The qualifications needed by Christ’s disciples for a right discharge of the duties of their position and calling (vers. Not thus did God create His more wonderful spiritual world. Matthew 5:11; Matthew 5:13), then that would be conduct as opposed to the purpose for which you are destined as if a town set on a hill should wish to be concealed, or if one were to place (Matthew 5:15) a light under a bushel. This Christian consistency requires nonconformity to the world, and the good works of an active Christian life. . Beyond is the vast plateau of the Hauran, faintly shading with its rocky ranges the utmost horizon eastward. The city upon the hill is thrust upon the notice of all. The end with a view to which the exhibition takes place. And having built a stately palace there, where formerly had stood the palace of Julian the Apostate (the Romans being much against it), he gave up the work. Then the light is a joyous and happy sort of thing. Let it be observed, too, that while the two figures of salt and sunlight both express the same function of Christians - their blessed influence on their fellow men - they each set this forth under a different aspect. 5:15 Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. It is not enough to be Christians only to ourselves, we must be so before God and men. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp-stand and it gives light to all who are in the house. You cannot see them, but there are ships passing and repassing there to every point of the compass. In looking at a painted window, we think more of the artist and his picture than of the light. Hilary: It is the nature of a light to emit its rays whithersoever it is carried about, and when brought into a house to dispel the darkness of that house. God created us to glorify Him, and this is why we do good works – not to be seen or praised (Matthew 6:1-17), but so that we and those around us will “ give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Christian, YOU ARE MEANT TO SHINE BY DOING WORKS THAT GLORIFY GOD. Before the incarnation Christ was the light of men; also the historic Christ is the source of all revelation. these good works will bring glory to God. Kindled from the Sun, they are to go forth and cast their light upon the world. They will be ‘persecuted’. man's policy, or the outgrowth of circumstances, and the mention of it has no business in the Creed. This is to be done by the position we take up. The criterion at the judgment. In the Parable of the Light recorded in Matthew 5:14-16 (found also in Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16-17; 11:33-36), Jesus Christ uses two figures of speech to express the responsibility of true Christians to influence the world: "a city . The present Hebrew name is Zephath, and may either refer to its elevation like a watch-tower, or to the beauty and grandeur of the surrounding prospects. 6. For that is now their very purpose for being in the world. What does this teach us as to the Church of Christ? Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world We are all the children of light, after having been enlightened by faith, and are commanded to carry in our hands “burning lamps,” (that we may not wander in darkness,) and even to point out to others the way of life, (Luke 12:35. (S. Partridge, M. V. That good actions will be seen, and will lead men to honour God. It would give additional force and beauty to the passage to suppose that he pointed to the city. We do not need to make efforts to make the light shine, it shines of its own accord. Pseudo-Chrys. Matthew 5:16, CSB: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." See John 5:35. in Mont., i, 7: Had He only said, "That they may see your good works," He would have seemed to have set up as an end to be sought the praised of men, which the hypocrites desire; but by adding, "and glorify your Father," he teaches that we should not seek as an end to please men with our good works, but referring all to the glory of God, therefore seek to please men, that in that God may be glorified. “You are the light of the world.” As we have seen the idea comes from the fact that Jesus Himself has come as a light into the world (Matthew 4:16; compare John 8:12). Jesus is addressing his followers in this encouraging, but challenging text. Remig. These words as they illustrate the world. And man's spirit did extinguish that light, and the spiritual world became anarchy and confusion. (38-42) The law of love explained. We know too well how helpless and hopeless we must look to those who judge Jesus Christ by us. It means that the light Christians give forth to others is truly derived from Christ (2 Peter 1:19). IV. Aug.: By the world here we must not understand heaven and earth, but the men who are in the world; or those who love the world for whose enlightenment the Apostles were sent. The inference which he draws from it by way of application. For we are in the world. I. God said, "Let there be light, and there was light;" and from that first day to this the natural light of this world has never failed. A city that is set on a hill - This place may receive light from the following passage in Maundrell's Travels. In the same way the evil deeds of open and avowed unbelievers are taken no notice of by the world, for there is no light behind them. Salt operates internally, in the mass with which it comes in contact; the sunlight