The Parable of the Houses Built on the Rock and the Sand

Matthew 7:22-28 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Over the years I have heard this passage preached a great deal. In the Lutheran Church of my youth this passage was about a class of people who were engrossed in “works.”  And I suppose that the implied rejected of Christ would have been Roman Catholics. The problem was that my Lutheran Church no longer believed salvation by faith in Christ’s blood, nor did they believe in miracles, people prophesying, much less people casting out devils so the majority of Christs words in this passage were lost on them.

In the fundamentalist churches I later on attended doctrinally this passage posed many problems, depending on where they sat doctrinally concerning Calvinism and Mennonitism.  So according to our modern Calvinists these works that are enumerated in this passage are rejected by Christ because they are all false works, and works of the devil, specifically prophecy, healing and casting out devils. Those that are of the modern Calvinist persuasion further argue that these people can not be believers because once you are saved you are always saved, and one can never lose it or have it taken away. On the other hand the modern followers of Menno Simons who embrace the gifts and operations of the Spirit, and believe that salvation can be lost; hold that the people in this passage are deceived believers represented in the various mainline denominations of our day.  And in many instances both Calvinists and Mennonitists will preach this passage as past of a salvation message implying that these are lost and indeed were never saved. 

Pentecostals and Charismatics following their Mennonite roots are somewhat mystified in their preaches as to how Christ could ever reject one who works miracles, prophesies, or casts out devils? Doctrinally in these Churches those who possess such gifts and operations are held as the most spiritual of men and women. So in light of Christ ‘s rejection of these gifted people some speak of these as false gifts, false anointings and false miracles. Some suggest these in fact were pagan acts and works somehow tied in with the great whore of Revelation. Some preach that these are deceived believers representing the various non- Pentecostal and non-charismatic denominations. And some preach salvation messages, once again implying that the people in this passage are actually the unsaved.   

What we can see from all of these views is: 1) Not one of these churches see “believers” or “the church” or “their church” or “their denomination.” in this passage. 2) They all in some way find fault with the miracles, prophesying, casting out of devils and other great works. And to do so all of these denominations and churches put words in the mouth of Christ that are not written nor implied in this passage, so as to either to defend their doctrines that reject such works or to defend their doctrines that embrace such works but they are at a loss to explain what has gone wrong with the works as mentioned in this passage.

The church of our day has more in common with John Calvin, Martin Luther and Menno Simons and the Roman Catholic Church than with Christ and the Apostles. And in this case of the groupthink of sin and death from all the churches and denominations I have attended over the years it is clearly demonstrative that within these denominations, churches and fellowships the blind are leading the blind.

How is it that that in our day no denomination, church fellowship or ministry willingly admits that they as part of the church have lost their way? For Churches and denominations their image and mystique is everything. Of these Christ said: “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, but art dead.”

Why did the twelve disciples carefully list their sins openly before us in their four Gospels and the Book of Acts? Specifically enumerating their carnality, their greed, their lust of the wealth and riches of the world, their animosity towards one another, and their complete lack of understanding of virtually anything that Christ taught them while sitting at Christ’s feet for three and one half years. Is their any in the church today that understand why they would have done so? 

If these twelve disciples engaged eagerly in this type of no holds barred confession before their peers and subordinates, repeatedly revealing their deepest darkest sins, and repeatedly defaced themselves publicly, it would appear that this was no accident, it would appear that this in fact was done by design.  What the twelve disciples enacted is what they understood as: what was required of them as being a disciple of Christ.

Specifically that Christ: “Making Himself of no reputation.”

And so they following in His footsteps made themselves of no reputation. And oddly enough we find this identical trait in Paul the Apostle who in his commissioning of Luke to write the Book of Acts as well as in his own Epistles does not gloss over his multiple sins before and during his ministry.

Why then do we not see this same eagerness in our day for an open confession of sins and the making of preacher and ministry, pastor and parish, elders and denominations of no reputation like Christ and the Apostles? 

Is it not because these churches, fellowships, and denominations, being filled with pride view themselves as being without sin or want themselves to be viewed by men as being without sin?  But we know that in 1 John we know what the Apostle says about: “He who says (or implies) they are without sin.”  The Apostle continues “But if we are faithful to confess our sins (before God and man) He is faithful and Just to forgive us our sins and (then and only then) the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.”

