Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine
The comparison in this, and the following verses, is the
concluding part of our Lord's discourses upon the mount, which
are meant by these sayings, or doctrines, he here speaks of; and
as he had in some foregoing verses chiefly respect to preachers,
so here, to hearers, his disciples and followers in general. The
subject of this comparison, in ( Luke 6:47 ) is,
"whosoever cometh unto me"; as all that are given to Christ by
the Father will do, sooner or later: such whom he encourages to
come to him, are they that labour and are heavy laden; and they
that come aright, come as poor perishing sinners; they believe in
him, give up themselves to him, to be saved by him with an
everlasting salvation; all which is owing to efficacious grace.
These hear his sayings, as doctrines, not merely externally, but
internally, having ears to hear given unto them, so as to
understand them, love them, believe them, feel the power, taste
the sweetness, and have a delightful relish of them; and such an
one hears them,
and doth them:
he is not only an hearer, but a doer of the word of the Gospel;
the doctrines of it he receives in the love of them, and
exercises faith on them; upon Christ, his grace and righteousness
held forth in them, which is the great work and business of a
Christian, he is to do, and does do in this life: the ordinances
of it he cheerfully obeys; and all the duties of religion he
performs from love to Christ, without any view to obtain eternal
life hereby, which he only expects from Christ, as his sayings
and doctrines direct him. The comparison follows,
I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon
a rock.
Luke says, "he is like a man which built an house, and digged
deep, and laid the foundation a rock". Every believer is a
builder; the house he builds, is his own soul, and the salvation
of it; in order to which he digs deep, till he comes to a rock,
to a good foundation; he searches diligently into the Scriptures
of truth; he constantly attends the ministry of the word; he
inquires of Gospel preachers, and other saints, the way of
salvation; which having found, he lays the whole stress of his
salvation on the rock of ages, which rock is Christ: he makes him
the foundation of all his hopes of eternal life and happiness;
which is the foundation God has laid in Zion; and which has been
laid ministerially by the prophets of the Old, and the apostles
of the New Testament; and by believers themselves, when they
build their faith and hope upon it. This foundation, the person,
blood, and righteousness of Christ, is as a rock, firm and
strong, will bear the whole weight that is laid upon it; it is
sure and certain, it will never give way; it is immoveable and
everlasting; the house built upon it stands safe and sure.