Sermon on the Mount

Ever have to ask someone, “Did you hear what I just said?” Often, we know that they heard us, but they’re acting as if they didn’t. There’s a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing means audibly perceiving something with one’s ear. Listening means responding to what was heard with appropriate action. In light of all that He has said previously, at the end of the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus makes it clear that it is necessary not to just hear His words, but to do them. For there are essentially two ways to live upon hearing Christ’s words. The wise both hear and do — metaphorically building their house on the rock. The foolish hear but don’t — metaphorically building their house on sand. Those who listen to Christ can stand when the storms come; those who don’t can’t stand the rain. Will we listen to the LORD? Did we hear what Jesus just said?