So with those things in mind let us now begin an examination of this passage a Lord willing the Holy Spirit will illumine our hearts and minds that we might be able to see things that we have not seen before or confirm once again things that He has been speaking to us.

Matthew 7:22-28 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord.

These words should be frightening to all large churches and denominations. 

Matthew 20:16 “Many are called (Greek Klesia) but few are chosen (Greek Ek-lektos.)”

Matthew 22:14 For many are called (Greek Klesia) but few are chosen (Greek Ek-lektos.)”

Matthew 7:13-15 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

The many here would seem to be the Klesia or that which calls itself the Church. The few are the Ek-Klesia or the Ek-lektos.  The difference between the many and the few is having and intimate knowledge of Christ, or in Christ’s own words: it is not enough to only be a hearer of His words or to make a verbal profession of Christ’s Lordship, but being His disciple has a requirement of being a doer of His word. And that requirement of doing Christ’s word will not allow one of His disciples to be a doer of their own words or become the doer of someone else’s words.

We need to see this being a hearer and a doer, is something that Christ did first with the Father. So just as Christ could not speak of Himself but only speak that which the Father had given him, and just as Christ could not do His own will, but the will of the Father that sent Him, this is the kind of hearing and obedience that Christ now requires of us as his disciples.

The root of the Gospel is: As Christ was a disciple of the Father and demonstrated Him and no other, so are we as Christ’s disciples of Jesus Christ and no other.

According to Christ the many that are the Klesia, and are those who that have chosen the wide gate and the broad way. So when we look at this passage “ Many that in that day who say to Christ Lord, Lord.” 1) We see that the many indeed have a knowledge of the Lordship of Christ. 2) We see that the many have indeed made a profession or confession of Christ as Lord. 3) And we see that the many by making use of the term Lord Lord, imply a belief on their part that they have somewhat of an intimacy with Christ.

And what does Christ tell us that the many shall say to Him in that day, the many who have passed through the broad gate are themselves progressing down the broad way?

Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

It is not that the many have prophesied, cast out devils and done many works. It is that the many have Prophesied in the name of Christ, that they have cast out devils in the name of Christ and that they have done many wondrous awe inspiring miraculous works in Christ’s name. 

Clearly in this passage Christ was not speaking of the Pharisees. Clearly in this passage Christ was not speaking of Levites, or the High Priests, for what Levite or High Priest in the Old Testament dispensed healing or cast out devils. Clearly this is not a discussion of works as opposed to faith unless by works one means signs wonders diverse miracles. So what we need to see is that these people are in fact believers,  for all their profession and working of miracles they do here is in the name of Christ. They do not appear to be promoting themselves and their ministries  

We see this very passage mirrored in the book of Revelation when Christ speaks to the seven churches. He begins by telling each church I know thy works and immediately end any discussion of spiritual merit, spiritual aptitude, or the piles of sheaves that we sing about that we are to lay at his feet.

So that both here in Matthew 7:22-28 and in Revelation chapters 2-3 the gifts and operations of the Spirit and the sheaves that they produce are immaterial.

In John 5:  Jesus tells us that John is the greatest of prophets, but that he cannot receive witness of John because he is a man. Christ continues that He needed greater witness than that of John He needed the witness of the Father aka the signs wonders and diverse miracles to bear witness of him.

Here we have in Matthew 7:22-28 a people that in the name of Christ are receiving via the Holy Spirit this attestation of signs, wonders, and diverse miracles in the name of Christ.

So what is the difference? How can we discern what is going on here?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work (Greek erge-zomenoi Ergon-One’s duty or office Zoe to live to exercise the vitality of life) Iniquity (Greek A-nomian Lawless, without law, or unteachable)  

A better rendering of Christ’s words would be as follows:

Then I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from me ye that were charged with giving out life who instead have become a law unto yourselves.

As near as I can tell Christ seems to be preaching on this scripture.
Ezekiel 34:17-23 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, (Claiming ownership over the gifts and operations of the Spirit) but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? (So that none can share them with you) and to have drunk of the deep waters, (Stake out your claims to the prophetic office) but ye must foul the residue with your feet? (So that none can share them with you) And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save my flock, (Save them from who? Not the corrupt shepherds, but Christ has to intervene against arrogant fellow believers.)  and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Consider now Paul’s words to Timothy:
Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Was not Christ speaking of “The Lawless and Disobedient” in the Church. Was not also Ezekiel prophesying against sheep that had taken over the best grazing fields and the best water and had become a law unto themselves?  So Paul is not speaking here of the law being for the unsaved he is speaking of the law judging lawless believers, disobedient believers, ungodly believers, sinful believers, unholy believers, profane believers, for those who in persecution that betrayed mothers and fathers that they died, and thir brethren. All of these have passed from the life of Christ unto the death of the law.

