Episode #221 | Matthew 7:24–27

What makes one person wise and another foolish?

Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with the familiar picture of two builders. The wise man hears Jesus' words and puts them into practice, building his house upon the rock. The foolish man hears the same words but does not practice them, building instead upon sand. When the storm comes, one house remains while the other falls with a great crash. 

In Episode #221 of the Way of the Bible podcast, we explore a deeper question behind Jesus' illustration: How does someone become wise?

Humanity has wrestled with questions of meaning, purpose, life, and death throughout recorded history. We have attempted to answer them through philosophy, human reason, mysticism, religion, and our own determination. Yet Scripture points us beyond ourselves.

There is only One Way, One Truth, and One Life.

Jesus prayed to His Father, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” The foundation of eternal life—and therefore of the wise builder—is knowing God through Jesus Christ. 

Paul makes this connection explicit in 1 Corinthians 3. By God's grace, Paul became a “wise builder,” laying the foundation of Jesus Christ. What believers subsequently build upon that foundation matters. Our works do not purchase salvation; salvation is God's free gift by grace through faith. But how we live after receiving that gift has eternal significance. 

Scripture repeatedly teaches that true wisdom belongs to God and is given by God.

God gave Solomon extraordinary wisdom and understanding. Proverbs tells us that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Daniel praised God because wisdom and power belong to Him. In the New Testament, Stephen spoke with wisdom given by the Holy Spirit, while Paul tells us that in Christ are hidden “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” 

Yet Solomon's life also provides a sobering warning.

The man to whom God gave extraordinary wisdom eventually allowed his heart to turn toward other gods. The consequences of Solomon's foolishness remained generations later. His story reminds us that receiving wisdom does not eliminate our need to continue walking faithfully with God. 

So where does that leave us?

James gives a wonderfully simple answer: If you lack wisdom, ask God.

And once God gives wisdom, walk in it.

The Christian life requires continually putting off the old self and being renewed in our minds. Rather than conforming ourselves to the pattern of this world, Paul calls us to transformation through the renewing of our minds so that we may discern God's good, pleasing, and perfect will. 

Being made wise, therefore, isn't merely about knowing more.

It is about knowing God, remaining in Christ, receiving wisdom from Him, and then putting His words into practice.

That is how we build upon the Rock.

Episode #220 – Stop Being Foolish!

Response to the Sermon on the Mount – Part 2 (Matthew 7:24–27)

How does a believer move from hearing Christ's words to faithfully living them?

Episode #220 of the Way of the Bible podcast continues our study of Jesus' illustration of the Wise and Foolish Builders by issuing a direct challenge to believers: Stop being foolish. Rather than focusing primarily on the unbelieving world, this episode examines Christ's warnings to His own church and calls every follower of Jesus to renewed faithfulness. 

The message begins by revisiting Jesus' conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24–27, where two builders hear the same words but respond differently. One builds upon the rock through obedient faith, while the other builds upon sand by refusing to put Christ's teaching into practice. This contrast provides the framework for the episode's central question: What does spiritual foolishness look like in the life of a believer? 

To answer that question, the discussion turns to Revelation 3 and Christ's letter to the church in Laodicea. Jesus describes believers who have become spiritually lukewarm—neither fully committed nor openly opposed to Him. They believe themselves to be rich and self-sufficient, yet Christ sees them as spiritually poor, blind, and in need of repentance. His rebuke is not intended to condemn but to restore those whom He loves. 

The episode also places this warning within the broader story of Scripture. From Genesis, where humanity's rebellion brought sin and death into the world, to Revelation, where God restores creation and dwells with His redeemed people, the Bible consistently calls God's people to trust Him, reject deception, and persevere in faithful obedience. The Christian life is not merely about entering heaven but about growing into the likeness of Christ through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. 

Drawing from 1 Corinthians 3, listeners are reminded that believers will one day give an account for how they have built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Paul urges Christians not to deceive themselves by adopting the wisdom of this world but to pursue the wisdom that comes from God. Spiritual maturity is measured not by knowledge alone but by lives increasingly marked by humility, holiness, and faithful service. 

The episode concludes with Christ's gracious invitation: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." His desire is not merely that believers avoid judgment but that they experience restored fellowship with Him, live as children of light, and prepare faithfully for His return. 

