Luke 6:47Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He explains the benefit that comes to those who heed his words, not merely by listening but by actively applying them in their lives.

When we invoke Christ, our Redeemer, let us heed His guidance. He instructs us on the benefits of willingly following His commands and the consequences of choosing disobedience. As He teaches, ‘Every one that heareth my words, and doeth them, is like a man that buildeth a house, and setteth the foundation thereof firmly upon the rock;’ conversely, those who disregard His words are like builders who neglect the strength of their structure. An individual who is obedient and humble stands firm in all that is virtuous and commendable, for he focuses not merely on the law itself but on its manifestations. He is akin to a house firmly anchored on an unshakeable foundation; even when faced with temptations or the tumult of passions that assail like a winter storm, he will endure without suffering significant loss.

He instructs us that the cornerstone of all virtues is adherence to God’s commandments. Our dwelling, established on this solid ground (cf. Matt. 7:24-27), will remain steadfast against the torrent of physical desires, the assault of unholy spirits (cf. Eph. 6:12), the storms of the world, or the deceptive logic of heretics.

and the river surged against the house... This phrase also appears at the conclusion of the fifth chapter in the Gospel of Matthew, where we read the explanation of this passage, “Whosoever therefore heareth these words of mine, and doeth them.” Here it is stated succinctly, “Who built his house upon the rock,” whereas in this context, it is elaborated that the individual dug deeply, signifying the thorough preparation before establishing the foundation. This detail emphasizes the careful construction of the foundation. The inundation of the river symbolizes the multitude and strength of temptations.

The divine and ineffable Son of the Father, whom we venerate, is rightly referred to as the Word. This designation does not imply that He is merely the expression and interpreter of the Father; rather, it emphasizes His role as the Creator who exists beyond mere speech and is born in purity. As the Word, He possesses a unique essence and personal identity. The fact that He is not without essence is evident, as the Word possesses utterances of His own, as indicated in His proclamation: He who hears My words and does them... (Luke 6:47). Thus, because the Word has His own teachings, He cannot be considered without essence; rather, in being of essence, He is appropriately called the Word by the passionate outpouring.

To summarize, the Lord emphasized the importance of always turning to God in prayer during times of need. He instructed that our love for our neighbors should match our love for ourselves. We are to strive to walk the narrow path, remain vigilant against false teachers, and practice what we have learned. By establishing these life principles for His followers, the Lord outlined the crucial differences between their righteousness and that of the Pharisees, creating a solid foundation for the spiritual growth of His chosen community.

Verses 21-23 serve as a bridge from the discussion about false prophets to the concluding encouragement; in this transition, the necessity of not just hearing the words of Christ but also acting upon them is emphasized. Simply bearing the name of Christian does not grant one access to eternal joy. Even numerous individuals who serve in the name of Christ and aspire to aid others in their salvation may experience the manifestation of divine gifts, such as prophecy and healing, including the expulsion of evil spirits. Nevertheless, many of these will still hear the Lord's words at the Day of Judgment, ‘I have never known you,’ meaning they are not recognized as belonging to Him.

In His powerful sermon, Christ emphasized that the true strength and vitality of His disciples would lie in their commitment to fulfilling the teachings of the New Covenant. He stated, "Whosoever therefore heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him to a prudent man, who built his house upon a rock; and the rain came, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house: and it fell not, because it was founded upon a rock. But whosoever heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain fell, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and came upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof" (Matthew 7:24-27).

The Lord Jesus Christ, seeking to impress His teachings more profoundly in the hearts and minds of His listeners, concluded His Sermon on the Mount with a striking parable: “Everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Wind, rain, and floods, as explained by St.