2 Chronicles 15:3-6 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
For him that hath an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying unto the Churches we are in such a day and such a time as this.

Hebrews 10:25-29 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, (As the flock of God in Ezekiel rather than being scattered unto the mountains.) as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (Of the flock). He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, (The trodding under foot the Son of God is recalling the prophecy in Ezekiel of God judging the arrogant cattle) and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

This appears to be what Christ is speaking when He said “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that were charged with giving out life who instead have become a law unto yourselves.”

While we can say with great certainty the words of Ezekiel were forward looking into the end of church age, from the time forth when it all began to go wrong in the church. There is yet more to consider in these words that Christ spoke to the mixt multitudes and His disciples.

Since we know that by Matthew 6 it was still early in Christ’s 3.5 year ministry we can also say with great certainty that the twelve disciples at that time had no clue as to Christ’s impending death, nor did they have any idea about Pentecost, the birth of the Church or their having to go it alone without Christ physically with them as His Apostles dispensing His words and guarding his flock.

So the question comes how at the time when Christ first spoke these things and for the first decade or so after Pentecost did they view these words?

This may not be at first apparent but who since the restoration of the temple in 400 BC up until the death of Christ had the power to heal the sick cast out devils and do works of power? The list is fairly short. There were no recorded Levites that were endued with healing and deliverance, there were no recorded prophets after Israel and Judah were taken into captivity that demonstrated any healing or cast out devils, there were no recorded priests that did such and not even John the Baptist the greatest of Prophets was given such powers. So to be real clear it all began with Christ, and he in turn shares the Spirit that is upon him with the 12 disciples and later He gives it to the 70 disciples. So I want to point out that when Christ spoke these words there was a very small select group of people that could do these things.

If we are to believe the testimony of the gospels, which I indeed do; all in all there were 83 people including Christ that could do these works.

In the Gospel of John about the same time there is an incident spoken of:

John 6:60-69 Many therefore of his disiples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and (Shall ye say) if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

When Jesus turns to the twelve and asks them specifically will ye go away also? This pre-supposes that the 70 forsook Christ along with the hundreds of other disciples that were following him.

Now of these 70 that forsook Christ and had presumably prophesied, healed the sick, Cast out devils, and preformed many wonderous works, do you suppose that on the Day of Judgment they would call out to Christ having actually known Him saying: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And what do you suppose Christ would say unto them? Then I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from me ye that were charged with giving out life who instead have become a law unto yourselves.

 The same God that said: I will never leave thee of forsake thee said the following:

Because ye have forsaken the LORD, He hath also forsaken you.

For six months to a year the seventy had traveled with the twelve and the twelve had at some time had to have witnessed the healings, the prophecies, the casting of demons as well as the signs and wonders that the 70 had preformed. What I see by the Spirit that this event had not yet occurred when Christ spoke these words in Matthew 7:22-28, so that when the events of John 6:60-69 occurred or shortly thereafter like in other places in gospels the twelve disciples “remembered Christ’s words” and would have been awe struck and probably filled with fear. Why? Because He had also spoken of them (The 12 disciples) leaving Him as well. And this probably being in the back of the minds of the disciples was why at the last supper Peter and the disciples so steadfastly denied that they would ever leave Him or forsake Him. 

In the testimony of the Apostles they tell us that they fought with one another over who was the greatest.  What do you suppose was their criteria for arguing such among themselves?

With Christ as the Messiah, the heir apparent of the throne of David being the greatest would have first been defined by who was closest to Christ, and that would have been John – even Peter admits that in the Gospels. And we can see an indisputable pecking order that included Peter, James, and John as being the most intimate with Christ. So barring that what would you suppose was the basis of these disciples self-importance? Would it not have been the healings, the casting out demons, prophesying like the prophets of old, and performing signs and wonders and miracles? Other than this what could they use to measure who was the greatest among them?

Is it unique in the Gospels that Christ publicly and privately upbraided, rebuked, chastised or corrected His disciples? 

