Willmington, Harold

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Liberty UniversityDigitalCommons@LibertyUniversityThe Second Person File Theological Studies3-2018The Parables of Jesus Christ: The Solid Rock Versusthe Shifting SandHarold WillmingtonLiberty University, hwillmington@liberty.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/second_personPart of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons,and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion CommonsThis The Parables of Jesus Christ is brought to you for free and open access by the Theological Studies at DigitalCommons@Liberty University. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in The Second Person File by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Liberty University. For more information,please contact scholarlycommunication@liberty.edu.Recommended CitationWillmington, Harold, "The Parables of Jesus Christ: The Solid Rock Versus the Shifting Sand" (2018). The Second Person File. 192.http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/second_person/1921  THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST  PARABLE FIVE: The Solid Rock Versus the Shifting Sand (Mt. 7:24-27; Lk. 6:46-49)  SURVEY The house which is built on a rock will survive all storms, but the one built on sand will soon utterly fall.  SIGNIFICANCE  This is the last parable Jesus told during His Sermon on the Mount.  It is the first of two occasions where He refers to Himself as a Rock.    "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." (Mt. 7:24) "Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." (Mt. 16:12)  SPIRITUAL TRUTHS  In essence this parable is but an extension of the first Psalm. One was wise, the other foolish. Thus: 1. The wise man described "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psa. 1:1-3) 2. The foolish man described "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." (Psa. 1:4-6)  The New Testament epistles have much to say regarding Jesus as the Rock. 1. He is the smitten Rock to all who will drink (Exod. 17:6; 1 Cor. 10:4; Jn. 4:13-14; 7:37-39). 2  2. He is the precious Stone to all who have drunk (1 Pet. 2:3, 7). 3. He is the chief Cornerstone to the Church (Eph. 2:20). 4. He is the stumbling Stone to the Jews at His first coming (Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Cor. 1:23). 5. He is the Headstone of the corner to the Jews at His second coming (Zech. 4:7). 6. He is the smiting Stone cut without hands to Gentile world powers at His second coming (Dan. 2:34). 7. He is the crushing Stone of judgment to all unbelievers (Mt. 21:44).  Peter says (1 Pet. 2:4) this great Stone was "disallowed" by Israel. This word means "to put to a test and then repudiate". After examining Christ for thirty-four years, Israel rejected Him. He simply was not what they were looking for in a Messiah. Note, furthermore, the apostle's statement in 2:6:  "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone."  Certainly here is the fulfillment of Christ's promise in Matt. 16:16, 18. Peter was not that foundation—Christ was. Finally (see 2:5), all believers are "lively stones, built up (into) a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (See also Rev. 1:6.)     

The Parables of Jesus Christ: The Solid Rock Versus the Shifting Sand

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The Parables of Jesus Christ: The Solid Rock Versus the Shifting Sand

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