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The Light of the World.
Matthew 5:14–16
by Blake J. Matthews
There was once a nomad, travelling across the dessert in the Middle East.
He woke up in the middle of the night hungry. Remembering that he had
some dried figs, he lit a lamp and grabbed a fig. After taking a bite,
and to his disgust, he noticed a worm in it. Without hesitation he threw
it outside his tent and reached for another fig and took a bite. Shocked
and disgusted he saw another worm after biting into it. This fig, too,
quickly found its way out of the tent. Now realizing that at his rate,
he would soon be out of figs and still be hungry, he did what most of
us would do in that situation, he extinguished the lamp and continued
to eat the figs.
Now on to our text.
Matthew 5
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot
be hidden. 15 "Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
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.
Now I don't know about you, but when someone calls me something I usually
like to know what it means. When Jesus calls me something in relation
to the world, I definitely want to know what it means. The Greek word
used here for light if phos. Phos is the light of the sun
or of the day as opposed to the light of the moon or other luminaries
of the night. (footnote) Phos is never kindled and therefore can
never be quenched. This contrasts another word for light, luchnos,
which is kindled by the hand of another.
The light we are to be is not our own. This light is not something that
we can create, whether by our actions, our abilities, or our appearance.
2 Corinthians
6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the
One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be
of God and not from ourselves;
Because we did not create it, we can not quench it. The light that is
in us is unquenchable. However, we can put it under a basket. Notice that
putting it under a basket would conceal the light, but not extinguish
it. We can however cover and dim that light by either our actions or our
own timidity.
Remember what happened when Gideon's army of three hundred men broke
their pitchers and let their light shine? The whole Midianite army fled.
Some were so distressed that they killed each other. Imagine what God
would do through a group of believers who are not afraid nor ashamed to
let their let shine before men. All those who stand against God would
flee. Unfortunately, we have grown content to stay inside the four walls
of the church. We have been intimidated by the world and have been told
a lie that our faith should be a private matter, and, shamefully we have
believed it.
Sometimes we justify keeping our faith, our light, hidden be claiming
that we are undercover. There is no place for undercover or secret agent
Christianity. We are to be as prominent as a city on a hill, as a candle
on a lampstand, as a watchmen on a wall. And, we are to share the light
with all those around us. As the world grows darker, our light should
be even more evident.
I attended a Christian School from pre-kindergarten through to the eighth
grade. I sat in classes with my peers for ten years. We were all in Bible
classes together. We were all went to chapel together on Wednesdays. We
all participated in the Christmas and Easter programs together. We all
prayed together. With few exceptions, I cannot say absolutely, positively
for sure how many were or are saved. I am sure there were many. But I
do not know for sure who and how many. You see there was a lot of ambient
light around in that Christian School. First, there were a lot of Christians,
and second there was a Christian environment. It was difficult to distinguish
between those who were truly saved and those who were going through the
motions.
That changed when I went to a public high school. Certain people seemed
different from others. That high school was a darker place and those who
were lights could be seen more clearly amongst the darkness. I remember
distinctly students, teachers, deans and principals who were Christians.
Now when I went to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Christians were
like halogen headlights on a car travelling on a cross-country highway
in the middle of a moonless night.
Christians will stand out when they are in God's will. Their countenance
will be different. Their priorities will be different.
The world is asking, "What's so different about Christians?" Now allow
me to ask you a question. Are they asking about the cause and reason for
the difference or are they asking, "Is there even a difference?"
Have you given anybody a reason to ask what is different about you? Have
you given anyone a reason to glorify your Father in heaven?
O.K. we're light. Now, as light, what are we supposed to do? What does
does light do?
Light Exposes Sin and Brings Conviction
Ephesians 5
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness
and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And
do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead
even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things
which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when
they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is
light. 14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the
dead, And Christ will shine on you."
John 3
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,
but that the world might be saved through Him.18 "He who believes in
Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God. 19 "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were
evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come
to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 "But he who practices
the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having
been wrought in God."
Conviction should result not solely from preaching, but from practicing
what we preach. We need to live out the standard that Christ established.
It is convicting to be around someone who lives a life set apart for God,
especially if you are ensnared in sin. Have you ever noticed how you're
not always invited to the same social events as everybody else? Not that
they don't like you, but your being there would convict them. They know
your convictions. People often sin socially. They want people around them
who are going to conform to their ways and do the same things they do.
There is a fallacy of (S)afety (I)n (N)umbers.
