#10 FOUNDATION STONES

Jesus was a “tekton,” a Greek word for builder or construction worker. He very likely crafted building materials, especially stone, and used them to build things. His story of the wise and foolish builders found in Matthew 7:24-27 shows his understanding of the need for a firm foundation for the things you believe. Jesus was also a teacher, “rabbi,” known for his ability to tell parables and interpret Scripture in amazing ways. An important characteristic of a true rabbi was his ability to live out his teachings exactly. The mark of a great rabbi was becoming indistinguishable from his teachings. If you knew him, you knew his teachings; if you knew his teachings, you knew him. The New Testament writers described Jesus as a cornerstone. The cornerstone was the first stone set on a foundation. If set on a firm foundation, the structure would become a stout structure. If not, it would eventually fall from its initial fatal weakness. Jesus starts the story of the builders with, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.” He told the story as part of the Sermon on the Mount, but he surely meant all of his teachings, not just the teachings of that afternoon as recorded by Matthew.