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:
Ver. 24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, &c.] Here we have the conclusion of this, if not first, yet certainly fullest, of our Saviour's sermons; for matter most heavenly, and for order more than methodical. Most men think, if they sit out a sermon, it is sufficient; when the preacher hath once done they are done too. Away they go, and (for any practice) they leave the word where they found it, or depart sorrowful, as he in the Gospel, that Christ requireth such things as they are not willing to perform. Our Saviour had four sorts of hearers and but one good, that brought forth fruit with patience. When St Paul preached at Athens some mocked, others doubted, a few believed, Acts 17:32, but no church was founded there as at other places, because "Christ crucified" was preached, "unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and to those Greeks foolishness;" while the Jews required a sign, and the Greeks sought after wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:22,23. But what saith the prophet? "Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them?" Jeremiah 8:9. He is a wise builder, a wise servant, a wise virgin, a wise merchant (if our Saviour may be judge), that heareth these sayings of his, and doeth them. "And behold" (saith Moses), "I have taught you statutes and judgments: keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom," &c. "A good understanding have all they that do thereafter,"Deuteronomy 4:6; Psalms 111:10. David hereby became wiser than his teachers, ancients, enemies; and Paul counted it his chief policy to keep a good conscience void of offence toward God and men (πεπολιτευμαι), Acts 23:1, which cannot be until it may be said of a man, as Shaphan said of Josiah's workmen, "All that was given in charge to thy servants, they do it," 2 Chronicles 34:16. For not the hearers of the law, but the doers shall be justified, saith Paul, Romans 2:12; shall be blessed, saith our Saviour often, Luke 11:28; John 13:17; shall be made thereby the friends of Christ, John 15:14, the kindred of Christ, Matthew 12:50; the glory of Christ, a royal diadem in the hand of Jehovah; yea, such as have the honour to set the crown royal upon Christ's head in the day of his espousals,2 Corinthians 8:23; Isaiah 62:3; Song of Solomon 3:11; "Be ye therefore doers of the word," saith St James, "and not hearers only," deceiving, or putting paralogisms (παραλογιζομενοι), James 1:22, tricks and fallacies (sophistry like) upon your own souls. They that place religion in hearing, and go no further, will prove egregious and outstanding fools in the end. Which to prevent, look intently and accurately (παρακυψας), saith that apostle, stoop down, and pry heedfully into the "perfect law of liberty" (as the cherubims did into the propitiatory, as the angels do into the mystery of Christ, as the disciples did into the sepulchre of Christ, 1 Peter 1:12; Joh 20:5), "and continue therein," till ye be transformed thereinto; "not being forgetful hearers, but doers of the work:" so shall ye "be blessed in the deed." It is not enough to hear, "but take heed how you hear." Bring with you the loan of your former hearing. "For to him that hath shall be given, and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you." As ye measure to God in preparation and practice, he will measure to you in success and blessing: and every time that you hear, God will come to you in "the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of" peace, Romans 15:29. See that ye shift not off (παραιτησησθε) him that speaketh, Hebrews 12:25. Veniat, veniat verbum Domini, et submittemus illi, sexcenta si nobis essent colla, saith a notable Dutch divine: Let God speak, and we will yield, though it were to the loss of a thousand lives. The Macedonians delivered themselves up to God, and the Romans to the form of doctrine that was delivered unto them, 2 Corinthians 8:7; Romans 6:17; they took impression from it, as the metal doth from the mould, or as the wax doth from the seal. David lifted up his hands to God's commandments,Psalms 119:48, he did "all the wills of God," Acts 13:35, who had set him both his time and his task. He sets all his servants a work, and requireth their pains. Hosea 10:11, Ephraim was a heifer used to dance and delight in the soft straw, and could not abide to plough, but the Lord will make him both bear and draw. Religion is not a name, saith one (Mr Harris at Paul's Cross), goodness a word; it is active like fire, communicative like light. As the life of things stand in goodness, so the life of goodness in action. The chiefest goods are most active, the best good a mere act. And the more good we do, the more God-like and excellent we be, and the better provided against a rainy day.
Which built his house upon a rock] This rock is Christ; and conscionable hearers are living stones built upon him, Eph 2:20; 1 Peter 2:5. The conies are a people weak and wise, saith Solomon, Proverbs 30:26; and their wisdom herein appears, they work themselves holes and burrows in the bosom of the earth, in the roots of the rocks. Learn we to do the like, and be sure to dig deep enough (as St Luke hath it); which while the stony ground hearers did not, their blade was scorched up, and came to nothing,Luke 6:49. (Exoriuntur, sed exuruntur.) Some flashing joy they had upon the hearing of the word, and many meltings (according to the nature of the doctrine delivered); but these sudden affections, being not well bottomed, nor having principles to maintain them, they were but like conduits running with wine at the coronation, or like a land flood, that seems to be a great sea, but is soon gone again.