The rock and the flood

At the climax of his sermon, Christ presses home the importance of a proper union between how we appear and who we are. He describes those who are coming to him either as those who hear and do, or as those who hear but do not do.

Two figures are used to describe them.

The first - coming, hearing, doing - is like someone who digs deeps to build his house upon a rock. In the time of testing, his house stands firm.

The second - coming, hearing, but not doing - is like someone who builds their house, perhaps quickly and attractively, but without any foundation. In the time of testing, this house falls, and great is its ruin.

Thus Christ establishes the nature of the true and healthy disciple: one who hears and obeys the Lord Jesus.