Parable of the Two Builders

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, 

but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. 

(Prov 14:29)

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

The third characteristic of God in Exodus 34:6 is patience. The Hebrew words used here, אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם (Exod 34:6 WTT), literally mean long

nostrilled. The words are often translated as slow to anger (ESV) or long suffering (KJV). Think of the person who takes a deep breath and counts to ten before responding to an insult. The Septuagint Greek translates this expression as μακρόθυμος (Exod. 34:6 BGT), which translates as “being self-controlled in the face of provocation, patient, forbearing, tolerant, even-tempered.” (BDAG 4685) By itself, the word for nostril is used in paying respect by bowing, a more positive inference (e.g. Gen 19:1). Proverbs equates such patience with great understanding or wisdom, the opposite of which is folly (Prov 14:29).

Patience as Parable Paradigm

Two aspects of patience, wisdom and time, characterize many of Jesus’ parables.

A wisdom theme pervades virtually all of Jesus´ parables in the sense of: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov 1:7) Consistent with the definition of a parable in both Greek and Hebrew, a parable imparts wisdom, much like Solomon’s proverbs. Jesus’ parables have the special characteristic of also pointing the listener to God, which firmly places them in the bible’s wisdom literature.

The time aspect of patience has a think-before-you-speak flavor. Consider the Parable of the Two Builders found in Matthew and Luke:

“Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:47-49)

The time aspect of the parable arises in anticipating future events, in this case a flood, that all reinforce the wisdom aspect. In our mind’s eye, we can see many homes built on delta flood plains and ocean sandbars only later to be inundated and destroyed.

Patience’s Eschatological Dimension

While the Parable of the Two Builders clearly captures wisdom common in the building trades of everyday life, it also has an eschatological character to it. In the Bible, a house can refer to a family tree or dynasty. Eschatology has to do with the end times, as described in scripture. In the parable Jesus compares someone who listens to his teaching as the builder, implying that Jesus is himself the rock on which the house is to be built. The flood in this parable is easily a metaphor for death, as in the flood of Noah (Gen 7) where the house is presumably all of humanity that descended from Noah’s line.

In for a penny, in for a pound: Patience is the root of eschatology. Because God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1), time will also have an end when Christ will return. Many of Jesus’ parables implicitly or explicitly call for us to anticipate his return. While Christ’s return has a future aspect, it informs how we are to live today. Because we know life’s story will have a happy ending, we need not worry and we can take risks for the kingdom today.

Patience’s Practical Application

While many people lampoon Christianity as pie in the sky, research shows that children who are patient today are much more likely to succeed in life. Walter Mischel explored the mystery of patience among four-year olds. Those willing to forgo a single treat now in deference to two in twenty minutes are substantially more likely to succeed in life even years later. Mischel (2014, 3) reports:

“The more seconds they waited at age four or five, the higher their SAT scores and the better their rated social and cognitive functioning in adolescence. At age 27-32, those who had waited longer during the Marshmallow Test in preschool had lower body mass index and a better sense of self-worth, pursued their goals more effectively, and coped more adaptively with frustration and stress.”

These impressive results at an early age suggest that patience is a valuable characteristic that can presumably be taught or learned by simply imitating Jesus.

Parable of the Two Builders
Also see:
The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
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Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com




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