Matthew 5d
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Turn to Matthew 5. I saw a sign not too long age that read – “You can't hurt my feelings; I used to hold the flashlight for my dad.” How many know what I'm talking about? Holding a flashlight for an earthly dad … can be quite an experience for a child - learn new words, voice inflection …. I got to thinking about this idea of holding a flashlight for my dad – that took me to what Jesus said about being the light of the world. We Christians, children of God, are to hold a flashlight of sorts for our Heavenly Father ….
Spent the last 2 weeks talking about salt and light. Let’s add one more layer to this before we move on. Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Review – Salt has many uses (flavor, preserves, heals, softens …) and all those fit into what Jesus is saying. However, the primary point Jesus was making has to do with a long-lasting covenant. Jesus was reminding His disciples that they are the Covenant people of Yahweh, which can be traced all the way back to Abraham in Genesis. Now, we who are in Christ are under the New Covenant – and so we too are the Covenant people of Yahweh.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
So we have a purpose in this world that goes beyond just going to Heaven. Remember, if we don’t live like the Covenant people of God, then we live like fools (morons) and lose our saltiness or effectiveness – and the world tramples on us. Our first love.
We are the light for the world. Last week we talked about the Hebrew word light is ôr, which is the root word for tôrāh or law or instruction.
God’s tôrāh (law, instructions, principles) is life – it’s how life is best lived in community.
For example, take any of the 10 Commandments from Exodus 20. Life if best lived and experienced when we observe a weekly work / rest rhythm, when we remain faithful to our spouses, when we don’t murder, or steal, or lie. The world, which was created good, has been corrupted by sin and darkness and chaos – so God has chosen a people, who, if they live by His instruction, will be the embodiment of His life-giving law / light so that those living in darkness can see and experience how they ought to live. That is the whole point of being salt and light – we live in such a way that points people to Jesus. Holding a flash light.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Light is meant to be seen. Light is for people who need light. No one can see in the dark. Sometimes we forget that those without Christ can’t see. They really are living in darkness and death. So it does no good for our light to be hidden. Should be no such thing as a hidden or private Christian. This is not about extrovert or introvert or being private or shy – it’s about living the life Jesus has for each of us.
So what is it that people are to see? What are good works? I think we can place
“Good works” can be placed into two categories: Universal and Individual.
Universal good works refers to the character that all Christians and congregations should strive to live. For example, Colossians 3 tells us that all followers of Jesus are to put to death our self-centered nature and put to death (stop it) sexual immorality, impurity, pride, and idolatry. We are to put away unjustified anger, slander, gossip, and obscene language and falsehood. The flipside is that we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, holiness, forgiveness, and godly love. These are universal traits that all Christians everywhere should demonstrate. Of course, when we live that way, we become a city on a hill – that people can see and “walk into the light.” Obviously, unique good works is something that is unique to the individual person or congregation.
So which is Jesus referring to in v16 – universal or individual? It’s both, however, I think the individual light might outweigh the universal. Here’s why - there are
Two primary Greek words in the NT for the word “good.”
1) Agathōs – which mostly defines the quality or benefit of someone or something.
E.g. “That was a good movie or good sermon” or “That was a good thing you did.” The other word is
2) Kalōs – which can mean moral excellence or captivating, beautiful, or attractive (v16).
So, we could read v16 as, “Let them see your kalōs – your moral excellence (integrity, honesty, purity, spiritual wisdom …) – which is still universal, but I think it’s more than that. Perhaps Jesus meant, “Let them see your kalōs. Do something with your life / light that is captivating, beautiful, attractive, inspiring … shine the flashlight on your Father.”
What does that look like? One such example is found in the Gospels. We’re told of woman named Mary, who came to Jesus, broke all social protocol and norms, anointed Jesus’ feet with a very expensive perfume and then wiped His feet with her hair. The disciples get in a tizzy ….
But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.
That’s not a universal thing for all Christians to do. It was unique to this woman, but we get to read about her beautiful work ….
Naz chicks …
I want to remind us that being salt and light, doing good works, is meant to point people to Jesus, but sometimes, what we think is a good work may not be. Just because I feel good, doesn’t mean what I did was good or actually pointed anyone to Jesus. Enable vs tough love. We’ll come back to that in a moment.
Let’s shed a little more light on this to help us clarify something. Remember light and God’s Law or instruction and life are connected – wonderful metaphor. So listen to
For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Some interpret this as life-giving light.
Let’s connect that with Matthew 5.
Chad’s paraphrase – “You are the life-giving light for the world. Therefore, do something to put your life-giving light on display,
so that those living in the dark may see your captivating, beautiful, attractive, inspiring good works so that their eyes are redirected toward your Father who is in heaven.”
Questions:
What am I / we doing that is life-giving to those who need life?
Who can see my life-giving light – especially those in living in the dark?
Consider this: Am I experiencing the life-giving light of Jesus? I can’t give what I don’t possess. Do I need Jesus in my life?
How do I know if I’m being light? Obedience, faithfulness, trust ….
John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 14:12–17 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth …
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
× Naz chicks – a youth group on our District decided to provide eggs for the elderly. Thus far they have delivered over 270 dozen eggs – free of charge.
× Another youth group created a partnership with a local senior living home – they visit, plays games, have conversations ….
× Cooper – Missionary to firefighters and the Nomad Community ….
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Some of you should be involved in
× Missions – local or abroad …
× Discipleship and teaching, mentoring …
× Helping lead KNAZ …
× Music and A/V …
× B & G …
× Children …
People need our light – because there is no other.