Matthew 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Here Christ publicly corrects the twelve disciples publicly before the multitude.

Matthew 20:30-32 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
Here Christ rebukes the multitude and presumably the disciples without a word.

Mark 8:32-34 And Jesus spake that saying openly. And Peter took Him (aside ), and began (privately) to rebuke him. But when Jesus had turned about and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Here Peter takes Christ aside and privately rebukes him and Christ turns and rebukes Peter publicly before the disciples and the multitude.

Luke 9:54-56 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Here James and John were openly rebuked by Christ and any that were in earshot would have heard this. This passage also intimates that Christ’s disciples performed signs and wonders as well.

Luke 18:38-40 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Here we see those that went before Christ as His vanguard and this prestigious group no doubt contained some of His disciples. And again we see them once again rebuking people that are calling out to Christ. And Christ stands and commands these disciples and other self-important people to bring the man before Him. – This again is a public rebuke of these people and a public humiliation of them.

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

This sounds to me like the voice of experience, one who is acquainted with being chastened and rebuked by Christ.

Mark 16:14 Afterward Christ appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Christ here rebukes the eleven for unbelief and hardness of heart, and this is after his death and resurrection.

Matthew 17:16-17 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

This was a public rebuke -- late in His ministry, probably after the three year mark. Here He calls his disciples faithless and a perverse generation. Exasperated by their unbelief He says how long shall I have to be with you and teach you until you will believe?

Matthew 17:19-20 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:

This is a second rebuke privately after the fact to those who He had given power to heal the sick and cast out devils.

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Christ again seems a bit exasperated with one of the twelve’s unbelief and corrects him in from of the others.

Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Understand here that this man was an unclean gentile – and that Christ marveling that in all of Israel he found no such faith, included his disciples that were standing around him. This was a rebuke to all his followers and those of the “House of Faith” as well.

John 4:27 And upon this came His disciples, and marvelled that He talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

This passage belays the twelve disciples typical attitudes, their running interference for Christ, and even their rebuking or correcting Christ for speaking with those they deemed unworthy of his attention.

Mark 4:10-13 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And He said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Here Christ speaks to those that have been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom and in surprised dismay Christ finds that the twelve understand no more than those who are on the outside who’s hearts have waxed gross and who’s ears are stopped up.

Matthew 6:22-24 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

This is correction as well that Christ spoke to His disciples. Here He warns them that what they were calling light was darkness. That they can not be His disciple and love mammon.

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Could these have been the words that Christ would have spoken to the Apostles?

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Could not these have also been the words of Christ to his disciples as well?

We like the disciples are upside down on all these issues. We are carnal, worldly, we love the things of the world, we love the riches of this world and we actively seek them. We seek authority over the church laity, and over unbelievers, we seek to be the greatest.  However if any man among us exhibits anything of gifts of the Spirit so idolatrous in nature are we, that we immediately lavish great titles of spirituality upon them and then we make ourselves their disciples.

And in both cases with Christ and the disciples and Paul and the Corinthians neither called for their disuse or diminished use of the gifts and operations of the Spirit.  Instead what both call for is: the gift’s continued use. (These signs shall follow  . . . And covet earnestly the best gifts  . . .) and to that both Christ and Paul stressed out becoming disciples and imitators of Christ, learning of Him, and becoming humble servants.

In His continual rebukes and corrections Christ sought and still seeks to humble those that would follow Him That they might not think of themselves more highly than they ought and that those that would seek to be the greatest would become the servant of all.

Consider now that the church of this hour as removed all reproof and correction from the gift of prophecy.  They have removed all ability for believers to judge one another, judge prophecy or judge their teachers, preachers, or evangelists even by their fruits. They have even removed any rebuke, correction, or reproof, and exhortation from who would preach and teach.  And in more recent years if someone speaks of being convicted of sin for more than a few minutes during an alter call in many quarters this is declared to be the condemnation of the devil. For it is now taught that Christ does condemn, correct, or chastise believers, we are told that He is just one of the boys, that He winks at our sins and He just gushes with love at our slightest glance his way.

Matthew 7:24-29 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
The therefore refers to the people who are saying Lord Lord. So here Christ adds a detail that Hearing Christ’s saying and going out in the ministry and prophesying, healing the sick, casting out devils and performing many marvelous works is NOT doing His sayings and in this passage he is calling such that do this foolish men.

