Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7:24-29
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Matt.7.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ουν: PART
- οστις: PRON,nom,sg,3
- ακουει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- λογους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τουτους: DEM,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ποιει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ομοιωθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- ανδρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- φρονιμω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- οστις: PRON,nom,sg,3
- ωκοδομησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οικιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πετραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 6:47-49 (verbal): Luke records the same teaching about the wise builder and building on rock, closely paralleling Matthew's wording and imagery.
- Matthew 7:26-27 (structural): The immediate contrast passage within Matthew (the foolish builder on sand) completes the parable's structure and reinforces the lesson about foundations.
- Matthew 16:18 (thematic): Jesus' declaration that he will build his church 'on this rock' uses the same rock-foundation metaphor to describe a secure, divinely founded community.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11 (thematic): Paul's assertion that no other foundation can be laid than Jesus Christ echoes the foundation imagery—emphasizing Christ as the proper basis for spiritual construction.
Alternative generated candidates
- Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
- Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matt.7.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- κατεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- βροχη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ποταμοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επνευσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ανεμοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- προσεπεσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οικια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εκεινη: DEM,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- επεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τεθεμελιωτο: PART,perf,pass,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πετραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 6:48-49 (verbal): Direct synoptic parallel: Luke records the same parable of the house built on a rock that withstands rain, floods, and winds, using language closely matching Matthew's account.
- Matt.7:24 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within the Sermon on the Mount: verse 24 presents the same contrast (wise man who hears and does) and sets up verse 25's image of the house founded on the rock.
- Matt.16:18 (thematic): The 'rock' foundation theme: Jesus declares he will build his church on a rock that will endure against opposition, echoing the idea of a secure, lasting foundation in Matthew 7:25.
- Isaiah 28:16 (allusion): Old Testament foundation imagery: Isaiah's 'tested stone, a precious cornerstone' provides a background for NT images of a sure foundation and is later applied to Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11 (thematic): New Testament theological parallel: Paul asserts that no other foundation can be laid than Jesus Christ, connecting the metaphor of building and foundation to Christ as the enduring basis of the community of faith.
Alternative generated candidates
- The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
- The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Matt.7.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ακουων: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- λογους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τουτους: DEM,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ομοιωθησεται: VERB,fut,pas,ind,3,sg
- ανδρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μωρω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- οστις: PRON,nom,sg,3
- ωκοδομησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οικιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αμμον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matt.7.24 (verbal): Immediate parallel contrast in the same passage: the wise man who hears Jesus' words and does them built his house on the rock (direct verbal and structural antithesis).
- Luke 6:49 (verbal): Lukan version of the same saying about the foolish man building on sand—close verbal and narrative parallel to Matthew's parable of the two builders.
- 1 Cor.3:11-15 (thematic): Paul uses the building/foundation metaphor (Christ as the only foundation) and assesses different materials and judgment by fire—develops the same theme of right construction and ultimate collapse.
- Ps.11:3 (allusion): The imagery of collapsing foundations ('If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?') echoes the metaphor of a house ruined when built on unstable ground.
- Isa.28:16 (thematic): Isaiah's image of a tested/cornerstone laid by God and the security of trusting it contrasts with insecure foundations—provides an Old Testament background for foundation imagery in Jesus' saying.
Alternative generated candidates
- And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
- And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Matt.7.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- κατεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- βροχη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ποταμοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επνευσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ανεμοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- προσεκοψαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οικια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εκεινη: DEM,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- επεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πτωσις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- μεγαλη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 6:49 (verbal): Nearly identical account in Luke's parallel of the Sermon on the Plain — house collapses when storms come, matching Matthew's imagery and wording.
- Matthew 7:25 (structural): Direct structural contrast within the same parable: the house built on the rock 'stood' when the rains and winds came, opposite outcome to 7:27.
- Matthew 7:26 (thematic): Immediate thematic counterpart describing the foolish man who hears but does not act — sets up the collapse described in 7:27.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (thematic): Paul uses foundation/building imagery and a testing of works (though by fire) to evaluate constructions on the one foundation (Christ), echoing the theme of tested foundations and ruinous failure.
- Psalm 11:3 (allusion): Old Testament metaphor about 'foundations' being destroyed asks what the righteous can do — resonates with the image of a failed foundation and great collapse in Matthew 7:27.
Alternative generated candidates
- The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and struck that house; and it fell—and great was the fall of it.
- The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and struck that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.
Matt.7.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- οτε: CONJ
- ετελεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- λογους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τουτους: DEM,acc,pl,m
- εξεπλησσοντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- οχλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- διδαχη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου·: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matt.7.29 (structural): Immediate continuation — explains the crowd’s reaction here by stating Jesus taught with authority ('ὡς ἔχων ἐξουσίαν'), forming a two-verse unit closing the Sermon on the Mount.
- Mark 1:22 (verbal): Crowd's astonishment at Jesus’ teaching ('ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ') and comment that he taught with authority, a near verbal parallel to Matthew’s report.
- Luke 4:32 (verbal): People were astonished at Jesus’ teaching ('ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ'); Luke likewise links astonishment with the power/authority of his word.
- Mark 6:2 (thematic): Neighbors astonished at Jesus’ wisdom and mighty works when he taught in Nazareth — similar crowd reaction to Jesus’ instruction and authority.
- John 7:46 (thematic): Temple guards report, 'Never man spake like this man' — a different wording but the same theme of astonishment and uniqueness of Jesus’ teaching.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
- When Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
Matt.7.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- διδασκων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ουχ: PART
- ως: ADV
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- γραμματεις: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
Parallels
- Mark 1:22 (verbal): Close verbal parallel: people are astonished because Jesus taught 'as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.'
- Luke 4:32 (verbal): Parallel description of Jesus' teaching in the synagogue—'his words were with authority'—emphasizing the same authoritative manner of speech.
- John 7:46 (allusion): Crowd's reaction—'Never did a man speak like this man'—underscores the distinctiveness and perceived authority of Jesus' teaching.
- Matthew 28:18 (thematic): Jesus' explicit claim of universal authority ('All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me'), providing a theological grounding for his authoritative teaching.
Alternative generated candidates
- for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
- for he taught them as one having authority, and not like their scribes.
Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was the fall of it.
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching.
For he taught them as one who had authority, and not like their scribes.