Researching

Researching

(Matthew 7:24-28)

Yearly Theme:  “Patience is…”

Series Title:  “The Pursuit of Patience”

June 19^th, 2022

Something to think about:

At the close of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus gives some final words.  His final challenge is about listening and obeying the words He has just spoken to them.  This sermon of Jesus’ is meant to bring life; it’s meant to correct what is wrong in individual’s lives and in society.  This sermon of Jesus’ are words that lead to life, and Jesus is that life and light to the whole world. 

As he concludes, Jesus gives a short parable on foundations.  Let’s take a look…

Matthew 7:24-28 (NLT),

²⁴ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  ²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  ²⁶ But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  ²⁷ When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. ^[1]

Here’s the takeaway this morning:

Key Point:  “The pursuit of patience involves following Jesus’ teachings.”

And understanding Jesus’ teachings require listening, learning, and leading a life of obedience in following Him.  So, what does this look like?  Consider the following points:

• Jesus’ teachings are  to a fulfilled life.

Matthew 4:25-5:2 (NLT),  ²⁵ Large crowds followed [Jesus] wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down.  His disciples gathered around him, ² and he began to teach them.

• The foolish person  , but doesn’t  .

Romans 2:13 (NLT), For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.

• The wise person  and  .

1 John 5:1-5 (NLT),  ¹  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God.  And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.  ²  We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.  ³  Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.  ⁴  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  ⁵  And who can win this battle against the world?  Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Something to take home:

Hearing and listening are altogether two different things.  It’s not only important to build your life on the right foundation, but also just as important is what you build on that foundation.  A life fully surrendered to GOD is a life that remains steadfast and secure when hurricane force winds and rains seek to destroy a person.  A life lived in obedience to Jesus’ teachings is a life fulfilled, and a life saved.

Key Point:  “The pursuit of patience involves following Jesus’ teachings.”

^[1] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 7:24–29.