Good morning and welcome to the Panhandle. Come on in, the Bible is open and His Word is great so let's do some surfing. Matthew 5:14-16 is where we will be hanging out today.
Light in a dark world...did you know there is no such thing as darkness? Darkness is a result of no light so it is a causality. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:3-5). When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
I have a friend John Conaway who use to work on refrigerator trailers. One of his jobs was to get inside the trailer and have them shut the doors. Why would he do this, because with the doors shut there was total darkness in the trailer and if the trailer had any holes in it they would be easy to spot. It didn't matter how small the hole was, the light came streaming through.
Just like a hole can let in light in the trailer, our Lord, Christ Jesus taught that our influence can light the whole world! Christian influence is described in two ways, the first we saw last week we are to be salt of the earth and as such we purify, preserve, and flavor. This week we see the second way. We are to demonstrate the love of Christ Jesus in us and be the light of the world.
Light is a symbol of radiance, of openness, of joy compatible with the “blessedness” expressed in the Beatitudes. There should not be anything secretive about the Christian commitment or way of life. We are described as a light to the world, an influence for openness and honesty, for acceptance and love. This is not a call to retreat from life, but a call to manifest the joy of the fellowship that we have with God, as witnesses to a dark world. As Christian author James A. Tasker said, “The disciples must not hide themselves, but live and work in places where their influence can be felt.”
The purpose of a light is to light up it's surroundings, or to be a reference point; thereby serving as a guide for travelers. We are to be lights in the world, not calling attention to ourselves but pointing the way of God.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
1. The Christian’s Light Can Light the World.
When Christ Jesus said, “You are the light of the world,” He related the mission of the Christian to a familiar 1st century object, a household lamp. William Barclay described the light that those who heard the Sermon on the Mount would be familiar with. He indicated that the houses in Palestine were very dark and had only one small circular window not more than eighteen inches across. Each home had a lamp that was no more than a gravy boat filled with oil with a floating wick. The lamp stood on a lampstand that was a small, roughly shaped wooden table. For safety’s sake, the lamp was removed from its stand and put under an earthen bushel measure so that it might burn without risk when the family was away from the home.(William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Chapters 1 – 10, Daily Study Bible Series, vol. 10 [Philadelphia: Westminster, 1958], 119).
Light expels darkness. The primary duty of the lamp’s light was to illuminate an area so those who lived in the home did not stumble or fall over anything. It's also was used as a guide, a guide to a house or a place of business, or to keep ships from running into dangerous rocks.
Christ Jesus said that Christians are to love in such a way that others will see Christ Jesus in our lives. As the lamp's light was shone through the small window and as its rays reached the rooms of the house, so you should reflect the light of Christ Jesus around you. The best guide to a life in Christ Jesus is that of a Christian whose influence, who's light; points others to Christ Jesus.
An elderly blind man was seen carrying a lantern on a dark night. “Since you can’t see, why are you carrying a lantern?” asked an interested friend.
“I carry a lantern at night,” he said, “so that others won’t stumble over me.”
Your influence (your light) should serve as a warning sign for all to see. Your life should say, “Warning! Walk this way, it will lead you to Christ Jesus!” Are you being the guiding light that you should be?
“There is no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.” - the Gospel of Matthew Volume 1, William Barclay
2. Only Christians Can Be the True Light of the World.
Some would say this is a bold statement and most would say this is a very narrow minded statement. What ever your take on this statement is, I tell you simply, it is a true statement.
The function of light and you as a Christian is to make reality or truth visible, thereby giving direction or guidance by what is seen. Christ Jesus used the emphatic “You” to indicate that every believer is to be light. You are to be a light now, it is in your very nature as a new creation in Christ Jesus. No one else can take the place of Christians as the light of this world, which is dark with sin.
Now while Christ Jesus was on earth, He was the Light of the World ~ Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12). Since Christ Jesus left the earth, Christians have been given the responsibility of reflecting the light of Christ Jesus to the world just as the moon reflects the light of the sun ~ Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:14-15).
The radiance of your life depends upon your relationship with Christ Jesus. Is He your Lord and Saviour?
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.” (2 Corinthians 4:6 ).
Do you know the true Light of the world? Do you know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour?
Matthew Henry in his commentary notes - The gospel is so strong a light, and carries with it so much of its own evidence, that, like a city on a hill, it cannot be hid, it cannot but appear to be from God, to all those who do not wilfully shut their eyes against it.1
3. The Christian’s Light Can't Be Hidden.
Light is totally different from darkness. It shines out to conquer gloom, to reveal a situation or show the way. Christ Jesus says His followers are to give spiritual light to this world—their good deeds shining out for the glory of God.
A light is meant to shine and give direction. Like “a city set on a hill,” your influence is not to be hidden. A city with shining lights can be seen from all sides on a dark night. Christ Jesus has called you be obvious as you radiate His light and point others to the proper path.
Your influence should be evident, like a city on a hill or a lamp … on its stand. Early Church Father, Origen and other writers testify that the good works of Christians in the early church did more to convert the world than miracles or preaching.2 Light-radiating people live so that others see their good deeds and give praise not to them but to their Father in heaven. When you stand in God’s righteousness by faith in Him, you have an intimate spiritual relationship with Him, much like that of a child to their loving father.
A concealed lamp, placed under a bowl (a clay container for measuring grain) would be useless.“Bury my influence with me” was the request of a Christian whose light had not shone very brightly for Christ. When he came to die, he was filled with regret that he had done so little for Christ Jesus. But Christ Jesus taught that one’s influence cannot be buried with them. So—don’t fail the Father by hiding your light away!
“I'm to young,” or “I'm to old,” or “I don't know what to say,” and the list goes on. For us they may seem like valid reasons for not letting our light shine, but not to God.
4. There Is A Place For Every Christian’s Light.
You are not fired up to fizzle out. Lights are lit for the purpose of shining. They are never lit for the purpose of being covered.
This is important so listen up, there is a place in God's kingdom work for every light. There is a place in God's kingdom work for you. Just as each light in the Israeli houses sat on its own particular table so that it would shine through the small window and to the rooms of the house, each of you have a particular place from which you are to shine.
Not all lights have the same wattage. Some are 15 watts and others are 500 watts or even 1,000 watts. Not every Christian has the same walk with Christ Jesus. But, God has a use for every bulb in a dark world. Regardless of how dimly your light shines, your light is being observed by someone and influencing them for Christ Jesus.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Are you letting your light shine?
Light makes no noise, but it draws our attention to it. Your Christians influence should causes others to see Christ Jesus in you. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. (Matthew 5:15). But for what purpose? Surely not for your own glory! You influence the world toward Christ Jesus for the glory of God. Like Paul, you affirm, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
Thanks for dropping by. I pray God's blessings for you and yours today. And I'll see you next week when we dive into God's Word again.
Biblesurfer
William Barclay – the Gospel of Matthew, volume 1; Revised Addition
Stuart K. Weber – Holman New Testament Commentary
M.S. Augsburger & L.J. Ogilvie – Matthew (Vol. 24)
1 Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1631). Peabody: Hendrickson.
2 Dummelow, J. R. (Ed.). (1936). A Commentary on the Holy Bible (p. 641). New York: The Macmillan Company
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