Parables

Wise and foolish builders

From the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 7, Verses 24-27

Therefore whoever hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers overflowed, the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it did not fall, because it was founded on the rock. Anyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers overflowed, the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and its ruin was great".

Matthew parable exegesis

With this parable, Jesus shows how important it is to put his teachings into practice: "Whoever hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers overflowed, the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it did not fall, because it was founded on the rock".

Here, with the words "rain", "rivers" and "winds", Christ metaphorically indicates the disasters and human tribulations, such as calumnies, pitfalls and traps of the wicked, different temptations, pain, death, loss of our loved ones, the insults of our enemies and all the other similar afflictions that can strike us during our existence on this earth.

The parable reported here then had an even deeper and more concrete meaning for the Jews of Palestine, who used to see their houses ruined by storms and the raging of streams: "The rain fell, the rivers overflowed, the winds blew and they fell on that house, and it fell, and its ruin was great". Jesus announces an irreparable ruin to all those who, despite having faith and performing miracles, do not put his teachings into practice.

The soul of the just does not shrink from any of these trials, because it is founded on the "rock". By "rock" Christ means the firmness and solidity of his teachings, which resist any adversity: they raise those who put them into practice above all the storms of this world. Those who observe these teachings faithfully will remain unattainable not only to the attacks of men, but also to the traps of demons. The Lord exhorts to virtue, not only with the promise of future realities, that is, remembering the Kingdom of Heaven, the ineffable rewards and consolations of which we will enjoy, but also showing the steadfastness and unshakable stability that virtue gives us in this life through the comparison of the rock.

Jesus does not teach how the Scribes and Pharisees did, who interpreted the law applying it to particular cases of life and often getting lost in frivolities, but he speaks as a legislator invested with every authority, completes and perfects the law by adding new precepts and, at the same time, threatening eternal death to transgressors and travisors. The quality, the solidity of the foundation on which the believers in Christ Jesus are called to support their life choices is therefore absolutely decisive. The more decisive the choice is, the more it cannot be carried out relying exclusively on one's own energies, but on a word of imperishable truth.

Life, indeed Life is a serious thing, and it is a unique opportunity (we live only one) to be able to base our actions and our beliefs on His word, not only because His word is effective and comes to the aid of our weaknesses, but above all because His word is the ultimate reason for our living. Amazing rock, which does not crumble even in the face of our more or less conscious yielding of love towards Him.

The wise and foolish builders - Lucas

From the Gospel of Luke Chapter 6, Verses 47-49

Whoever comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice, I will show you who he is like: he is like a man who, by building a house, has dug very deep and laid the foundations above the rock. When the flood came, the river broke into that house, but it couldn't move it because it was well built. Who instead listens and does not put into practice, is like a man who built a house on earth, without a foundation. The river hit it and immediately collapsed; and the ruin of that house was great".