“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16) The Moon does not produce its own light; it reflects light from the Sun. Moonlight is sunlight that strikes the Moon’s surface and bounces back towards Earth. The Moon acts like a giant mirror, reflecting sunlight back to Earth.
Jesus once said, “I am the light of the world.” (He is the source.) He now looks at His followers and says, “You are the light of the world.” Jesus is the source of light (John 8:12), and His followers reflect His light in a dark, sinful world.
Jesus is saying, “Just like I shine in the world, I want you to shine in the world.”
1. Our Nature Jesus compared Christians to a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
At night, a city on a hill shines its light in all directions. The light can be seen far and wide, illuminating the way for many travelers and showing them which way to go. Unbelievers live in spiritual darkness.
Christians are to be “the light of the world,” illuminating the darkness caused by sin and giving guidance to a world that has lost its way. When we live out the teachings of Jesus, we become like a city on a hill, leading people in spiritual darkness to Jesus Christ. Jesus also compared Christians to a candle on a lampstand. A bushel refers to a small wooden bowl or basket used to measure grain.
It was a common, everyday household container. Jesus uses the imagery of a lamp being covered by a bushel to explain that the Christian life should be public, not private or hidden. A “candlestick” was also a common household item. It was a lampstand used to elevate a small ceramic oil lamp. These clay lamps held olive oil and a wick. When placed on a stand in the center of the room, in the highest possible position, it would illuminate an entire house, and its light could be seen by everyone.
The lampstand is symbolic of how a Christian’s witness should be visible to everyone, not hidden.
2. Our Command Jesus commands His followers to shine as lights in the world.
We let our light shine in the way we treat a worker across the counter, in the way we order a meal at a restaurant, in the way we treat those who work for us or treat those we work for, in the way we play a game or drive a car, in the daily language we use, in what we read, watch, or where we go.
A city on a hill is visible for all to see. People are watching us.
One Sunday on their way home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.” The mother said, “Oh? Why is that?” The little girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” The mother replied, “Yes, that’s true, honey.” “And he also said that God lives in us? Is that true, Mommy?” Again the mother replied, “Yes.” “Well,” said the little girl, “if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”
If God really lives in us, He is going to show through. He is going to show through especially in the way we treat others.
3. Our Motive “That they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
What is the purpose of good works?
The purpose of our good works is not self-glorification, but that others may glorify our Father in heaven.
Why do we show compassion to others, practice humility, generosity, and forgiveness? Why do we spend time with someone who is lonely, visit the sick, or give someone a ride? Why do we practice honesty, patience, or humility? Why do we share the gospel with someone? We perform good works so that others may see and glorify our Father in heaven.
It is not you and I that people want to see. They want to see our Father in heaven.
A man returning from a trip brought his wife a matchbox that would glow in the dark. After he gave it to her, she turned out the light, but it did not glow. Both thought they had been cheated. Then the wife noticed some French words on the box and asked a friend to translate them. The inscription said: “If you want me to shine in the night, keep me in the light.”
It is the same with us. We must spend time in God’s Word and in prayer. We must keep ourselves in the light.
Thought for the week: Spend time with Jesus this week. And let your light shine.
Prayer for the week: Pray that the light of Jesus will shine on Madill.