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Verses 21-23, continue the teaching against false prophets that began in Matthew 7:12-20.
But here Jesus ups the ante. For the usual warnings about false appearances (crying "Lord, Lord") and false promises ("prophesying in your name") and judging by the results ("casting out demons in your name") are subjected to what is truly at the heart of Jesus message:
doing the will of my Father in heaven.
The emphasis on "doing" is then stressed in the following parable about the two foundations, one of sand and the other of rock.
Notice that the difference between the two foundations is NOT on HEARING these words of mine. The difference between the two foundations is ACTING / PRACTICING or not.
The challenge for those who preach and those who hear is to be doers of the word.
Aside: I've always thought that a corollary of the parable of the two foundations is:
Build your house of faith BEFORE the storm hits
The foundation of stone comes only through years of hearing and doing these words of Jesus. It is too late to trying building anything once the storm has started. (Don't believe me? Try carrying a sheet of plywood in a high wind.)
David Ewart,
www.davidewart.ca
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