language used of the falling-in of parts of the body. Thus Hippocrates, "the temples fallen in: the limb quickly collapses or shrivels." Matthew uses the simple verb ἔπεσεν, fell.

Ruin (ῥῆγμα)

Lit., breaking. Only here in New Testament. A medical term for a laceration or rupture. Matthew has πτῶσις, the fall.