What does it mean that the wise man built his house upon a rock?

Answer

The tale of the wise man who constructed his dwelling on a rock can be located in Matthew 7:24–27. It is among the parables shared by Jesus. In the course of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus narrated a tale about two individuals: one who erected his house on a rock and another who built his house on sand. The house established on a rock endured the storm, and the constructor is deemed wise; whereas the house built on sand crumbled during the storm, and the constructor is considered foolish.

The lesson of this parable is quite evident: a solid foundation is essential. When it comes to a physical house, it is imprudent to construct it on sand, as the base will be unstable and the house will inevitably sustain some form of harm. This will result in wasted resources, and all the effort and time invested in constructing the house initially will have been in vain. Conversely, it is prudent to construct one’s house on a secure foundation; anchoring it to bedrock enables a building to endure the test.

However, Jesus’ sermon was not focused on house construction or breaching building codes. The spiritual significance of the parable is detailed in Matthew 7:24: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and puts them into action is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Each of us is constructing a life. The appropriate foundation for a life is Jesus’ teachings—not solely hearing them, but also putting them into practice, as stated in James 1:22.

It appears that at times, everything in the world is arranged to lead us away from God’s teachings. Frequently, our own emotions push us towards doing the complete opposite of what the Bible instructs. Nevertheless, a wise individual will adhere to God’s teachings despite these pressures—not to boast or secure salvation, but out of trust in God. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus positioned Himself as the ultimate authority on and fulfiller of the Law; He concludes the sermon by urging individuals to heed His message and, indeed, find their security in Him «For other

Foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. », (see 1 Corinthians 3:11).

As we follow the Lord, learning to trust and obey Him, we receive a reward: our “house” is steady and solid, unshaken by circumstances. The wise man is the believer whose life is built upon the Rock of Christ; in this world he has faith and hope, and in the next everlasting life and love «And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.», (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). The wise man is like the tree planted by the riverside, whose leaf does not wither (Psalm 1:1-3).