Why do you think that there are so many people who are trying to get
rid of all traces of Christianity in public life? Whether it is "In
God We Trust" on a coin, the Ten Commandments in a courtroom, prayer
in public schools, a cross in a cemetery, or a nativity scene on public
property. These things remind them of God, and ultimately of their own
sin.
Convicting the world of sin doesn't always mean going around and pointing
your finger, hitting them over the head with your Bible and yelling "You're
going to hell you lo-down good-for-nothing heathen sinner. By the way
God loves you!" But it does mean calling sin, "sin", and
not bowing to political correctness and social pressures. It does mean
proclaiming the message of repentance and faith in the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Jesus' harshest words were for the scribes and Pharisees and their
self-righteous attitudes. Others who met Christ knew they were sinners
by simply being in His presence.
After a miraculous catch of fish, Simon Peter was well aware of his condition.
In fact, so aware of it that he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (Luke 5:8).
Later on in Luke, chapeter 7, a sinful woman came to the house where
Jesus was dining with a Pharisee. Jesus didn't rebuke her or call out
all her sins. She knew she was a sinner. She knew it so well that she
brought an expensive vial of perfume, annointed His feet with it and then
used hair own hair to wipe His feet as she kissed them. Jesus pointed
out that it was the Pharisee whose attitude was wrong, not hers. How often
have we been that Pharisee? Remember 1 Peter 5:5, God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble. The more we are in His presence, the
more we become acutely aware of just how much we need His grace. May we
never be proud or haughty as we share with others what has been so graciously
given to us.
There were also those who acknowledged their sinfulness and their neediness
by hearing the gospel.
Acts 2
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and
said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we
do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 10
13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
14 How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how
shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless
they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF
THOSE WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!" 16 However, they did not
all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED
OUR REPORT?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word
of Christ.
There's not a person here who, if all their deeds were exposed, wouldn't
run down these aisles and repent of their sins before God and cry out
for forgiveness through the atoning death and resurrection of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. Conviction does not only apply to the unsaved
but also to Christians as well.
Light Explains/Exemplifies the Truth (Christ) and Brings Clarity
John 1
9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens
every man.
Luke 2 (Simeon in the Temple)
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 "Now
Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant depart in peace, according
to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You
have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION
TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."
Acts 8
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Arise and go
south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a
desert road.) 27 And he arose and went; and behold, there was an Ethiopian
eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was
in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28 And he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading
the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join
this chariot." 30 And when Philip had run up, he heard him reading Isaiah
the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31
And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited
Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture
which he was reading was this: "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS
MOUTH. 33 "IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO SHALL RELATE
HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH." 34 And the
eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet
say this? Of himself, or of someone else?" 35 And Philip opened his
mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
Light Exalts God and Brings Commendation (Praise)
All that we do shall cause those around to glorify God.
Matthew 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.
Luke 2:32
A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people
Israel."
2 Corinthians 4:4
in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
How can we possibly be light?
This is a tall order. Jesus was identified as the Light of the world.
And in Matthew 5:14, Jesus states that we are to be the light. 1 John
2:6 …the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in
the same manner as He walked.
John 20
21 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the
Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this,
He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 16
7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away;
for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I
go, I will send Him to you. [Exposes and Convicts of sin]
8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin,
and righteousness, and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not
believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the
Father, and you no longer behold Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because
the ruler of this world has been judged. [Explains and Clarifies
the truth] 12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you
cannot bear them now. 13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He
will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own
initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose
to you what is to come. [Exalts Christ, or Commends, glorifies
Christ] 14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and
shall disclose it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine;
therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.
The Holy Spirit now convicts concerning righteousness because Christ,
the Righteous One has gone to the Father. In the O.T. the Law was the
standard of righteousness and brought conviction of sin. When Christ was
on earth, He himself was the standard, having fulfilled the Law. In Matthew
5:17, Jesus says "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill."
Remember the nomad in the tent. Notice that he didn't run down to the
supermarket and get a new bag of figs, he didn't even try to wash the
ones he had. He simply got rid of the light and continued to eat the figs,
paying no attention at all to reality. What you don't know can't hurt
you, right? Unfortunately, there are many who live their lives avoiding
the light. Ignoring the problem of sin. Ignoring the truth of God's word.
They simply would rather not see sin and it's consequences.
In 1 John chapter one, the disciple whom Jesus loved warns us against
lying about sin.
1 John 1
5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to
you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If
we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth; [lie to others, hypocrisy,
no light] 7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His
Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are
deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [lie to self,
duplicity, no truth] 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word
is not in us. [lie to God, apostasy, no word]
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