“These Words of Mine” – What Does Matthew 7:24 Mean?

Children and teenagers sometimes hear things that are not true. “If it doesn’t hurt anyone, do it.” “If you don’t get caught, it’s not really wrong.” “If you don’t get a lot of ‘likes,’ you’re not cool.”

If one of my kids repeats some bad advice they’ve picked up, I usually say, “Did Daddy tell you that?” Because no, Daddy would never tell them to do something dangerous, crazy, or foolish.

I want them to know Daddy is wise. Daddy loves you. You can trust what Daddy says more than what you read on a thread somewhere.

Which brings me to this:

Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24)

Seems simple, right? Do what Jesus said and you’ll be safe as houses. You’ll be eternally secure and you’ll stand when the storms come.

Only it’s not simple, because people can’t agree on what Jesus said.

The words of Moses and the words of Jesus

What did Jesus say? What are “these words of mine”? Your answer to that question depends on which covenant you are under.

If you were a Jew listening to Jesus preach the Sermon on the Mount, you might think “these words of mine” are the Sermon on the Mount. Which is to say, “these words” are the laws that Jesus has just outlined. For example:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27–28)

Here we have the words of Moses (“You have heard it said”) followed by the words of Jesus (“But I say to you”). If you were Jewish, you would have no doubt that Jesus was preaching a harsh, new law. Indeed, you would be shocked because no scribe or rabbi would dare add his own words to the law. But Jesus did.

If you were a Jew living in Biblical times, you would be wise to obey Jesus words. Why? Because you would soon realize that no one can keep the law that Jesus preached. If you tried, you would fail and then you would realize your need for grace.

Sadly, some people today think that the Sermon on the Mount was written for them. They insist, “We must do everything Jesus said to qualify for the kingdom.” To which Jesus responds:

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

Anyone who makes an honest effort to live by the law will be brought low by this verse. You may keep the law better than most, but I guarantee you that you’re not in the same league as Sam the Scribe or Phil the Pharisee. These guys were pros!

But the good news is that we do not live under the Law of Moses. We live under grace.

What are the words of Jesus?

“These words of mine” are not referring to the whole sermon Jesus preached, but the words he has just spoken:

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matthew 7:21)

When Jesus says “do these words of mine” he’s saying “do the will of my Father.” That’s the context. Verse 24 comes right after verses 21, 22 and 23 where Jesus is talking about people who didn’t do his Father’s will.

Do you see? Jesus is not talking about the words of Moses or keeping the law. He is saying those who don’t do his Father’s will are going to be sent away.

And what is the Father’s will? It is that we believe in the Son he sent:

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:40)

Indeed, this is not just the will of God, it is also the command of God:

This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ… (1 John 3:23)

Many believers are hearing two messages. They hear they are saved by grace, but they also hear “You must obey everything Jesus said.” Since Jesus sometimes preached law to those who lived under the law, the result is confusion and insecurity. 🤔

Jesus does not give us a long list of requirements for entering the kingdom. Instead, he calls us to repent and believe the good news that he is the Son sent from the Father to save us.

The world is full of lies, but Jesus speaks a truth you can stand on.

If you are trusting in him, you can have confidence that you will stand when the storms come. And if you are resting in his righteousness, you can be assured that your righteousness far surpasses the DIY righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

And if someone says “you must do what Jesus commanded,” you can reply, “The will and command of God is that we believe in his Son.”

Period. The end. Amen.

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Read this verse in context on the Grace Commentary, your free verse-by-verse study guide.

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