So Christ now begins speaking in parable He that heareth (the many) these sayings of mine and doeth them (the few), I will liken them unto a wise (master) builder which built a house upon a foundation of stone.

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation.
Paul tells us that Christ revealed himself to Paul, that he was caught up and saw heaven and the throne of God. Paul tells us Christ taught him what He taught the other Apostles. And this passage is the interpretation of the parable of the house built on the rock and the house built on the sand.

Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
In most fundamentalist and Pentecostal circles this passage has nothing to do with the rest of the chapter it is treated as a stand-alone passage. And this passage has one and only one interpretation namely: It is the salvation of individual believers and how they fare in their walk. One reason for this is that they all teach from the same corrupt commentaries and study notes so is it of any surprise when we find them all saying essentially the same thing? 

Another reason is that the Lord Lord passage just previous does not bode well with Luther’s and Calvin’s teachings on election and eternal security. This parable is a further discussion of the klesia and the Ek-klesia, the tares and the wheat and many other parables. 

Paul continues on about these wise master builders:
1 Corinthians 3:10-14 But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Paul tells us that the foundation of a wise master builder is Jesus Christ and Him alone. Paul then tells us the construction materials of wise master builders are gold silver and precious stones – materials that are precious and extremely costly. This would seem to imply that the building process is over an extended period of time. And the wise master builder builds in this way because he knows that his work along with every other man’s work shall be tried by fire. And that by fire it shall be revealed what sort of work it is. And after the fire has breathed upon this structure and scorched its walls and foundation if anything thing remains this wise master builder shall be rewarded. The word IF does not bode well for Election and Eternal security. If speaks of that there is some doubt of this standing up to the fire, even if it is built by the wise master builder.

Christ continues:
Matthew 7:26-27 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 the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And everyone that heareth but doeth not my sayings I will liken them unto a fool that built his house upon the sand.

Paul now continues helping us with the interpretation of the foolish ones that will say Lord, Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:10-17 But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation wood, hay, and stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
In Paul’s interpretation of the Parable of the house built upon the rock and the house built upon the sand we can clearly see that while the parable appears at a simplistic glance to be speaking of one’s individual walk with Christ, but what Christ was speaking of here in particular was about the building of ekklesia’s and klesia’s.

At the time of the of the Apostles what Paul said was true there were no Ekklesias or klesias built on any other foundation than Jesus Christ, because there were no ekklesias or klesias that had been built by any one other than the Apostles.

But when Christ spoke these words concerning the House on the rock and the house on the sand He was prophesying of a day where churches, fellowships and denominations would no longer built upon the foundation of Christ, but instead they would be founded upon men like Luther Calvin and Menno Simons upon the foundations of these men others would build their doctrines and teachings of men.

Paul tells us that the building materials of the fool are wood hay and stubble. First off the materials are all things that are found on the ground, they are earthly, sensual, and of the flesh. Like the wise the fool also knows that fiery judgment is coming, the difference is that that the fool only cares for the here and now. If it building is up that is all that matters.

The fool declares that his klesia to be a work in progress, that someday he will get around to building with gold, silver, and precious stones, only what happens is that in the heat of the day they have more than they can handle just to hold together their house of sticks. 

The fool’s work is swift and is raised in a matter of hours, days or weeks. In the belief that if they can get out in the fields faster and therefore bring in more sheaves to lay at Christ’s feet than anyone else. But what they are producing is not gold tried by fire but wood hay and stubble – in other words they are producing tares by the bundle full.

So the klesia of the fool appears to have all kinds of action whereas the house of the wise begins with digging deep and the removal of anything that is not precious or belonging to the foundation. and the building of such a structure takes years and in some cases life times as the torch is passed from one master builder to the next.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
And ultimately the fool interprets the fall of his house with a shrug of his shoulders, having little care for all the souls that were lost and destroyed in the klesia’s fall, believing that he can simply walk away with no consequence leaving all of the destroyed souls. And then he will go and experiment on some other unsuspecting group of people until he eventually “gets it right.”

This notion was taught in the bible school I went to.  I want to suggest to you that God does not rejoice when a single soul is destroyed. I want to suggest to you that if a preacher causes death, mayhem, and destruction, that God will in turn destroy him. 

