Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house , who dug down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When a flood came…. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.
Jesus asks a great question at the start – Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say? He knows that if someone calls him Lord, then that person should also be committed to the teachings of his Lord. It raises the question of motive – why are you calling me Lord at all?
I like that Jesus doesn’t say to them: “Stop calling me Lord!” Jesus rarely gave commands when the real issue was centred on someone’s choice of following. Following is always a choice. Jesus always invites, always entices, always demonstrates what life can be like, but never demands that someone follow.
Once someone decides to follow, then the instructions come. But, as in the story, the instructions and directions are spoken for our benefit.
Notice the three-step process Jesus mentions:
- Anyone who comes to me
- Hears my words
- Puts them into practice
Coming to Jesus is a crucial part of hearing his words. Too many people hear Jesus’ words through a 3rd party – that can be a helpful for people but sometimes the meaning, intent and relevance of the original words are lost in translation. We each need to come to Jesus to hear his words, to learn his heart, to understand his ways and to experience his nature.
Jesus invited people – all people – to come to him (Mt 11.28) and to seek his Kingdom (Mt 6.33).
The Father also promised that anyone who comes to him would find him, when we seek him with all our heart (Jer 29.13). The Bible even promises rewards to those who seek him (Hb 11.6).
The second part is hearing Jesus’ words. You might think that hearing Jesus’ words would be natural if we come to him, but this isn’t always the case. It often happens that someone comes to Jesus but spends the whole time doing all the talking. Sometimes we come with a heart so full of our own concerns and worries that we feel we need to ‘pray’ for these concerns. While praying is important we must also learn how to listen.
Jesus told us that Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth by speaking to us the things he hears from Jesus (Jn 16.13-14).
Jesus also said that his words are spirit and they are life (Jn 6.63) so rather than carrying the burdens of worry and stress, hearing Jesus’ words will bring life-giving perspective to the concerns of daily living.
The third part of Jesus’ lesson is to put into practice the words he has spoken. This can sometimes sound easier than it is. Jesus has provided a range of instructions in the Bible that are to guide us: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and Love your neighbour as yourself…; Give to everyone who asks of you…; Bless those who curse you…; Heal the sick…; Go, teach people what I’ve commanded you…; Love one another…
These are simple, but can be challenging as we learn how to pursue them. Yet, the challenge can never become an excuse for not putting them into practice – “Why do you call me Lord, but do not do what I say?”
The heart of the matter is that we are on a journey, the further we go, the more we learn. The deeper we walk in relationship with Jesus, the more we learn his heart, the way he speaks and, just as importantly, we learn how to hear. In this process of learning to listen a desire is formed in us to want to put his words into practice.