“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:”
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. The foolish builder also hears — the Sermon's audience has been hearing for three chapters. The foolish builder is not ignorant of Jesus' words but unresponsive to them: hearing without doing. The sand is the foundation of good intentions, religious feelings, impressive religious performances, and everything except the actual doing of what the Sermon requires. The Proverbs contrast between the wise and the fool runs throughout; the foolish builder is not someone who never heard but someone who heard and didn't act.
Church Fathers on Matthew 7:26
Because there would be some who would admire the things that were said by the Lord, but would not add that shewing forth of them which is in action, He threatens them before, saying, 'Every man that hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man.'
He said not, I will account him that hears and does, as wise; but, 'He shall be likened to a wise man.' He then that is likened is a man; but to whom is he likened? To Christ; but Christ is the wise man who had built His house, that is, the Church, upon a rock, that is, upon the strength of the faith.
Or the great ruin is to be understood that with which the Lord will say to them that hear and do not, 'Go ye into everlasting fire.' [Matt 25:41]
Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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