Ultimately, Episode #220 reminds us that the call to "stop being foolish" is not a message of despair but of hope. Jesus continues to seek, correct, restore, and strengthen those who belong to Him. The question before every believer is both simple and searching:

Will we continue building on the shifting sands of self-reliance, or will we once again build our lives upon the Rock who is Jesus Christ?

Episode #219 – Am I A Fool?

Response to the Sermon on the Mount – Part 2 (Matthew 7:24–27)

Who is the foolish builder Jesus describes in Matthew 7:24–27?

In Episode #219 of the Way of the Bible podcast, that question becomes deeply personal. Rather than examining the foolishness of the world, this episode asks every believer to look inward and honestly consider: "Am I acting foolishly?" 

Building upon the previous episodes in this mini-series, we are reminded that all humanity begins life separated from God. Scripture declares that every person is born into sin, spiritually foolish, and unable to rescue themselves. Yet the gospel proclaims God's incredible mercy. Through Jesus Christ, believers are saved, justified by grace, renewed by the Holy Spirit, and given the hope of eternal life. 

But salvation is not the end of the journey.

One of the central themes of this episode is that Christians can still act foolishly when they ignore God's Word or attempt to live according to the flesh rather than the Spirit. The Apostle Paul's correction of the Galatian believers demonstrates that even sincere followers of Christ can drift from walking by faith into relying upon themselves. 

The message then turns to Ephesians, where Paul calls believers to live as children of light. Instead of returning to old patterns of sin, Christians are encouraged to reject immorality, greed, deception, bitterness, and every form of darkness while pursuing gratitude, holiness, truth, and obedience. This is not presented as a way to earn salvation but as the natural outworking of a transformed life. 

The episode also highlights an often-overlooked truth in Paul's letter to the Ephesians: God's purpose extends beyond simply bringing people into heaven. Christ has given leaders to equip His people for works of service so that believers may grow into spiritual maturity and "the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Spiritual growth is the lifelong pursuit of increasing union with Christ through faithful obedience. 

Episode #219 concludes with an encouraging reminder: every Christian is capable of moments of foolishness, but through the Holy Spirit we are continually invited to walk wisely, practice what Christ has taught, and build our lives firmly upon the Rock.

The question remains before each of us:

Am I hearing Christ's words... and putting them into practice?

What does Jesus mean when He speaks of the foolish man who built his house upon the sand?

Episode #218 of the Way of the Bible podcast continues our study of Matthew 7:24–27 by examining one of the most sobering descriptions found anywhere in Scripture. While the previous episode explored the source of true wisdom, this message focuses on the opposite question: What makes a person spiritually foolish? 

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by presenting two builders. Both hear His words, both build houses, and both experience the same storm. The critical difference is not what they heard but what they did with what they heard. The wise man built upon the Rock by responding in obedient faith, while the foolish man rejected God's foundation and built upon sand. 

To understand this contrast, the episode traces a consistent theme throughout the Bible. Moses warned Israel against abandoning "the Rock" who had redeemed them. Joshua reminded the nation that God's promises are certain and that rejecting His covenant carries consequences. David declared, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God,'" revealing that foolishness begins not with ignorance but with a heart that refuses God's authority. 

The discussion then turns to Romans 1, where the Apostle Paul describes humanity's progression away from God. Although God's eternal power and divine nature are evident through creation, people exchange the truth for lies, worship created things rather than the Creator, and persist in rebellion. These choices illustrate the pattern of the foolish builder—a life established on self rather than on God. 

Yet this episode is not merely a warning. It is also a message of hope.

Paul reminds believers that every Christian was once spiritually foolish. Through the mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ, sinners are rescued from darkness, justified by grace, and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Becoming wise for salvation happens the moment a person trusts Christ, while growing in wisdom continues throughout a lifetime of discipleship and sanctification. 

The episode also emphasizes that Christians should remember their own past when interacting with those who remain spiritually blind. Rather than responding with pride or condemnation, believers are called to share the gospel with gentleness, respect, and compassion, always prepared to explain the hope found in Christ.

