Light of the World

Preliminary Observations

Preliminary Observations: Jesus is speaking to his disciples (5.1), teaching them about the kingdom of heaven (5.3, 10)

He starts with the beatitudes. Exhorting them to live a life of “poor in spirit,” mourning, humility, having a desire for righteousness, showing mercy, being pure in heart, being peacemakers, and loving righteousness so much that they are persecuted for it.

What is the motivation for all of this? 5.12: Your reward is great in heaven.

Persecution comes with the territory

He moves from explaining who the blessed are, to directly telling them who they are in relation to the world.

You are the salt of the earth. If you, who are salt, are not salty, you are good for nothing.

Our Text: You are the light of the world.

In what sense is Jesus calling his disciples “the light of the world?”

NAC: “Jesus obviously has in mind the bringing of illumination through the revelation of God’s will for his people. Since Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), so also his followers should reflect that light.”

The focus is to reflect the light of the world. We do not isolate ourselves, neither do we conform to the will of others. We live as lights in the world, showing the true light through out actions. This is a pointing to God, to him be the glory.

You don’t just have the light, you ARE the light.

You are THE light OF THE WORLD. Out of all the darkness in the world, you are the light that illumines the world.

He immediately states: A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. It is not possible, just like a light cannot be hidden in the darkness.

Lights are meant to do something: Shine.

If you are light, you are meant to shine. The purpose is not for your glory, but for the glory of the Father.

Word Studies about light, shining. Darkness

Light:

Shine:

Darkness:

Our light is meant to point to the Father.

Why should you care about any of this?

the Light (Christ) came into the world to point us to the Father. Without him, we could never see God.

What Jesus is getting at is this: Shine your light in the presence of men, so that they can see the light by seeing your light, and therefore glorify God. In other words, your actions, your light that is shining, points to your master. (1) Who is your master? Are you servants of light, or slaves of darkness? (2) Who are you living for? Are you working so that they can see you and praise you, or are you working so that they can see you and praise the Father? The commentary argues that the salt portion of the passage teaches this very thing

Jesus says in John 8:12

John 8:12 CSB

Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Ephesians 5:8 CSB

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—

John 3:19–21 CSB

This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

LBD says since the beginning of the Bible, light is linked to God’s presence and darkness is all that is opposed to God

Main Point: Shine the light in the presence of people. Do your job.

If you don’t do your job, how will people see the light? How will they see someone telling them to come to the light if they themselves aren’t being the light?

We are a living testimony to the transforming work of God

Questions:

What Light?

What does it mean to shine the light?

Why does Jesus move from “you are the light” to “shine your light”

If you claim to have something that you’re not enthusiastic about, who is going to want it too? What does it have to offer them if it doesn’t satisfy you?

“you are the light” means that you are no longer darkness.

The big picture: The world is in darkness, the true light of the world has come, that true light turns believers into reflections of that light to light up the darkness so that those who live in darkness might see and come to the light themselves.

The World is in Darkness

Luke 1:79; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 6:12; Col 1:13, 1 Thess 5:4-5; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:6;

2. The True Light came into this world of darkness to enlighten believers. Now that believers are enlightened, they are the light in the darkness.

Jesus is telling his disciples who they are: light of the world. Because they possess the light, they need to shine it: thats the point!

Imagine we’re in a dark, scary cave and all the lights go out. But I have a super powerful flashlight in my bag. What would be the point of me having it if I didn’t use it? That’s the purpose of the light, to light up the darkness in times like this.

We are the light that God uses to light up the darkness. If we are not shining that light, we are good for nothing.

3. Those believers are now called to shine their light in the world of darkness.

Possible illustration ideas: Seeing something out of the ordinary. Why when this thing glows, everyone looks at it. Because it is different than the darkness. You can actually see something.

Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world” Implies that without you, there is no light. How will they be illumined like you were if you don’t show them the light?

Jesus is talking to his disciples, those who are bought in to the cause of Christ. Those who have given up their lives to follow him and learn from him, who are called to make him known among in the world. He’s talking to the same people he will talk to in Matthew 28:19-20.

Perhaps what he means by “you are the light” is this: You have the true light, you were enlightened by the true light. Now show that light to others. In that sense, you are the light to them.