Luke 6:47

Every one that cometh unto me, and heareth my words, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock: and when a flood arose, the stream brake against that house, and could not shake it; because it had been well builded. But he that heareth and doeth not, is like a man, that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream brake, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of the house was great.

This is similar to the paragraph that concludes the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew; but, even so, there are marked differences, due to the variation in Jesus' words from time to time and place to place. Both accounts are fully true and accurate.

My words ... This is the key to the paragraph. People who build upon Jesus' words build upon the solid rock; people who build upon anything else are doomed to disappointment. The word of Christ alone is the constitution of the church, the ground of eternal hope, the guide of faith, the source of redemption, and the true wisdom of God. All else is shifting sand. An infinite sadness follows the contemplation of religious precepts and traditions which have been incorporated into the historical church, traditions and doctrines which are no part of the Saviour's teaching, being contrary to it and refuted by it. If men indeed hope to receive eternal life, they must receive it of Christ and upon the terms laid down by him. Further detailed comment on this paragraph is found in my Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 7:24-29; 28:18-20.