Lent Day 24 [4.1.2025] / Firm Foundation

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29 / 마태복음 7:24-29

Matthew 7:24 - Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Overview:

Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with a final teaching of obedience. In this short parable, He portrays two houses that we can assume are the same. However, one house was built on a rock and the other was built on sand. When the rain came down and the winds blew, the streams rose and the house was shaken. The integrity of the homes was not compromised because of their composition, rather due to their foundation. The house that was built upon a rock bed survived while the house that was built on sand was destroyed.

Meaning:

What is the meaning of this parable? When understanding a parable, we must examine its parts through the lens of the speaker and the listeners during that time. The people of Jesus’ time and those who resided in the areas where Jesus had done His ministry were prone to frequent and sudden storms. We see such examples in Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 14:22-36, and Luke 9:22-25. These storms were known as “Sharkia,” and are characterized by heavy rainfall and strong blowing winds from the east. These storms continue to be a great concern and fear for fishermen on the Sea of Galilee even to this day. For this reason, the civilians of Jesus’ time and area would have considered and constructed the foundation of their homes with great care.

This tells us that Jesus’ listeners would have resonated deeply with this parable and would have been in full agreement that the builder who had constructed a home on a rock bed was wise and the builder who had constructed a home on sand was foolish. While the storms themselves were unpredictable, their occurrence would have been definite. On such occasions, bedrock does not shift or spill with the rising streams and the blowing winds. Instead, a rock in its composition would withstand such circumstances and therefore provide for a solid foundation for that which is built upon it. However, consider sand on a beach. The sand is constantly shifting based on the ebb and flow of the waves and tide. In a storm, how much more would the sand slide and shift with the wind, rain, and rising streams. Such a foundation would give way helplessly to destruction.

In the context of our scripture, Jesus reveals that a foolish builder would not have considered the obvious and fundamental truth that building a home on sand would be waiting and even planning destruction on himself and his household. He would have purposefully ignored sound advice, remained stubborn in his own ways, and in his pride, would reap disaster upon himself and those under his care. Contrarily, the wise builder, who had constructed his house on bedrock, would have considered the signs and chosen to build a home on a solid foundation; and when the storms inevitably came the house that was built upon sand came crashing down, but the house built upon rock stood firm.

Who is the builder and what does the constructed home represent? We are the builders, and the constructed home represents our lives. Jesus turns our attention to the unimportance of the home itself and rather the importance of what it is built upon. When we built our lives upon any other motivation or desire than the words of Jesus Christ, we are prone to swaying with the trends, unfaithful pursuits, temptations, opinions of others, discouragement, despair, and fear just like how sand gives way to surrounding influences and takes the shape of its container. Then when the storms of life such as its hardships and sufferings come, the shifting, sliding, and spilling foundation would lead to destruction and death.

The Wise Builder: How can we be wise builders today? Jesus provides a practical teaching on how we are to become wise builders today.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” – Matthew 7:24

Jesus declares that the builder who constructs a home on solid rock is like a person who listens to His words and puts them into practice. Therefore, building our lives upon His word reflects the wisdom and result of a home built upon a good foundation. Such a home would withstand the storms and tests of life that are often unpredictable but definite. The words of Jesus Christ are not unoriginal; instead, His teachings come from and are being spoken by the very source of all truth, knowledge, and power. The bible tells us that the crowds were astonished because Jesus spoke and taught with authority. Until that time, the teachers of the law had spoken about the words of God, but Jesus spoke these words as God Himself. The word of God has authority to command, power to transform, and the wisdom to lead. It is the absolute truth that sets us free; and the word of God that became flesh is Jesus Christ Himself. To build our lives on solid rock, we are to read, listen, and soak in the living word of God and live upon its motivation, direction, and truth. When we do such things, no matter what we may go through in life, we will not be shaken and have the strength to endure to the very end.

Reflection:

1. What are the motivations and desires in your life that are apart from or are against the word of God? How do such thoughts, feelings, words, and choices give way to destruction and despair in your life?

2. How can we change our way of thinking and our motivations to build our lives upon the word and truth of Jesus Christ? How does this help us overcome our worries, fears, and hardships?

   
   

Prayer:

1. God, thank you for teaching me the difference between a wise builder and a foolish builder. Help me to build my life upon your word and truth.

2. Jesus, I ask for your wisdom and grace to fill me heart with a desire for your word and truth to fill my heart, mind, and soul.

3. Holy Spirit, help me to live according to the words of Jesus Christ and put them into practice.

   
   

개요:

예수님은 산상수훈을 마무리하시며 순종에 대한 마지막 가르침을 주십니다. 이 짧은 비유에서 예수님은 두 집을 묘사하시는데, 우리는 이 두 집이 동일하다고 가정할 수 있습니다. 그러나 한 집은 반석 위에 지어졌고, 다른 집은 모래 위에 지어졌습니다. 비가 내리고 바람이 불며 홍수가 몰아칠 때, 집의 구성 자체가 아니라 기초 때문에 그 집의 무결성이 시험되었습니다. 반석 위에 세워진 집은 견뎌냈지만, 모래 위에 세워진 집은 무너졌습니다.

