Luke 6:46-49
“Notice what you notice.” Luke’s account of building on a firm foundation… I already mentioned yesterday that Matthew was more comprehensive in his telling of this metaphor. Luke only mentions the floodwaters and the foundation, while Matthew covers the entire structure, adding the rain and wind that could do damage to the roof and the walls. But this should be no discredit to Luke. Damage to the roof and the walls from rain and wind can usually be repaired, but if the foundation is swept away, the house is gone!
Actually, Matthew does not mention the roof and the walls – I added that myself. Matthew’s focus is also on the foundation, the wise man who built his house on the rock (Mt. 7:27). A dear friend of mine back in Richmond was a masonry (block and brick) contractor. He named his firm “The Rock”, no doubt taking off from this verse. My partner and I years earlier had named our basement business “Cornerstone Construction” from Psalm 118:22, The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
So for both Matthew and Luke, the bottom line is the foundation. Both writers ask us to consider our foundations. Luke writes, Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them… (v. 47). Jesus’ words to us today are the same words He delivered to the crowds years ago, that have been so well preserved through the ages in the Gospels. But He also sent His Holy Spirit to further guide us, to highlight those “still small voices” (I Kings 19:11-13) within our souls through which He speaks. We also have our spiritual leaders – preachers and writers who guide us. Finally, we have each other – those people within “the body” with whom we share our thoughts and our prayer needs and who turn to us for the same. Where would we be without each other…??!! Glory!
Slava Bohu!