Let Your Light Shine

Here are my summary notes

You are the light of the world

Photo by Dawn Carlson The South Haven Pier like all lighthouses shines its light after dark to aid navigation. People who work with integrity and skill are noticed as having a good reputation. The voice of such people is validated by their reputation. A good message helps people to navigate their lives. South Haven Pier Winter Sunset and others are available from the Photo Gallery. Also find out why I feature lighthouses in Why a Lighthouse.

Jesus called His many followers the light of the world! He was on a mountainside teaching them in the hearing of a very large crowd. I think Jesus was urging His followers to go out into the world and be a positive influence to their families and friends, at work and in business and politics, and in every other relationship and occupation there is.

Not merely a religious message

But He told these followers that the influence they are to have is not merely a religious message. He told them to live in such a way that actions of good work done with integrity and skill give them the credibility for people to listen to their message. The message they were to bring to the world was, of course of monumental importance; it was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Contradiction?

Jesus told his followers later in chapter six that they were to do their good works in secret. His instruction seems contradictory at first. However, these verses are actually complementary rather than contradictory. Jesus pointed out that the attitude for doing good to others must not be for self aggrandizement or showy self righteousness because these attitudes and actions have short lived rewards. Long lasting rewards come from doing what is right with humbleness and strength of character that is satisfied by meeting needs and with integrity that is practiced even when no one is looking.

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COMMAND: “Let your light shine…”

Mt 5:16

RECIPIENT:

To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain

CONTEXT: My notes about the context of this command

A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount:
Mt 5:14-15 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵nor does {anyone} light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

COMMAND FULL TEXT AND IMMEDIATE RESULT:

Mt 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

RESULT:

After Jesus concluded the sermon, two chapters later:
Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; ²⁹for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
¹When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.

DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text

(word: Strong’s # Greek pronunciation — definition)

light: G5457 φῶς foce — literally or figuratively luminous

shine: G2989 λάμπω lam’-pō — to beam

MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:

Contrast Mt 5:16 with what Jesus said in Matthew 6 (below) where Jesus commands me to do good works in secret. These seem contradictory at first. However, when I asked the question, “How are these related and how do they make sense together?”, the solution became obvious. These verses are complementary rather than contradictory. In each case below Jesus pointed out that the attitude for doing good for others must not be for self aggrandizement or showy self righteousness because these attitudes and actions have short lived rewards. Long lasting rewards come from doing what is right with humbleness and strength of character that is satisfied by the meeting of needs and integrity that are practiced even when no one is looking.

Verses about doing good in secret

Mt 6:1-4 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. ²“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ³“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees {what is done} in secret will reward you.”

Mt 6:6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees {what is done} in secret will reward you.”

Mt 6:17-18 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face ¹⁸so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees {what is done} in secret will reward you.”

MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application

Hard work done with integrity and honesty is difficult to hide. Whether on the job, in the family or volunteering, someone will know who did what. The goal is to humbly conduct myself in such a way that when people notice what was done, they are more grateful for the result and give thanks to God or to those whom I represent than to me personally.

Below, please share your comments , question or perhaps your own application for this command

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB