Luke 6:46-49 46Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say? 47Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream burst against that house and it could not shake it because it had been well built. 49But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
These verses echo Matthew 7:24-27 and the story of the wise builder. Jesus introduces the short parable with a rhetorical question that calls his disciples to obedience. To call someone Lord requires submission to the will of that Lord. The word Lord (kyrie) was used in the ancient world for someone of authority, like a master. More significantly, it is the Greek word translated in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) for God’s divine name. It was a word loaded with social meaning and had significant implications for Jews. Jesus assumes that his followers recognized his authority as their Master and Teacher. However, the implications may go beyond the social and to the theological. He was subtly encouraging them to see his authority as the divine Son of God. He was more than an earthly teacher, like the many Jewish rabbis in Israel. He was God Incarnate who deserved worship and commitment.
Jesus then gives the two alternatives in the form of a parable for those who hear his words. Two opposite scenarios are given. The first describes those who hear and obey. Obedience is shown by following the pattern illustrated in verses 48-49. The key idea from the story is the foundation. The stronger house had a foundation build on solid rock. The foundation is the most important part of a house. If the foundation is weak, the rest of the building will be compromised. The Roman’s invented concrete, but it was only available in limited areas. Most people assembled their houses wherever they could out of whatever materials were available. There were plenty of rocks in Israel for people to use for their houses. Archaeologists have unearthed the foundations and sometimes walls of houses. The house that the man in the story built was near a stream or river. Wadis, dried up creeks and rivers, are common in Israel. When the rains come, these dried up riverbeds fill up and even flood. The man’s house stood firm because it was build on rock and could withstand the flood.
The application is that the person who listens to Jesus’ words and obeys them will be able to stand strong with persecution and challenges come. His words contain truth and life. To build one’s life on Jesus’ words means listening, understanding, and obeying what he said and following in the pattern of what he did. The context of this chapter shows that the primary ways to obey are in loving others and showing them mercy and forgiveness.
Verse 49 gives the opposite of not listening to Jesus’ teachings. The foolish man built his house on the dirt, which washed away when the rain and floods came. There was nothing to hold the house firm. Rushing water is a powerful force that can ruin many things that are not secured. The word immediately adds vividness to the story. The house did not stand even for a short time but came crashing down in a dramatic way.
Those who hear Jesus’ words but do not obey them have no foundation for their lives. When the troubles of life come–and they come to all people–then their lives will crumble like this man’s house. Many people hear the words of Jesus or the message about him but refuse to believe. Belief should always lead to obedience, otherwise it is not genuine but only intellectual curiosity. Many people came to Jesus out of curiosity to listen to his teachings and watch his miracles, but few paid the cost of following him. The same scenario happens today. Luke as an author is preparing the readers to hear the call to discipleship that will grow louder and clearer as the story of Jesus develops.
For older posts, click here.