( Sermon Matthew 7:24-27 ) [ Predigt ] [ Abkündigungen336.51 KB ]
They came in droves to that mountain on the edge of the Sea of Galilee to listen to Jesus. I would have loved to have been there and seen Jesus. He must have been a very charismatic man. Many were fascinated by him. But others were appalled by his teaching. For or against Jesus, either way, he spoke clear words.
It also says in today's sermon text from Matt Chapter 7: Jesus taught them with authority and not like their scribes. Jesus was different from any teacher they knew. What he said either penetrated the heart through the hard shell built up for protection or it did not touch at all. Instead of only conveying the law, Jesus was able to clarify the deeper meaning of God's word, and he lived by it.
The art is to understand the difference between the literal and the figurative meaning of the words of the Bible. Instead of reciting texts from the Bible by heart and blindly following them, we need to examine these words in depth, what they meant in the past and how they relate to our lives today, and above all, to understand the love they convey. Because God is love. And my actions are measured against this. Always!
Jesus practiced what he preached and expected others to do the same, then and now. That will always be a challenge for us.
Jesus had reached the end of his most famous speech, the Sermon on the Mount. He ends like this.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Dear Congregation, after the past few weeks, these words have a different meaning for me. Immediately I see the images of devastation and despair after the flood disasters in some parts of Germany. And I see the houses on the slopes plunging into the raging water and bridges and streets simply collapsing, I sense what water can do. People are left with nothing. They mourn their dead and their missing. On the one side people who have lost all hope, on the other great willingness to help and many signs of gratitude. Little rays of light in all the darkness. Signs of solidarity.
It remains to be seen whether this catastrophe, or the forest fires, heat and drought elsewhere, will lead to rethinking climate policies. Scientists have been warning against exploiting nature, doing business as usual for years.
It is clear: The image Jesus makes use of, building a house, is very fitting in the present time. It has not lost its relevance. Houses are at risk. My own too. And everyone’s around the world. Because the world is out of control. This is how many, full of worry, feel when I speak to them. The world is built on sand! Even quicksand. Corona rages and does not let go of us. We mourn friends and family members. And there is also disagreement in families about vaccinations and protecting ourselves and others, the unrest in South Africa a few weeks ago and all the hardship that has only increased for many as a result. Many have lost hope regarding the politics of this country. And in many places in the world wars, fear and terror reign, and many are fleeing from places unworthy of living in.
It is obviously difficult for us humans to make the world a place worth living in for everyone (humans and animals). But it is a basic need to have a place where one can live and live safely. Or am I wrong?
How can we give security and stability to our ever-threatened life?
Jesus says clearly and unequivocally: Listen to what I tell you and adjust your life accordingly. In everything you do, keep God's will in mind and trust it. He will give you the strength you need if you want to live according to his will. "
And to underpin the seriousness of his words, he then tells the parable of these two men from our sermon text, one clever, the other foolish. We notice one person chose the good, rocky ground for his house, the other the bad, sandy one. From the outside, you can't tell the difference between the two houses.
But when storms and floods come, a house built on rock will be safer than a house built on sand. It depends, says Jesus, on the foundation. If the house is built on solid ground, it will be able to withstand the storm. Jesus should know, he was a carpenter.
But his comparison goes deeper. Because he means our “house of life” and asks what foundation we are building it on. What supports you in life and in death? What gives you security when the storms of life threaten to overrun you? What can you rely on? What gives you protection and security if something bad happens? Big or small things that weren't part of the plan for your home, and everything collapses?
We all need a home, a retreat. A place of security, a comfort zone, a space of “here I can confidently be myself” with freedom from fear. A livelihood beyond basic needs. A place, as Martin Luther said, “in which you can live and die”.
Jesus says: the only safe house to live in is inside you. Your attitude, your solid foundation, which enables you to say: "If I knew that the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today." Jesus says: Take my words to heart - and live.
The instructions Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount are not easy to follow, for example: "If someone hits you on the cheek, hold the other out to him too." And that I should love my enemies.
But Jesus expects me to do just that, so of course I am annoyed by these demands. But these words are the bread of life! Renouncing violence is better than retaliation. Forgiveness is greater than vengeance. Everyone benefits when the world becomes a friendlier place, when people change for the better, when you meet a peacemaker.
No one is protected from bad things happening, which can leave one in despair.
Things just happen and we need to learn to deal with that.
“Trust God!” advises Jesus. Whoever does that is like the clever man who built his house on rock. When the storms of life come - and they will - it is good to know what we can rely on to carry us through.
I have often seen people draw strength from their faith and they sometimes fare better at dealing with blows of fate. I keep thinking of my grandmother, who up to an old age never lost her trust in God despite heavy losses. "The Lord gave it. The Lord took it. Praise be to the name of the Lord."
When we keep and rely on God's Word, we act wisely. Even if dark clouds come up, even if the whole world goes crazy, this foundation will not shake. Because it is God himself who sustains us.
Amen
