The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum What is your understanding of this passage?

It may not be important to you, but it is rather important to me and that's why I asked the question.Therefore, I will ask again who the author is.

Although it is certainly true that the 'doers of the Word and not the hearers of the Word' shall be saved (Matt 12:50; Lk 11:28; Rom 2:13; Jam 1:22-25; 1Jh 2:3). The point Jesus' parable here of the two builders is something far more important. The parable contrasts two builders which is typical of the teachings of Christ, i.e., dividing the world into two groups and two groups only (cf. 6:22,23; 7:13,14; 7:17,18; 10:39; 13:11,12,14-16,19-23; 24:30,36-42,47-50; 22:1014; 25:2). Both of these men build houses, which for all intents and purposes look much the same. They use the same materials, put as much effort into constructing them, etc. But the main and critical difference is the foundation upon which they build these houses. The wise (sensible) man built his house upon rock. The foolish man built his house upon sand or gravely ground. The wise man listens to the words of his Lord and then out of a heart of gratitude in response to the salvation given him, puts them into practice. The foolish man, in sheer contrast, heeds not to the words of God but rather listens only to his own voice out of self interest and thinks little of the future. Consequently, when the tests of life come, the foolish man's house is destroyed. However, these earthly tests are but shadows of the great 'test' which is to come; the Final Judgment wherein the wise man is received by God because he is grounded upon the Rock, i.e., Christ and the wise man is rejected because he is without Christ.

Thus, the parable's main thrust isn't upon doing the Word but rather upon being united with the Word, i.e., the Logos; the Lord Christ. The doing of the Word is not an injunction to do but an indicative of what is. The wise are those who have been embraced by Christ and THEREFORE conduct their lives in loving submission to His will.

Originally Posted by Wayne@purpose

Also consider Eph 6:5-6 which says: “Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” ASV

In this case, would it not be biblical to conclude the heart is the place where we “know” God’s will and would not knowing God’s will come before “doing” God’s will here?

Sorry, but I don't see that as what this passage is saying, i.e., "[i]the heart is the place where we 'know' God's will...". Paul is setting for the motive behind one's obedience; superficially vs. lovingly (cp. Deut 6:5; 30:20; Matt 22:37; Mk 12:30 and Col 3:22).

I agree with the principle truth that one must know the will of God before one can do the will of God. (cf. Col 1:9,10)

Sorry, but I simply do not find the phrase "become God's will" anywhere in Scripture. This is one of the reasons for my asking who the author was, i.e., whether this is an idea that you have created or whether this is something someone else has been preaching/teaching or written in a book.

What I do read in Scripture is that true believers become "holy" (Eph 1:4; 2:10; 1Thess 4:7; Heb 12:10), "conformed to the image of Christ" (Rom 8:29; 13:14; 2Cor 3:18; Col 3:10) and "partakers of the divine nature of Christ" (2Pet 1:4; Jh 1:12; Eph 4:23-24; 1Jh 3:2). In short, we are not becoming God's will but like Christ who is the effulgence of His, God's glory (Jh 1:14; Heb 1:3).

The wise man who built the house upon rock (Christ) is not subject to destruction, either those typological tests in this life but especially the just judgment of God on that last day. It is the foundation that upholds the house and not the materials or design of the house in and of themselves. The passage says nothing of the house (builder) becoming anything, especially "the will of God".