Luke 6:48

48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

Luke 6:48 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 6:48

He is like a man which built an house
That is, intended to build one, having drawn the scheme of it in his mind, and provided materials, and fixed upon the spot of ground:

and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock;
that is, he dug deep in the earth, till he came at a rock, and there, and then, he laid the foundation of his house; in which he acted the part of a wise man, as he is called in Matthew: so a sensible sinner, desirous of building his soul, and the salvation of it, on a sure bottom, digs deep into the Scriptures, diligently searches them, till he finds out the scheme of salvation by Christ; which lies deep in God's counsel and covenant, was ordained before the world began, and was hid in God till revealed in the Gospel: and finding Christ to be the rock of ages, in whom is everlasting strength, and the foundation which God has laid, nor is there another; he makes use of him as such, and builds the hope of his eternal salvation on him:

and when the flood arose;
an inundation, a multitude of waters, the swelling of the sea; or rather "when it was tide", as the word here used signifies F11:

the stream beat vehemently upon the house;
or the river, up which the tide came, dashed and broke against it; by which may be signified the temptations of Satan, the persecutions of the world, the corruptions of men's hearts, and the errors and heresies of false teachers:

and could not shake it;
as none of these can so shake as to move a soul, thus built on Christ, off of him the foundation:

for it was founded upon a rock;
(See Gill on Matthew 7:24). (See Gill on Matthew 7:25).


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Vid. Rivinum de Venilia Salacia p. 681, 632.

Luke 6:48 In-Context

46 "Why do you call me "Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?
47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.
48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Other ancient authorities read [founded upon the rock]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.