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You are the Light of the World


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You are the Light of the World


 

In Matthew, we have all read and studied The Sermon on the Mount. Today I want us to focus on one thing that Jesus taught in that sermon. 

Matthew 5:14-16

 

In these verses, Jesus describes for us what our function is as God’s people. When we break it down to one word, we can see that our function as His children is influence. When we live by the principles of all of the previous beatitudes, we will have a huge influence on the world we live in. This does not mean we will have some great impact on government policy. It does not mean that we are to lead some political revolution. What it does mean is that our influence will be that of  individual character. This is the influence that Jesus had on His world in the first century.  This is the influence of both doing and saying.  As we have seen in our studies, God introduced light into a dark world.

He did this first in the creation of the physical light of the universe.

Genesis 1: 2 - 3




 

He did this again in the incarnation and revelation of His Son, Jesus.

John 1: 4 - 5

 

Jesus declared this about Himself. 

John 8:12  

 

Using the exact same choice of words in Matthew, He tells us that as His people, we are the light of the world.

 

He said it very clearly. “You are the Light of the World”.

This is one of those statements that should cause us to rejoice about our situation in the world. If we are the light of the world, then we must be in the light ourselves. It is a glorious thing to be living in the light, and not groping in darkness.

Ephesians 5:8

Colossians 1:13 

 

Jesus’ words are designed to describe, not just our blessed position, but our serious responsibility. We not only have received the light of the gospel of Christ, we have become reflectors of that light.  The world must see God in us, and through us.



 

Notice that Jesus in this part of the statement is not issuing a direct command. Instead, He is stating a fact. You ARE the light of the world. The word you is emphatic in the sentence. You and you alone. As God’s people, we are the reflection of His light to the world. The question is whether or not we will allow our light to shine, or will we hide it? 

 

Light does not struggle to be noticed when it is introduced into a dark place. Light is the opposite of darkness. That seems too obvious to mention, yet there is a prevailing conclusion that God doesn’t expect his people to live much differently than the rest of the world. Many false teachers say that, “We must strive to coexist because, after all, we are all the same”. We are NOT all the same.  If we are following Christ, we will expose the darkness of the world we live in. We see this shown in the statement the writer of Hebrews said about Noah.

Hebrews 11:7

 

Noah didn’t build the ark to condemn the world. God ‘s light of revelation had already done that. However, when Noah built it he did condemn the world because light exposes and condemns the darkness.  Don’t be discouraged if people view your lifestyle as condemning others. This simply means that your light is shining bright enough to be noticed.


 

We must also realize that if we are lights, then we are meant to shine.  As Jesus said in the passage we are studying, a city on a hill cannot be hidden. You don’t light a lamp and put it under a basket. When you’re driving, you can see the lights of cities from miles away. Those are unhidden lights, and we should be the same. 

 

Jesus’ words clearly reject a monastic approach to godly living. God does not want us to isolate ourselves from the world. He doesn’t want us to hide out in a church building, feeling superior to others. We must be seen by others in order to fulfill our purpose as lights. But we must be careful here and remember one thing.  This visibility is not about us.

 

As God’s people, Israel was the recipient of God’s revelation.  As people of light they were to let that light shine in the world.  But their obedience was supposed to point people toward God, not themselves.

Matthew 6:1-2

Matthew 6: 5

 

This leads us to a vital question answered in this text. What is the purpose of our light?  It is easy to list the number of things that physical light does for  the environment. Our world could not exist without it. But the spiritual light that flows from the life of God’s people has only one purpose. That purpose is that the world may glorify God. 

 

Can others see what God has done or is doing right now in you?  If others cannot see the evidence of God’s work, then they have no incentive to turn to Him.

 

Jesus does command us to, “Let your light so shine…”. Can you see the halo above my head?  No, and you didn’t expect to either, did you? So what is this light that Jesus is describing that we must allow to shine in the darkness? How do we obey this command?   

 

Peter says God’s people we are called to be ready to give an answer for our hope. The early Christians went everywhere preaching and teaching the word. Light shined through their teaching. However, the most powerful method of dispensing light is contained in the scripture itself, which states, “That they may see your good works “.  Nothing points to God more clearly than doing good. God always does what is good. Morally, ethically and practically.

Acts 10:38

 

Consider Luke’s description of the Jerusalem church as they dispensed their light.

Acts 2:45-47

 

They were making a favorable impression upon others through their unity and generosity.  

 

Paul used the term “good works”  8 times in his letters to Timothy and Titus. It was vital that these evangelists urge the members of God’s church to practice and maintain a pattern of doing good. If they did not learn to do this, their light would not shine.

Titus 3:8

 

What have you done for others that would point them to God?

 

We need to see that the most powerful list of “good works” that shine in a dark world are found in the context of Jesus’ sermon itself.  This is  Jesus’ list in the sermon on the Mount. When reading it, see whether this challenges you enough?

 

Work on your heart first, because murder and adultery begin there.

Matthew 5: 21 - 28

 

Take sin seriously. 

Matthew 5: 29 - 30

 

Keep your vows and stay married, because God hates divorce.

Matthew 5: 31 - 32



 

Always tell the truth.

Matthew 5: 33 - 37

 

Do more than is expected of you. Go that extra  mile.

Matthew 5: 38 - 42

 

Do good to those that hate you. 

Matthew 5: 43 - 48

 

Don’t be a hypocrite.

Matthew 6: 1 - 4

Matthew 6: 16 - 18

 

Seek spiritual things over the material things. Lay up treasure in Heaven.

Matthew 6: 19 - 21

 

Don’t worry, trust God and seek His righteousness first.

Matthew 6: 24 - 33

 

Don’t try to pick the speck out of your brother’s eye if you have a log in yours

Matthew 7: 1 - 5

 

Ask God for everything you need.

Matthew 7: 7 - 8

 

Follow the truth wherever it leads.

Matthew 7: 13 - 23

 

Obey God’s commands consistently.

Matthew 7: 24 - 27

 

If we did this would the world notice us?   This is the essence of light in a dark world.          

1 Peter 2:11-12, 15

 

Jesus also said, “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel”.  No one intentionally hides a lamp under a basket.  It would defeat the purpose and plan of the light. This is the other half of Jesus' implicit command. We must allow our light to shine by not allowing it to be hidden under a basket. 

 

What are some baskets that hide our light? 

 

Hypocrisy is one. Is it possible to do the right thing, but do it insincerely so as to rob the good work of its light?  Jesus did not condemn the Pharisees for keeping the law too carefully. But when they set aside issues of the heart to focus on outward conformity their example became darkness.  

Matthew 23:13-15


 

Fear is another. Fear is the opposite of faith, and every disciple has been confronted with this light killer. Peter had the opportunity to shine in Jesus’ darkest hour, but he was afraid of the words of a servant girl. Are you afraid of the darkness?

 

Worldliness or compromise is another light killer.

1 John 2:15-16

 

Rudeness is another. 

Colossians 4:5- 6 

 

Self righteousness is another. 

 

A lack of joy is definitely a light killer. In John 16 Jesus told his disciples that He would give them a joy that the world did not have and could not provide. Do your neighbors see that joy in you, or do they see a murmuring , grumpy person whose bad attitude about life turns them off? 

 

Is your light shining in this dark world?   We are the light of the world, this is our purpose.

1 Peter 2:9

 

Are we hiding out light? Are we being the light of the world. Something to reflect on as we sing the closing song. 

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