Mt. 7:24-29, A Solid Foundation Prevents Falling

In terms of the question of Israel’s stumbling, the only thing to remember from today’s post is that they certainly did not “fall” in the sense of this word.  As we noted, this word speaks of a complete fall.  It is used of “bowing” before someone because a “bow” involved complete self-denial so as to worship someone.  It is also used in other senses.  It is a lengthy list so will take two posts.  But there will be some great fodder for meditation.

piptō (verb): to fall

·       Mt 2:11: wise men fell down & worshipped

·       Mt 4:9: Satan offers kingdoms of world if Jesus will fall down & worship him

·       Mt 7:25,27: house on rock didn’t fall; house on sand fell, great was fall (ptwsis)

·       Mt 10:29: not one sparrow falls to ground w/o Father's will

·       Mt 13:4,5,7,8: some seed fell by wayside, some fell on stony places, some fell among thorns, others fell on good ground (Mk 4:4,5,7,8; Lk 8:5,7,8,14)

·       Mt 15:14: if the blind leads the blind they will both fall into the ditch

·       Mt 15:27: even little dogs eat crumbs that fall fr. master's table

·       Mt 17:6: disciples hear voice at Transfiguration, fall on faces, greatly afraid

·       Mt 17:15: epileptic, often falls into the fire or water

·       Mt 18:26,29: servant fell before master, 2nd servant fell before 1st servant.

·       Mt 21:44ab: he who falls on stone (X) broken; he whom stone falls on is ground to powder (Lk 20:18ab). (With respect to the previous post and Rom. 11:11-12, Israel stumbled over Christ.  Those who fell on the stone were broken. But the entire nation did not fall as there was a remnant, 11:1-10, and there is a future salvation of the nation, 11:26-27.)

·       Mt 24:29: at 2nd coming stars will fall fr. heaven (Mk 13:25)

·       Mt 26:39: Christ in Gethsemanae, went further, fell on his face (Mk 14:35)

·       Mk 5:22: Jairus fell at his feet (Lk 8:41)

·       Mk 9:20: possessed man  fell on the ground, wallowed, foaming at mouth

·       Lk 5:12: leper fell on face, implored Jesus to heal him

·       Lk 10:18: Christ saw Satan fall fr. heaven like lightening

·       Lk 11:17: a house divided falls

·       Lk 13:4: those on whom the tower fell & killed, are they worse sinners?

·       Lk 14:5: who, having ox, etc. fall into pit on Sabbath, won't pull him out?

·       Lk 16:17: easier for heaven/earth to pass away than for 1 tittle of law to fail

·       Lk 16:21: beggar desires to be fed crumb that fell fr. rich man's table

·       Lk 17:16: 1 of 10 lepers returns, falls on face, says thanks

·       Lk 21:24: Jews to fall by sword, be led away captive

We will continue in the next post.