Matthew 7:24-29

Matthew 7:24-27 Hearers and Doers

(Lk 6:47-49)

²⁴ “Everyone who listens to these teachings of mine and does them

will be like a thoughtful man who built his house on rock.

²⁵ It rained heavily, floods came

and storms blew fiercely upon that house,

but it did not collapse – it was grounded on rock.

²⁶ But everyone who hears these teachings of mine

and does not act on them

will be like a thoughtless man who built his house on sand.

²⁷ It rained heavily, floods came

and storms blew fiercely upon that house,

and it collapsed - and what a spectacular wreck it was.”

Matthew concluded the discourse by returning to a favourite theme – the necessity for action. But not any action – only action that was in accord with the teaching of Jesus, action that translated into practice the themes mentioned clearly in the discourse so masterfully constructed.

Jesus himself had not blindly accepted the law and the prophets. He had penetrated to their truest depths, to the heart of the Torah, fine-tuning where necessary, developing or even ignoring details that no longer reflected that heart. In doing so, he had challenged the accepted wisdom and the interpretations of both scribes and Pharisees.

He had not given disciples any detailed blueprint for action, but had taught them to develop and to act from their own innermost core, their consciences. He would be their constant guide, the source of their indispensable enlightenment, but their own discernment would always be necessary.

Teaching with Authority

Matthew 7:28-29 The Crowds’ Assessment

²⁸ When Jesus had finished his message,

Matthew’s comment echoed the comment made about Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy:

When Moses had finished reciting all these words to all Israel,

he said to them: “Take to heart all the words that I am giving in witness against you today;

give them as a command to your children,

so that they may diligently observe all the words of this law.

This is no trifling matter for you, but rather your very life … ” [32:45-47]

In Matthew’s mind, Jesus was not only a new Moses – he embodied the revelation of God.

the crowds were quite astounded at his teaching.

²⁹ He taught them as one who had authority, unlike their scribes.

Though Jesus had directed his teaching immediately to his disciples, at the start of the discourse Matthew had identified the presence of the (listening?) crowds: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up into the mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. [5:1-2].

Though they were astounded, their reaction fell short of making the choice for discipleship. They were open to listen but unprepared to commit. They heard, but they did not act. They belonged to the many who walked the easy road through the wide gate. At first enthusiastic, in time they would lose interest. It would be a Jerusalem crowd that eventually joined the chief priests in calling for the crucifixion of Jesus [27:20-23].

Yet their comment here was insightful: Jesus taught as one who had authority. Unlike their scribes, he had been authorised by no one, other than by his God. His authority came, not simply from his knowledge of the tradition, but from his insight into its heart. He would eventually share that same authority with his disciples [28:18-20], but in the meantime they still had a long way to walk.

Matthew’s reference to their scribes reflected sadly something of his community’s bitter split with the local synagogue, which had been a deep source of pain, and of animosity, to both sides.

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