“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24, TLV
What is the “therefore” there for? It’s a biggie. Jesus is wrapping up His Sermon on the Mount. He summarizes the importance of listening to His word, and doing them. From verse one of this chapter that speaks of judging others, to watching what we sow into, to seeking our Heavenly Father for our needs, to cautioning that this faith journey is narrow and difficult, to discerning false prophets. And we aren’t even talking about chapters 5 and 6!
Jesus set the bar for His Father’s children. Will we ever measure up to the Son’s standards? Of course not. Because we are who are are, flesh. But, does that mean we don’t listen and do the best we can? Of course not.
But when the kindness of God our Savior
and His love for mankind appeared—
not by deeds of righteousness
which we had done ourselves,
but because of His mercy—
He saved us through the mikveh [immersion] of
rebirth
and renewing of the Ruach ha-Kodesh [Holy Spirit],
whom He abundantly poured out on us
through Messiah Yeshua our Savior,
so that being set right by His grace,
we might become heirs
with the confident hope of eternal life! Titus 3:4-7, TLV [Emphasis Mine]
The Apostle Paul assures us that following the letter of the Torah [the Law] or even Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount will not earn us salvation. Following the letter of the Law was never what it was about from Genesis to Revelation. We do what the Father’s commands as best we can because of love and gratitude. Jesus demonstrated that perfect love by shedding His blood to atone (cover) our sins. He did this freely so that we could be free from the penalties of our sin and the impossibilities of following the Law perfectly.
However, when we listen and try our best to do, then our faith will be built on a rock that cannot be shaken. No matter what happens, no matter how scary, no matter how we mess up with our good intentions, hold firm and fast to the Rock of our Salvation. That’s what He’s there for.