And Paul states this in the next two verses. 
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile (Greek Ptheirei corrupt) the temple of God, him shall God destroy (Greek Ptheirei corrupt); for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
This is a quote of: If any man is froward God will show himself froward unto them.

So that in the verse we discussed previously: If any man's work (Greek Ergon duty or office) shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Clearly Paul cannot mean here that if a man defile and destroy a church he shall walk away scot-free. Not when he clearly says two verses later that God will destroy anyone who does that. Paul is saying here is that God will plague that man with fire.  – In Revelation we find that a particular church’s sin cause them to be cast into great tribulation.  What Paul is actually saying   If any man’s office shall be burned he shall suffer that loss, but shall he then be delivered from any responsibility by this fire?

And to that question Paul responds in like manner to the questions he asks in Romans Shall we then continue in sin? . . . Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
The “know ye not” of Paul is used to answer a question he believes that every babe should be able to answer. His answer is to shame those who know this not.

So to the question here that Paul poses shall the one that perpetrates the wholesale destruction of a church walk away from the destruction scot-free:
If any man’s office shall be burned he shall suffer that loss, but shall he then be delivered from any responsibility by this fire?
Paul responds to shame all those who do not know what he believes every babe in Christ is to understand.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile (Greek Ptheirei corrupt) the temple of God, him shall God destroy (Greek Ptheirei corrupt); for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

And the answer is that Christ will say to them “I never knew you, depart from me, ye that were charged with giving out life who instead have become a law unto yourselves.”

Matthew 7:26- 28 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 the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds  blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Who today is astonished when they read this parable? When if ever have you heard this text preached and a shiver ran down your spine? -- Yet the bible says that Christ’s hearers that day were ASTONISHED for they saw something in these words that we have not.

It appears that they had a momentary glimpse of a revelation which then within minutes ran off of them like water runs of a duck’s back, or as Paul said they looked into a mirror and caught a glimpse of themselves but as soon as they turned away from the mirror they straightway forgot what they had seen.

Prior to that the words spoke of those called out to him Lord Lord and his speaking of the parable of the house built on the rock and the house built on the sand, As part of the same sermon Christ said: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  

The good fruits Christ was speaking of were not prophesying, healing the sick, casting out devils, calling Christ Lord, or other churchy things -- the Good Fruit is hearing the word that proceedeth from Father as Christ did and doing what He says. – We live in a day where I daresay no one hears the word that proceedeth from the mouth of the Father. Instead we live in a time where everyone waves around their bibles while boasting in their verbal professions of Christ as Lord. Are we to believe that those that do such will avoid the condemnation of Christ when they have clearly not even attained to being charged of Christ to dispense life to others? These are the five foolish virgins that did not have the oil. They did not have the oil because five of them deemed it unnecessary, all they deemed was necessary was that they had oil in their lamps for today, and when God breathed upon the works of their hand and they discovered their lack it was too late. Just as in the day of fire when those see their wood hay and stubble go up in flames it is to late to buy of the Lord gold tried in the fire. 

Going upstream a few more verses we find in Christ’s sermon:

Matthew 7:15-16 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Jesus here compares false prophets and false teachers with fruit from thorns and thistles – in the parable of the sower we are told by Christ that: the thorns and thistles are the cares of this world.  And in this parable; the parable of the wolves in sheep’s clothing Christ tells us that false prophets and false teachers are those who teach and prophesy from a standpoint of themselves being engulfed in thorns and thistles so that they in effect have become thorns and thistles. -- So that when they open their mouths and out of the treasures in their hearts they speak forth of the pleasures of the things of this world, and their lusts and desires for the riches of this world.    

And of these Christ said: Then I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from me ye that were charged with giving out life who instead have become a law unto yourselves.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for He spoke as one having authority and not as the scribes.

They were astonished because they sensed that He spoke as one that would and could carry out these words of judgment and cleaning out the corruption in the house of God. – They sensed fire and brimstone in Christ’s words, enough to send shivers down their spines. And this was in counter distinction with the scribes who only taught words and speculated as to their meanings.

The Church today is filled with scribes, none of whom none are able to speak the astonishing words of Christ – for they have never heard the word that proceedeth from the mouth of the father.  These men that corruptly build God’s temple in their own image and likeness rather, than in the image and likeness of Christ -- for they have never seen His shape or form.  

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and the gold sliver and precious things that you have attained in your pursuit of your salvation.