Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders: Verse, Meaning & Lesson

The Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders is in Matthew 7:27–27 and Luke 6:47–49. Jesus told this parable to teach the truth about building a strong foundation for life through His words versus the folly of ignoring them.

This guide gives you a complete summary of the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders, including the verses in Scripture, the meaning, and lessons that can be applied to the Christian life.

Note: This parable is also referred to as the Parable of the Two Builders.

Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders In Scripture

Matthew 7:27–27 – Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders

“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great.”

Read Matthew 7

Luke 6:47–49 – Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders

“Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will show you who he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. But he who hears and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”

Read Luke 6

Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders Meaning

This parable means when a person builds their life on the Word of God they are building on a strong foundation. Jesus illustrates the benefit of putting His words into practice (enduring through hardships in life) and the folly of ignoring Him (collapsing under stress).

Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders Lessons

Build Your Life On Jesus

The major lesson of this parable is that Jesus (the rock) is the only solid foundation we can build our lives on. His teachings and example as a way of life are consistent, reliable, and true to God’s Word. Building a life on the opinions, traditions, or preferences of the world (the sand) is unstable, unreliable, and everchanging. Jesus is the only one who can give us eternal life, peace, and joy. He is the only one who can help us overcome the trials and troubles of this world by grace through faith.

Listen to the Word of God

Another lesson you can take from this parable is that you should actively read the Bible so you can hear God’s Word being spoken to you. Listening to the Word of God is essential for spiritual growth and maturity, as well as for our relationship with the Lord and others. Without knowing what God’s Word says, you will not understand how to mature in your faith as a Christian.

Do What Jesus Says

Hearing the Word of God is only one part of living out the lessons in this parable. Jesus also expects you to obey God by putting His commands into practice. Just having the knowledge of the Scriptures will not build a strong foundation for your life. You must apply that knowledge to the various areas of your life and relationships to strengthen yourself against the trials (or storms) of the world.

Pray for Wisdom

Jesus wants us to pray for wisdom about how to obey the commands of God’s Word. He loves us and wants us to live according to His will and His ways. By praying to Jesus, you can gain Godly wisdom to discern what is true, right, and good for your life. This God-given wisdom will help you become more like the Wise Builder whose house could not be shaken. As a Wise Christian, you will be able to avoid the sin, error, and folly that destroys foolish people who choose not to build their lives on the saving grace of Jesus.

Be Careful Not to Deceive Yourself

Another lesson from this parable is to not mistake ourselves for being wise when we are indeed foolish. We can mistakenly think that we are building our lives on the rock of Jesus when we are actually building on the soft sand through ignorance. We need to routinely examine ourselves honestly and humbly before God and ask Him to show us our true condition. We need to confess our sins and ask Him to forgive us and change us through our repentance.

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Summary of the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders

We hope you enjoyed this summary of the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders.

As you discovered, the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders appears in two Scriptures: Matthew 7:27–27 and Luke 6:47–49. And the primary meaning of the parable is for us to listen to Jesus’ words and do them so we can build our lives on a solid foundation of rock. The life lessons include building our lives on Jesus, listening to the Word of God, doing what He says, praying for wisdom, and being careful not to deceive ourselves into thinking we are being wise in all things instead of foolish.

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