Piebald
June 18th 2003, 08:25 PM
Originally posted (http://theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=126727&action=showthread) by Alien in the thread Matthew 7:26 and real foolishness (http://theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=5959)
May I say that this is one of the silliest threads I have read for some time?
This is a parable and contains an analogy. Jesus was not teaching a House Building 101 class at PTC (Palestine Technical College)! All that is required of the sand/rock analogy is that his audience understands what he is on about. It has to have impact and has to be recognisable. The intended meaning of this particular parable is perfectly clear even to a relatively Biblically untutored atheist like me, so what's the problem?
As a matter of fact, if there was a common misunderstanding about the relative merits of building on sand and rock (and I have no idea if there was or not) it would be wise for Jesus to go along with it, because his aim was to have his message understood, not to teach the fine points of house building.
Come to think of it, the very fact that this story survived to the time when the Bible was put together is evidence that his audience, and everyone that subsequently repeated it, understood it perfectly! Maybe it was common knowledge that, locally, houses built on rock lasted longer than those built on sand. Maybe it just seemed right, based on the perceived greater durability of rock. Who cares?!
As I enjoy little playlets, heres one:
Jesus: The foolish man builds his house on rock and the wise man builds it on sand. Likewise he who heeds my words builds a firm foundation for his life ....".
Isaac (in the crowd): Eh? Aren't houses built on rock safer than those built on sand?
Jesus: As a matter of fact, no. Sand gives a very firm base for the house because it settles less than silt or clay and ... blah blah blah.
Isaac (finally getting a word in): That's interesting, I didn't know that.
(Later, Isaac talks to his friend Jacob)
Isaac: Jesus was very interesting today, he was telling us all about building houses on sand and rock. Apparently sand is best, I wouldn't have thought that, would you?
Jacob: No, who'd have thought it .... was that all, he usually has some kind of spiritual message?
Isaac: Er, yes, he started off with one, then he got into this house building thing. I can't remember what it was supposed to illustrate .... (scratches head).
May I say that this is one of the silliest threads I have read for some time?
This is a parable and contains an analogy. Jesus was not teaching a House Building 101 class at PTC (Palestine Technical College)! All that is required of the sand/rock analogy is that his audience understands what he is on about. It has to have impact and has to be recognisable. The intended meaning of this particular parable is perfectly clear even to a relatively Biblically untutored atheist like me, so what's the problem?
As a matter of fact, if there was a common misunderstanding about the relative merits of building on sand and rock (and I have no idea if there was or not) it would be wise for Jesus to go along with it, because his aim was to have his message understood, not to teach the fine points of house building.
Come to think of it, the very fact that this story survived to the time when the Bible was put together is evidence that his audience, and everyone that subsequently repeated it, understood it perfectly! Maybe it was common knowledge that, locally, houses built on rock lasted longer than those built on sand. Maybe it just seemed right, based on the perceived greater durability of rock. Who cares?!
As I enjoy little playlets, heres one:
Jesus: The foolish man builds his house on rock and the wise man builds it on sand. Likewise he who heeds my words builds a firm foundation for his life ....".
Isaac (in the crowd): Eh? Aren't houses built on rock safer than those built on sand?
Jesus: As a matter of fact, no. Sand gives a very firm base for the house because it settles less than silt or clay and ... blah blah blah.
Isaac (finally getting a word in): That's interesting, I didn't know that.
(Later, Isaac talks to his friend Jacob)
Isaac: Jesus was very interesting today, he was telling us all about building houses on sand and rock. Apparently sand is best, I wouldn't have thought that, would you?
Jacob: No, who'd have thought it .... was that all, he usually has some kind of spiritual message?
Isaac: Er, yes, he started off with one, then he got into this house building thing. I can't remember what it was supposed to illustrate .... (scratches head).