Luke 6:47-49 Whoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like:… 1. We are here admonished of the duty, and vast importance, of what has been called "building for eternity"; that is, attending to the salvation of our souls. Every one is building, labouring corporeally and materially, or speculating mentally, in one way or another. Some are engaged with great schemes; and some, who have neither substance nor strength to expend on great works, are nevertheless as deeply engaged as those who have. How many, however, are building, as we may say, only for this world! Their schemes terminate here. But "he builds too tow, who builds beneath the skies." To have a hope for heaven ought to be the great object with us all. This is the one thing needful. 2. Every wise man will be careful to found well — "on the rock." Some even proceed on religion so much at random that they have never thought of any determinate principles; they cannot tell what their foundation is; in fact, they have no foundation at all — they are, spiritually, building castles in the air. It is not so, however, with the wise builder; he is not so easily satisfied. And, as in the literal case of a building, so in the spiritual case under consideration, two things are necessary to be attended to in laying the foundation — the one is, that the builder know what is a sufficient foundation; and the other is, that he do actually cause his building to rest upon it. An error with respect to either of these things is fatal. God has laid the foundation, and we must build upon it. A Saviour is offered, and we must accept Him. 3. The wise do not neglect the superstructure because they have a good foundation. Rather, the knowledge that he has begun well is an encouragement for him to go on well — with confidence and with care. 4. In the time of trial, the hope of the true Christian, like the house of the wise builder, will stand; while the hope of the hypocrite and the formalist, like the house of the foolish builder, will be overthrown. When the great day of wrath is come, then it will be seen who shall be able to stand. God will set His own people's feet on a rock, and will establish their goings. (James Foote, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:WEB: Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. |
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