Ultimately, Jesus' illustration is about far more than two houses. It is about two eternal destinies. Every person is building upon some foundation. The question each of us must answer is simple yet profound:

Are we building our lives upon the Rock who is Jesus Christ, or upon the shifting sands of human wisdom and self-reliance?

Episode #218 invites listeners to examine that foundation carefully and to discover the lasting security found only in Christ.

Welcome to Episode #217 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our first of eight episodes in our Twenty-Eight mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount Part 2. In our last mini-series we addressed the first half of our passage, concerning the “Wise Man” who build his house on the Rock.  On this mini-series we are going to examine the “Foolish Man” who built his house on the sand. This first episode of this mini-series will be an overview of the topic, which will be expanded upon for the remainder of the mini-series. 

On our last two episodes of mini-series 27, our focus was on Who Chooses Whom? Does God choose us or do we choose God? While this question is often hidden from open conversation within Christendom, it is central to understanding our faith, the God who created us, and the Savior who redeemed us to become children of the living God. In the end you reach a conclusion that while the answer is conclusive certainty is always in question among believer as there is tension purposefully in the Bible.

On our Walk on the Beach episode, we saw the holographic picture of our faith more clearly. God sits outside of time and exists beyond anything he has ever created. Before creation itself, of anything seen or unseen, God was perfected in all aspects of his glorious existence. Nothing can be added to him, nor nothing taken away from him. The Bible begins with God creating the heavens and the earth. 

The heavens are not to be confused with the cosmos of sun, moon, and stars, which were created on the fourth day of the six days of creation (Genesis 1:14-19). The heavens are where the angelic beings dwell. So in the beginning we have a supernatural spiritual realm inhabited by angelic creatures who rule the heavens for an undisclosed period.  And we have the earth, a physical object suspended in infinite space in all directions. 

While God created the heavens and the earth and sustains all that he creates within the confines of himself, he is not the creation which is outside of himself. It sounds like a conundrum within a paradox yet it is far beyond even that of which we can conceive. And this is not just mumbo jumbo, the ramblings of an idiot, but exactly the state of all things. Our contemplation of God is helpful to understand our existence. I’m talking about me who is writing this and you who are hearing the words I record and upload for this podcast episode.

A.W. Tozer’s, The Knowledge of the Holy, is a great starter book into some of the mind-blowing attributes of God that make your head hurt just trying to comprehend them. More detailed and substantially life altering writings are found among authentic particle physicists, biologists, geneticists, cosmologists, and other scientific inquiry fields that have no skin in the game as to where the evidence leads. Scientific endeavors typically dead end not explaining what and how, but rather the answer lies beyond our limitations in our own space-time understanding of reality. 

Most simply, all things seen are the result of energy best explained as light that does not whose origin, original and sustaining power source are beyond our dimensionality. Some theorize we are simply a very complex holographic projection from another dimension.

Welcome to Episode #216 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our eighth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last episode, we heard Part 1 of 2 of a discussion on Who Choses Whom? On this walk on the beach epode we will present an overview of this mini-series and close it out with Part 2 of the Who Choses Whom discussion. We’re just going to jump right in, I think you’ll figure it out soon enough.

Good morning. It looks like we are it for our walk today. Or should I say rather “our run from our cars in the parking lot into the condo lobby.” I do want to say a special thank you to Jamey who knows the Hotel manager who was kind enough to rent us this nice conference room on short notice. We knew last night this front was going to coming through this morning, and that many of you were already here and others still on your way. So Jamey made a call, terms were agreed upon, and papers were signed. 

Once we booked the room, we immediately sent out text alerts, and called many others who did not respond to our change of venue message. Hopefully, everyone who was hoping to be on this walk has made it. Those who didn’t make it will have to listen to the podcast as all the rest who hear these episodes. I’m going to start, even though the coffee and Danish have just arrived. Tommy has agreed to offer a blessing before we serve ourselves. After his prayer, please make your way to the tables at your leisure as you will not distract me… Thank you Tommy, the tables of coffee and Danish are now ready for your enjoyment. I will add, speaking with a wireless mic and having a lecturn to stand behind is much easier than walking backward on the beach or speaking loudly to heard above the surf…

Speaking of being heard let’s read our passage for Mini-Series 27. Matthew 7:24-27 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

This is the seminal concluding statement of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. It may be the most written about and beloved of his sermons that is crafted to satisfying drastically different theological positions of both conservative and liberal churches. My approach has been to let the plain thing be the main thing, simply read the text as written and follow the text where may lead. 

