Matthew 7:26 kjv

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Matthew 7:26 nkjv

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

Matthew 7:26 niv

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.

Matthew 7:26 esv

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Matthew 7:26 nlt

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 26 Meaning

Matthew 7:26 speaks to the critical distinction between merely hearing Jesus' teachings and actively applying them in one's life. It depicts a spiritual principle: those who hear His words but do not obey them are likened to a foolish builder. This builder constructs a house on an unstable foundation of sand, which ultimately cannot withstand the inevitable storms of life, leading to its complete collapse. The verse serves as a solemn warning against spiritual complacency and a call to practical obedience as the only firm ground for one's life of faith.

Matthew 7 26 Context

Matthew 7:26 concludes the Sermon on the Mount, immediately following Jesus' depiction of the wise builder (Matt 7:24-25) and preceding the multitude's astonishment at His authority (Matt 7:28-29). The verse is the second half of Jesus' climactic teaching, comparing two responses to His "sayings" – a response of active obedience (the wise builder on rock) and one of passive hearing without action (the foolish builder on sand). This parable brings to a pointed conclusion the entire Sermon, which called for a deeper, internal righteousness surpassing mere outward observance. Jesus presents a stark either/or scenario: true discipleship is characterized by obedience that proves resilient in life's trials, while a facade of faith based on mere hearing will crumble under pressure. The original audience would have understood the practical wisdom of building on rock in Palestine, where flash floods in seasonal wadis (riverbeds) could easily sweep away homes built on sandy ground, making the metaphor powerfully tangible.

Matthew 7 26 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, yet here it serves to contrast the previous verse directly, initiating the second, negative example. It smoothly transitions from the description of the wise man to that of the foolish.
• every one (πᾶς - pas): Emphasizes universality. This teaching applies to all who hear Jesus' words, leaving no room for exception. No one is exempt from the need to respond with obedience.
• that heareth (ἀκούων - akouōn): From akouō, meaning to hear, listen. Crucially, in a Biblical context, "hearing" often implies not just perceiving sound but also understanding and being receptive. The problem here is not the lack of hearing but the subsequent action.
• these sayings (τοὺς λόγους τούτους - tous logous toutous): Refers directly to Jesus' teachings throughout the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). These are not general moral platitudes but His specific, authoritative, and often radical commands.
• of mine (μου - mou): Possessive, emphasizing Jesus' unique authority as the speaker and the divine origin of these teachings. They are His words, demanding a response unlike any other.
• and doeth them not (καὶ μὴ ποιῶν αὐτοὺς - kai mē poiōn autous): Mē poiōn means "not doing" or "not performing." This is the core issue – a failure to translate heard truth into practical action and lived obedience. It signifies spiritual inaction or negligence.
• shall be likened unto (ὁμοιωθήσεται - homoiōthēsetai): Future passive voice of homoioō, "to make like, to liken." This is a certain, inescapable outcome: those who disobey will inevitably demonstrate this folly.
• a foolish (ἀνδρὶ μωρῷ - andri mōrō): Mōros (foolish, dull-witted, stupid) often refers to spiritual, not just intellectual, dullness. It implies moral deficiency, lacking spiritual insight and wisdom (Prov 1:7). This folly results in self-destruction.
• man (ἀνήρ - anēr): A general term for a male person, here used representatively for anyone.
• which built (ὃς ᾠκοδόμησεν - hos ōikodomēsen): From oikodomeō, meaning to build, erect. It signifies effort and deliberate construction, yet misguided.
• his house (αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν - autou tēn oikian): "His own house." The house symbolizes one's life, including one's character, faith, security, and eternal destiny. It is the life someone constructs.
• upon the sand (ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμμον - epi tēn ammon): Ammos is sand, an inherently unstable and shifting foundation. This refers to the lack of a firm, reliable basis for one's life. Symbolically, it represents reliance on anything other than the unwavering foundation of Christ's teachings or Christ Himself. In the context of ancient Israel, building on sandy wadi beds that flooded seasonally was a recipe for disaster.

Words-group analysis:

• "heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not": This phrase sharply distinguishes between cognitive reception and behavioral response. It highlights that intellectual assent or mere familiarity with scripture is insufficient for true discipleship. True faith is an active, living response. This is a critique of a purely external religion without internal transformation.
• "shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand": This imagery provides a vivid, practical, and devastating consequence for disobedience. The "foolish man" is not merely unintelligent, but morally and spiritually unsound, choosing instability. The "house" represents the entirety of one's life and its spiritual condition, while the "sand" represents a deceptive or shallow foundation that cannot endure testing.

Matthew 7 26 Bonus section

The Sermon on the Mount is concluded not with a gentle blessing, but with a warning. This highlights the intensely practical and demanding nature of Christ's teachings. He demands more than mere intellectual assent or outward show; He calls for a radical reorientation of the heart that expresses itself in active, persistent obedience. The "sayings" encompass internal attitudes (love your enemies, purity of heart) and external actions (giving, praying, fasting, seeking the Kingdom). The foolishness described is a spiritual obtuseness – a failure to discern the ultimate consequences of one's choices, particularly regarding eternal matters. This spiritual blindness leads one to neglect laying the one foundation that truly lasts.

Matthew 7 26 Commentary

Matthew 7:26 is a solemn and potent conclusion to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, offering a stark warning through a simple, yet profound, parable. It serves as Jesus' ultimate challenge to His audience, differentiating between genuine discipleship and a superficial adherence to His words. The "sayings" (Matt 7:24-26) are not light suggestions but profound spiritual laws requiring transformed lives.

The emphasis here is not on what one hears, but on what one does (or fails to do) with what is heard. Many can intellectually grasp divine truths, attend religious services, and even discuss theological concepts, but unless these truths penetrate the heart and issue forth in concrete actions of obedience, they are of no lasting value. Jesus exposes the perilous self-deception of merely being a "hearer" without being a "doer" (Jas 1:22).

The "foolish man" is not a person lacking intellectual capacity but one who is morally and spiritually unwise, making choices that lead to ruin. His folly lies in choosing convenience or superficiality over enduring spiritual effort. Building "upon the sand" vividly illustrates the inherent instability of a life constructed on anything other than Christ's unwavering teachings and Christ Himself (1 Cor 3:11). This "sand" can represent many things: self-righteousness, reliance on mere religious ritual, intellectual understanding divorced from a surrendered will, human traditions, fleeting worldly successes, or a shallow profession of faith that lacks root and depth.

The parable's power is realized when the storms come – inevitable trials, temptations, persecutions, or ultimately, the day of judgment. It is in these moments that the true foundation of one's life is revealed. For the foolish builder, his spiritual house, though perhaps impressive on the surface, is destined for "a great fall" (Matt 7:27). This implies a total and devastating collapse, representing spiritual ruin and separation from God. Jesus thus emphasizes that the authentic disciple is not defined by vocal affirmation but by tangible, consistent obedience, which provides the enduring spiritual stability necessary to face life's ultimate tests and stand secure in His presence.