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Bible story · Matthew 7:24–27

The Wise and Foolish Builders

One house stands on the rock, and one falls on the sand. A 2-minute animated story, told simply for children and families, with each verse from the King James Version.

Start the storyFor parents

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Jesus asked the crowd, “Why do you call me ‘Lord,’ but don’t do what I say?” Then he told them a story about two builders.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 6:46 KJV

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“Everyone who hears my words and does them is like a wise man, who built his house on the rock.”

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:

Matthew 7:24 KJV

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“But everyone who hears my words and doesn’t do them is like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.”

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:

Matthew 7:26 KJV

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“Then the rain poured down, the floods came up, and the winds blew and beat against the house on the rock.”

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.

Matthew 7:25 KJV

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“But the house on the rock did not fall. The storm could not shake it, because it was built on solid rock.”

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Luke 6:48 KJV

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“The same storm beat against the house on the sand, and it fell down with a great crash.”

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.

Matthew 7:27 KJV

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Jesus meant that we should not just hear his words but do what he says. Then our lives will stand strong, like a house built on the rock.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22 KJV

The end

Next story: Jesus Calms the Storm

What does this story teach?

  • Listening to Jesus is good, but doing what he says is best.
  • Building our lives on Jesus keeps us strong in hard times.
  • Storms come to everyone. What matters is our foundation.
  • Small choices to obey Jesus are like bricks on the rock.

Questions to talk about

Use these with your children after the story, at bedtime, at the table or in a class.

  1. What was the difference between the two builders?
  2. What happened to each house in the storm?
  3. What do you think the “rock” stands for?
  4. What is one thing Jesus says that you can do this week?

Read the story in the Bible

This retelling uses simple words for young readers. Read the full account in Matthew 7:24–27, one verse per screen:

Matthew 7 Luke 6

Frequently asked questions

Where is the parable of the wise and foolish builders in the Bible?

It is in Matthew 7:24–27, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, and in Luke 6:46–49.

What is the rock in the parable?

The rock stands for hearing Jesus’ words and doing them (Matthew 7:24). Building on the rock means living by what Jesus teaches.

What does the storm represent?

The storm stands for the hard times and tests that come to everyone. A life built on obeying Jesus stands firm through them.

What is the lesson of the wise and foolish builders?

Hearing God’s word is not enough on its own; we need to put it into practice. As James 1:22 says, “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

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