In this mini-series we’ve been addressing the first half of this passage regarding the wise man (verses 24-25). We’ll cover the second half of this passage (Matthew 7:26-27) on our next mini-series concerning the foolish man who builds his house on the sand. 

Episode #215 — WHO CHOOSES WHO? | Matthew 7:24-27

One of the most profound questions in Christian theology is simple to ask but difficult to answer: Who chooses whom? Does mankind choose God, or does God first reveal Himself and draw people to salvation?

In Episode #215 of the Way of the Bible podcast, Dr. Philip Zimmerman continues the Response to the Sermon on the Mount mini-series by exploring this question through the words of Jesus and the larger story of Scripture.

Beginning with Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus describes the wise man as one who hears His words and puts them into practice, building his life upon the solid foundation of the Rock. From there, the episode expands beyond the immediate passage to examine God's eternal plan of redemption.

The discussion traces the biblical narrative from the rebellion of Lucifer before creation, humanity's fall in the Garden of Eden, and the entrance of sin and death into the world. Throughout the episode, listeners are reminded that the Bible is fundamentally God's story of redemption rather than mankind's story of self-discovery. God's purpose has always been to dwell eternally with His redeemed people in perfect fellowship.

The episode then focuses on the work of Jesus Christ as God's appointed Redeemer. Through His incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection, and ultimate victory over sin and death, Jesus accomplishes what fallen humanity could never accomplish on its own. Salvation is presented not merely as forgiveness of sins, but as reconciliation with God and entrance into eternal life.

The heart of the episode examines several key passages where Jesus speaks directly about salvation. Matthew 11 reveals that the Father hides spiritual truth from the proud while revealing it to the humble. John 6 teaches that no one comes to Christ unless the Father draws them. John 17 further explains that eternal life consists of knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

Rather than presenting these passages as isolated verses, the episode weaves them together into a unified biblical understanding of God's sovereign work in redemption. Listeners are encouraged to recognize both the necessity of God's initiative and the call for every person to hear the Gospel, repent, believe, and be born again through the Holy Spirit.

The episode concludes by returning to the hope found in John 3:16-18. God's purpose is not condemnation but salvation through His Son. Those who believe in Jesus receive eternal life and become part of God's eternal family.

Finally, Dr. Zimmerman leaves listeners with one more important question. If God chooses those who believe, then who are the "whoever believes" described throughout Scripture? That question becomes the focus of the next Walk on the Beach with DrZ episode, where the conversation continues.

Until then, remember:

Simply Believe God and Follow Jesus. 

Faith Comes from HEARING | Episode #214

In Episode #214 of the Way of the Bible podcast, we continue our study of Jesus' concluding illustration in the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the opening words of Matthew 7:24: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice...” The emphasis of this episode is on one crucial word: hears. 

Jesus teaches that hearing His words is the beginning of a life built upon a solid foundation. Yet throughout Scripture, we see that people can hear the same message and respond very differently. Why is that?

The episode explores the distinction between physical hearing and spiritual hearing. Physical hearing involves receiving sounds through our ears, but spiritual hearing involves the heart. Jesus repeatedly emphasized that understanding and responding to God's Word is ultimately a matter of the heart's condition. 

To illustrate this truth, we examine Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8. The seed is the Word of God, but the condition of the soil determines the outcome. Some hear and quickly lose the message. Others receive it temporarily but fall away under pressure. Some become distracted by life's worries and pleasures. Only the good soil receives, retains, and produces fruit. 

This leads to a deeper question: what makes a heart capable of receiving God's Word? Scripture answers through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Jeremiah describes the human heart as deceitful and beyond cure, while Ezekiel records God's promise to remove hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh. God promises to place His Spirit within His people, enabling them to follow His ways. 

The episode then connects these promises to the ministry of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God provides cleansing, renewal, and the gift of His Spirit, making genuine faith possible. 

Finally, we arrive at Romans 10:17: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Faith is not merely intellectual agreement. It is the response of a transformed heart that hears the Gospel, believes that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and responds in repentance and surrender. 

