Hearing and Doing the Words of Jesus

The last words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount are found in Matthew 7:24-27.

There are 2 simple questions that these final words lead us to:
1. Are you hearing Christ’s Words? Have you heard Christ’s words? Are you listening?

2. Are you doing Christ’s Words? What have you done and what are you doing with them?

The will of the Father (Matthew 7:21) comes into clear focus now: defined by Jesus words, it is what Jesus calls these words of Mine. We are to abide in Christ’s words, stake our lives upon them, dwell in them, let them dwell in us, base our every decision upon them.

One issue for many today is that they do not know Jesus’ words and they do not know the teachings of the church to which we belong. What happens then is worse, they guess or assume about the content of Jesus’ teachings and the teachings of their church! You need to know God’s Word and what your church believes and teaches regarding it. You have a Bible. Check out your church's statement of faith.

This knowledge and practice or lack thereof affects present and future generations. Parents have the privilege and responsibility of teaching their children the Bible. A high calling from God, one that God takes seriously. But we cannot pass on what we ourselves do not have; we cannot teach what we ourselves do not believe and sincerely desire and try to live.

I believe there is a tie-in to what Jesus said in John 14. In My Father’s house (oikos) there are many rooms/dwelling places (mone, from meno, abide). John 14:2 mone – means 'dwelling places', 'rooms' – John 14:23 says If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home/abode (mone) with him. In John 15:4 the greek word is once again meno – abide - we are to abide in Christ. He wants us to abide, remain, dwell, in His teaching. God has and is building a house His household. The household of faith, the house of God – Christ’s Church, which consists of all who dwell in Him (and His Word) because He dwells in them.

God wants us to hear and do what He says. The Sermon on the Mount is full of grace. Yes, God is holy and requires His people to be holy. What He requires He provides the strength to be and do. Like in Christ, He has graciously provided atonement for sin, payment for our sin in the person of Jesus Christ who came as our substitute, dying our death on the cross as He shed His blood. May He give us grace to both hear and obey.