operates externally, irradiating all that it reaches. In the East, cities are often built on hills. If you would desire timidly to withdraw into concealment (comp. : Thus shewing them that they ought to be careful of their own walk and conversation, seeing they were set in the eyes of all, like a city on a hill, or a lamp on a stand. The lowest requirement of Christian consistency is the absence of every evil work-the least immorality vitiates the entire profession. “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them.” Secrecy in good deeds is not absolute, but relative; not positive, and for its own sake, but in order to exhibit the vitiating effect of ostentation. So also Ephesians 5:8; ἦτε σκότος, νῦν δὲ φῶς ἐν κυρίῳ—light, as partaking of His Light: for πᾶν τὸ φανερούμενον (see note, ib. 2. The Church of God is such a city, and must be seen, like the light. III. 14 Ye are the light of the world. Beecher.). A. 2. Matthew 5:14. Observe, 2. "You are the light of the world. Jesus himself is the “light of all mankind…that shines in the darkness” (Jn 1:4-5). And here too, φῶς in this verse = λύχνος in Matthew 5:15, where the comparison is resumed. Boles said of this, "The comparison (is) between a city on a hill and a group, or church, of his disciples. ), 2. Here they are identified with the light itself; and just as God is said to be a light, so are His people in their measure and in their degree said to be a light. Cussing. III. Beyond is the vast plateau of the Hauron, faintly shading with its rocky ranges the utmost horizon eastward. : Mark how great His promise to them, men who were scarce known in their own country that the fame of them should reach to the ends of the earth. (43-48) Commentary on Matthew 5:1,2 (Read Matthew 5:1,2) None will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek it from Christ by the rule of his word. Light of the world, נר עולם ner olam, was a title applied to the most eminent rabbins. ), When Lord Peterborough lodged for s, season with Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, he was so delighted with his piety and virtue, that he exclaimed at parting, “If I stay here any longer, I shall become a Christian in spite of myself.” (Anecdotes. The priests of the law were to be neither deformed nor defective. All the glass in the optical instruments, whether they are intended for scientific purposes, or for ordinary use, should be free from dross. II. in the house. Christ is the Light of the world John 1:4,9; but though the sun be the light of the world, yet it doth not follow that the moon and the stars also are not so: he is the original Light, the great Light who hath light from and in himself. Being twelve they had only so … A great central storehouse of coal-gas is accumulated, and with that all the lamps are connected by a hidden system of pipes, so that each is supplied with the necessary quantity; and, as the result, we can thread our way through the intricate places of the city as easily, if not as safely, by night as by day. rights reserved. The apostles, Christian ministers, and all Christians, are lights of the world, because they, by their instructions and example, show what God requires, what is the condition of man, what is the way of duty, peace, and happiness the way that leads to heaven. We would not put ourselves forward. (A. Maclaren, D. D.), Look at the primitive Schwartz, at the devoted Brainerd, at the zealous Corrie, and many others; Oh! This would link in with the idea of glorifying God in the last phrase of the verse, and with the recognition that they are now the new congregation of Israel (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 21:43). (R. Montgomery, M. In these Scriptures above, Jesus is explaining that if we are Christians, then we have His Light dwelling within us. II. (The Preachers’ Monthly. The one idea is that of publicity. 5:14 You are the light of the world. 3. , that, "on the fourth day it was said, "let there be light": which was done with respect to the Israelites, because they are they מאירים לעולם, "which give light to the world", as it is written, Daniel 12:3 '. Matthew 5:14-16 Yves I-Bing Cheng, M.D., M.A. The corn-measure aptly denotes the things of the body, whether because our reward shall be measured out to us, [2 Corinthians 5:10] as each one shall receive the things done in the body; or because worldly goods which pertain to the body come and go within a certain measure of time, which is signified by the corn-measure, whereas things eternal and spiritual are contained within no such limit. And so the text seems to offer the antidote to its own difficulty. Note, however, that the first mention speaks of their responsibility to their Father. That to attempt to conceal or hide our light is to betray our trust, and hinder the cause of piety, and render our lives useless. 5:16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. It is as much as if our Saviour should have said, You had need be holy, for your conversation cannot be hid, any more than a city can that is built upon a hill, which is obvious to every eye. According to our place in life, so God expects from us that we should shine out in the darkness of the world which yet knows not Him. L. Alexander, Penny Pulpit, New Series, No. It is the inevitable position for all true Christians, a privilege given to them by God. 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