The episode concludes with a challenge. Jesus is still speaking through His Word today. Some hear and obey. Others hear and remain unchanged. The difference lies not in the message but in the condition of the heart. The question each listener must answer is simple:

Do I have ears to hear?

In Episode #213 of the Way of the Bible podcast, Dr. Philip Zimmerman continues the mini-series Response to the Sermon on the Mount by examining Jesus' teaching about the wise man who built his house upon the rock. The focus of this episode is what believers are called to do when the storms of life arrive: stand and stand firm. 

The discussion begins with Peter's famous encounter with Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee. After seeing Jesus on the water, Peter boldly asks to join Him. At Jesus' command, Peter steps out of the boat and walks across the waves. Yet after successfully reaching Jesus, Peter notices the wind, becomes afraid, and begins to sink.

This moment serves as a powerful picture of the Christian life. Many believers begin their journey with enthusiasm and faith. They experience God's power and guidance. Yet when challenges, opposition, doubts, or distractions arise, their focus shifts from Christ to circumstances.

The episode emphasizes that Peter's problem was not the wind or the waves. The issue was doubt. His attention moved from Jesus to the storm.

Drawing from numerous passages throughout Scripture, the episode demonstrates that God consistently calls His people to stand firm. Moses instructed Israel to stand firm before the Red Sea. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were told to stand firm and watch God fight on their behalf. The Apostle Paul repeatedly urged believers to stand firm in faith, freedom, grace, and truth.

A major theme of the episode is spiritual warfare. Jesus prepared His disciples not merely for ministry success but for opposition. As believers mature in Christ and become more effective witnesses, they often encounter resistance from spiritual forces seeking to distract, discourage, and derail them.

The solution is not retreat. It is steadfastness.

The episode highlights Ephesians 6 and the armor of God, reminding listeners that they are engaged in a spiritual battle. Believers are called to put on truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God so they can withstand attacks and remain standing.

The message concludes by challenging listeners to consider where Jesus may be calling them to step out of the boat. Faith is not simply believing Jesus can do the impossible. Faith is continuing to trust Him after the first step has been taken.

The call of Christ is clear: hear His words, obey them, keep your eyes fixed on Him, and stand firm regardless of the storms that arise.

For those who build their lives upon the Rock, the rain may fall, the streams may rise, and the winds may beat against the house—but it will not fall, because it has been founded upon Jesus Christ. 

Welcome to Episode #212 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last episode, we discussed the Rain, Streams, and Wind, Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:25; which beat against the house built on the Rock. We ended the episode, hanging, as we observed the consequences of Peter doubting. We’ll pick up where we left off and keep going deeper. 

As a sidebar before we do that, let me encourage all believers to dig deep into any text in the Bible, and you will discover its inexhaustibility. We are admittedly picking at the surface here, but even at the surface, a myriad of encouragements pop up to give us confidence and renewed hope in the faith we hold in the return of Jesus Christ. What is that? Is the return of Jesus Christ not what you are hoping for? We’ve still got work to do, and this is just the place to do it.

Let’s hear the full text under consideration for this mini-series: Matthew 7:24-27 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

I made the case on our last episode that Jesus was possibly harkening back to the flood of Noah as the reference when contemplating the severity of rain, streams rising, and winds that would come against one’s house. I made the case two episodes ago that the house Jesus was referring to was not a physical man-made structure, but the house God created in our mother’s womb (our bodies), into which God put an individual spirit he’s known since before the creation of the world. Paul says that within us is a temple of God, and Peter calls it a spiritual house, where the Holy Spirit is the resident. What that temple or house is, soul, heart, etc. is a topic for another episode. Let’s just agree that the Holy Spirit is resident in us and is our source of eternal life given to us by our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.

On our last episode, I presented God’s grievous state for making man. As a result of the wickedness of mankind, God sent a flood to destroy all living creatures on the face of the earth. Genesis 6:8-9 – But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 

There was an earlier prophet, Enoch, who also walked with God, Gen. 5:24 – Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. God didn’t translate Noah, as he did Enoch, to be with him, as God had other plans. 

It had never rained on the earth or flooded from the upwelling artesian waters that provided ample water for humans, animals, trees and crops alike. So what exactly happened? For that we go to the Scriptures.