Luke 6 49

Luke 6:49 kjv

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 6:49 nkjv

But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

Luke 6:49 niv

But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Luke 6:49 esv

But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

Luke 6:49 nlt

But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins."

Luke 6 verses

Luke 6 49 Meaning

Luke 6:49 warns of the grave consequences for those who hear Jesus' teachings but fail to obey them. It depicts a person building a house directly on the earth, without a dug-out foundation, which quickly collapses into complete ruin when faced with the violent force of a flood. This illustrates that mere intellectual assent or casual listening to the Word of God is insufficient; true discipleship requires actively putting Jesus' words into practice, otherwise, one's spiritual life and ultimate destiny will suffer devastating failure when trials or divine judgment come.

Luke 6 49 Context

Luke 6:49 concludes Jesus' Sermon on the Plain, presented immediately after the beatitudes and woes, and teachings on love for enemies, turning the other cheek, giving, and judging righteously. This final parable, often called "The Wise and Foolish Builders" (paralleling Matthew 7:24-27), serves as a conclusive summary of the entire sermon. Jesus is emphasizing that true discipleship is not merely about verbal profession or listening to His words, but about embodying them through practical obedience. The verses immediately preceding this one (Lk 6:47-48) describe the wise builder who digs deep and lays a foundation on rock. This sets up the sharp contrast for the foolish builder in Luke 6:49, whose lack of foundational work leads to catastrophic failure.

Culturally, building without a deep foundation in areas prone to seasonal wadi (dry riverbed) floods or torrential rains was an act of folly. These regions often experienced intense, short bursts of rain that would turn wadis into destructive torrents, eroding poorly founded structures. The parable would have resonated deeply with the original audience, who understood the critical importance of a stable foundation in such a climate. Jesus uses this common, tangible experience to illustrate profound spiritual truth: life's trials (the 'stream') will inevitably come, and only a life built on obediently doing His words will stand firm. This challenges any contemporary belief that outward religious observance or mere hearing of the Law guaranteed salvation or stability, underscoring the necessity of internal transformation and practical application of truth.

Luke 6 49 Word analysis

• But he that heard, and did not,
• "But he that heard": Gr. ἀκούων (akouōn), a present active participle, emphasizing the ongoing nature of hearing Jesus' teachings. It signifies a person who regularly attends and receives instruction.
• "and did not": Gr. ποιήσας (poiēsas) from ποιέω (poieō), meaning to do, make, or perform, in the negative. This is the crucial point of failure. It highlights the distinction between intellectual knowledge or passive reception and practical obedience. The issue is not lack of access to truth, but lack of action. This phrase directly contrasts with the wise builder who "heard My words and put them into practice" (Lk 6:47).
• is like a man that without a foundation
• "without a foundation": Gr. χωρὶς θεμελίου (chōris themeliou). "Themelios" refers to a deep base, ground work, or cornerstone. The phrase means utterly lacking any solid, prepared base. In a spiritual sense, it denotes a life not rooted in solid, reliable principles derived from God's commands or Christ Himself. It suggests superficiality and negligence in preparing one's life.
• built an house upon the earth;
• "built an house": Gr. ᾠκοδόμησεν οἰκίαν (ōikodomēsen oikian). The house represents one's life, character, spiritual standing, or even the profession of faith. Building a life requires effort and choice.
• "upon the earth": Gr. ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν (epi tēn gēn). This emphasizes that the house was built directly on unstable ground, likely soft soil or sand, rather than digging down to the underlying rock (as in Lk 6:48). It signifies reliance on worldly principles, self-will, transient things, or a superficial spirituality that has no deep root in God's eternal Word.
• against which the stream beat vehemently,
• "the stream": Gr. ποταμός (potamos), a river or torrent, often referring to a wadi transformed by a sudden flood. It metaphorically represents life's inevitable trials, temptations, persecutions, adversities, or the ultimate test of divine judgment. These are external forces that test the integrity of what has been built.
• "beat vehemently": Gr. προσέρρηξεν (proserrexen), an aorist verb meaning to break upon, burst against, or dash violently. This describes the powerful and aggressive impact of the flood, signifying overwhelming and unavoidable challenges that expose any weaknesses in the foundation.
• and immediately it fell;
• "immediately it fell": Gr. εὐθέως ἔπεσεν (eutheōs epesen). "Eutheōs" means at once, directly, swiftly. This emphasizes the swiftness and inevitability of the collapse. When tested, the structure (life) collapses completely and without delay, revealing its inherent weakness.
• and the ruin of that house was great.
• "the ruin": Gr. τὸ ῥῆγμα (to rhēgma), referring to a breach, a fracture, or a complete collapse/shattering. It conveys not just damage but utter destruction.
• "was great": Gr. μέγα (mega). This signifies the comprehensive, overwhelming, and devastating nature of the destruction. It speaks to the ultimate, total loss when a life is built on a foundation of disobedience or neglect of God's Word, signifying eternal loss or profound spiritual catastrophe.

Luke 6 49 Bonus section

The parable highlights Jesus' authority: His "words" are foundational, acting as the very rock upon which a life should be built. This is a subtle yet profound claim of divinity, as traditionally only the Law of God (Torah) held such ultimate authority and power to sustain a life. Jesus presents Himself and His teachings as the new "foundation," replacing or fulfilling previous understandings of divine truth. The severity of "great ruin" implies an eternal consequence, pointing to more than just temporal troubles but potentially spiritual bankruptcy or eschatological judgment. This parable effectively functions as an ultimatum, calling for active commitment to Jesus' way of life rather than passive adherence or intellectual curiosity, warning against the self-deception of assuming piety without performance.

Luke 6 49 Commentary

Luke 6:49 serves as a potent summation of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain, underscoring that genuine faith and discipleship are demonstrated by obedience to His words, not by mere hearing or intellectual acknowledgment. The parable vividly portrays two builders, and this verse specifically focuses on the foolish one whose life, symbolized by the house, lacks the crucial foundation of applied obedience. The danger lies not in unfamiliarity with divine truth, but in the failure to integrate it into daily life and character. The house built "upon the earth" signifies a reliance on fleeting, insecure worldly wisdom or superficial religious practice, which cannot withstand the inevitable storms of life – whether these are personal hardships, societal pressures, or the final judgment. The violent and immediate collapse, leading to "great ruin," paints a stark picture of the complete and devastating failure that awaits those whose lives are not genuinely submitted to Christ's teachings. True wisdom, Jesus asserts, is found in hearing His words and doing them, building one's life on the unshakeable rock of Christ and His commands. Conversely, hearing without doing leads to utter spiritual desolation.