의미:

이 비유의 의미는 무엇일까요? 비유를 이해할 때는 그 이야기를 말씀하시는 사람과 그 당시 청중의 관점에서 살펴봐야 합니다. 예수님 당시의 사람들과 예수님이 사역하신 지역에 거주하던 사람들은 자주 발생하는 갑작스러운 폭풍에 익숙했습니다. 그 예는 마태복음 8:23-27, 마태복음 14:22-36, 누가복음 9:22-25에서 찾아볼 수 있습니다. 이러한 폭풍은 "샤르키아(Sharkia)"라고 불리며, 동쪽에서 불어오는 강한 바람과 폭우로 특징지어집니다. 이러한 폭풍은 갈릴리 바다의 어부들에게 지금까지도 큰 염려와 두려움의 대상입니다. 이러한 이유로, 예수님의 당시 사람들은 집의 기초를 매우 신중하게 고려하며 건축했습니다.

예수님의 청중은 이 비유에 깊이 공감하며, 반석 위에 집을 지은 건축자가 지혜롭고, 모래 위에 집을 지은 건축자가 어리석다고 전적으로 동의했을 것입니다. 폭풍 자체는 예측할 수 없었지만, 폭풍이 발생할 가능성은 분명했습니다. 이러한 상황에서 반석은 흐르거나 흔들리지 않으며, 바람과 비와 넘쳐나는 물에도 견고하게 유지됩니다. 그러나 해변의 모래를 생각해 보십시오. 파도와 조수의 흐름에 따라 끊임없이 움직이며 변화합니다. 폭풍이 몰아칠 때, 바람과 비와 넘치는 물에 의해 모래는 더욱 쉽게 밀리고 움직입니다. 이러한 기초는 파괴로 이어질 수밖에 없습니다.

성경 본문 맥락에서 예수님은 어리석은 건축자가 모래 위에 집을 짓는 것이 자신과 가족에게 파멸을 계획하고 있는 것과 같다고 밝혀 주십니다. 그는 분명한 진리를 무시하고, 건전한 조언을 무시하며, 자신의 완고함과 교만으로 인해 재앙을 자초합니다. 반대로, 반석 위에 집을 지은 지혜로운 건축자는 징조를 고려하고, 견고한 기초 위에 집을 세워 폭풍이 다가올 때에도 그 집이 흔들리지 않도록 준비합니다.

건축자와 집의 의미:건축자는 바로 우리이며, 건축된 집은 우리의 삶을 의미합니다. 예수님은 집 자체의 중요성이 아니라 그것이 세워진 기초의 중요성을 강조하십니다. 우리가 예수님의 말씀 이외의 동기나 욕망에 따라 삶을 세운다면, 모래처럼 주변의 영향에 쉽게 흔들리고 모양이 변할 것입니다. 인생의 폭풍(고난과 어려움)이 닥칠 때, 미끄러지고 흔들리는 기초는 파멸과 죽음으로 이어질 것입니다.

지혜로운 건축자:오늘날 우리는 어떻게 지혜로운 건축자가 될 수 있을까요? 예수님은 오늘날 우리가 지혜로운 건축자가 되는 방법을 실질적으로 가르치십니다.

“그러므로 누구든지 나의 이 말을 듣고 행하는 자는 그 집을 반석 위에 지은 지혜로운 사람 같으리니” - 마태복음 7:24

예수님은 견고한 반석 위에 집을 짓는 건축자가 바로 그분의 말씀을 듣고 실천하는 사람과 같다고 선언하십니다. 따라서 우리의 삶을 그분의 말씀 위에 세우는 것은 견고한 기초 위에 집을 세우는 지혜와 같습니다. 삶의 폭풍과 시험이 예측할 수 없으나 반드시 찾아올 때, 하나님의 말씀에 기초한 삶은 흔들리지 않고 끝까지 견딜 수 있습니다.

성경은 예수님이 권위 있게 말씀하셨기에 사람들이 놀랐다고 기록합니다. 그 당시 율법 교사들은 하나님의 말씀에 대해 말했으나, 예수님은 그 말씀을 하나님 자신으로서 직접 말씀하셨습니다. 하나님의 말씀은 명령할 권위와 변화를 일으킬 능력, 인도할 지혜를 가지고 있습니다. 그것은 우리를 자유케 하는 절대 진리이며, 말씀이 육신이 되어 오신 분이 바로 예수 그리스도이십니다. 우리의 삶의 반석은 하나님의 말씀을 읽고, 듣고, 그 진리를 마음에 새기며 실천하는 것입니다. 그러할 때 인생의 어떤 어려움에도 흔들리지 않고 끝까지 인내할 수 있습니다.

묵상 질문:

1. 하나님의 말씀과 상관없이 내 삶을 지배하는 동기와 욕망은 무엇입니까? 그러한 생각, 감정, 말, 선택이 어떻게 파멸과 절망으로 이어지나요?

2. 우리의 생각과 동기를 어떻게 바꾸어 예수 그리스도의 말씀과 진리 위에 우리의 삶을 세울 수 있을까요? 이러한 변화가 우리의 걱정, 두려움, 어려움을 극복하는 데 어떻게 도움이 될까요?

   
   

기도:

1. 하나님, 지혜로운 건축자와 어리석은 건축자의 차이를 가르쳐 주셔서 감사합니다. 제 삶을 주님의 말씀과 진리 위에 세우게 도와주세요.

2. 예수님, 저에게 주님의 말씀과 진리에 대한 갈망과 지혜를 허락하여 주시옵소서. 제 마음과 생각과 영혼을 가득 채워주세요.

3. 성령님, 예수 그리스도의 말씀대로 살아가며 그 말씀을 실천하도록 도와주세요.