In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 5:14a “You are the light of the world.” While we are light, Jesus is the true light. John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” Because of the light that He brought into the world, we do not “walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jesus showed us and taught us how we should live. That is light. As Christians, we reflect the light of Jesus, the true light. We reveal God the Father and Jesus the Son to the dark world. We show the way to God by how we live. We demonstrate truth, hope, and righteousness. As light, we are visible evidence of Christ’s presence.
Matthew 5:14b “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” A city on a hill is elevated; it is seen from far away. It is a landmark for travelers. We, like such a city, should be open and visible to all those around us. We don’t have to try to shine. If Christ is in us, we will shine.
Matthew 5:15a “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket.” Putting a light under a basket would smother the flame, block the light, and waste the purpose of the lamp. We can hide our light through fear of what others might think or do. Our light will not shine if there is sin in our lives. We might not be a light when we compromise the truth or when we are silent when we should speak up for the truth. We will not be a light if we demonstrate that we are worldly minded, don’t trust in God or neglect the spiritual disciplines we should have.
Matthew 5:15b “But on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Just as a lamp is put on a lampstand so that it can better illuminate the room, your life influences your home, your workplace, your church, and your community. Light doesn’t choose who sees it. It simply shines, and everyone in its radius benefits.
Matthew 5:16a “Let your light so shine before men.” “Let” means don’t hide or dim or bury your light. Don’t apologize for your light or be passive. Letting your light shine is intentional. It means living in such a way that Christ is unmistakably in your life.
Matthew 5:16b “That they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The goal is not self-promotion, or praise from others or pride in who we are. We don’t seek recognition or attempt to show moral superiority. The goal is God’s glory. When people see our patience, our integrity, our compassion, our purity, our forgiveness, our faith, and our joy in trials, we don’t want them to say, “What a good person.” We want them to say, “what a great God.” We want them to also make Jesus their Lord and Savior.
Our identity is that we are light. Our visibility is that we must be seen. Our warning is that we don’t hide our light. Our influence is that our lives affect others. Our responsibility is that we let our light shine. The purpose is that God gets the glory.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians and told them specific ways that they could be lights in the world. Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” The ways that the apostle points out to be lights in the world are to do all things without complaining and disputing.
There are many things about which we could complain. It is easy to find fault with people around us, with the way those in authority have established things, with how much things cost or even with the weather. But the admonition by Paul is that we do all things without complaining. Don’t complain but instead be prayerful and thankful. Phillippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” The answer to complaining or anxiety is to pray to God and be thankful.
There are also many people with diverse opinions with whom we could argue, dispute, or be contentious. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.” The servant of the Lord must not quarrel. Instead we should be gentle, able to teach, patient, and humble. We can still correct others, but we do it in a loving, kind way – avoiding disputes.
When we don’t complain or argue or dispute with others, we will be very different from those in the world who spend much of their time complaining and disputing. The apostle Paul states that we will be perceived as blameless and harmless; we will become what God wants His children to be. Then people will not be able to find fault with our character or spirit. We must appreciate that we live and work in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. God wants us to shine as lights in the world.
If we are to be lights in the world, we must walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” To walk as children of light implies that we have the Holy Spirit of God within us and that we bear the fruit of the Spirit and continually seek to find what is acceptable to the Lord.
I encourage you to see that God wants you to be the light of the world. You are reflecting the light of Jesus and of God the Father. How you live matters in whether or not you are that light.