Living as Light

I. The Position of Light

Matthew 5:14 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Again Jesus starts verse 14 the same way he starts verse 13, You are.... Like in verse 13 the “you” is emphatic, forceful, and specific. Jesus is not just talking to the anyone within earshot. Jesus is specifically talking to His followers, his disciples. Again, those who had come to him poor in spirit, mourning over their sin, meek, and hungering for righteousness. His disciples and children who were part of his family, and his kingdom!

Just as he emphatically stated You are salt of the earth, His children are also the light of the world. Who remembers what the purpose of being salt was?

Salt was for flavour and in some cases fertilizer. However, salts primary purpose was preservation. It was used to preserve meat. Rubbing salt into meat was help slow down the decaying process, keep it from rotting so that it might be stored longer.

For us, D.A Carson writes,

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke 1) Salt (5:13)

The point is that, if Jesus’ disciples are to act as a preservative in the world by conforming to kingdom norms, if they are “called to be a moral disinfectant in a world where moral standards are low, constantly changing, or non-existent … they can discharge this function only if they themselves retain their virtue”

Now that we have reviewed the disciple’s role in deterring decay, Jesus is about to teach us that another responsibility we have is to dispel darkness. He starts out verse 14 You are the light of the world.

Now, before we consider our role as light, we must understand that Jesus is the true light, apart from Him there is no light.

Isaiah 42:6 ESV

“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

Isaiah 49:6 ESV

he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah

John 8:12 ESV

Again 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 9:5 ESV

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John

II. The Presentation of Light

Matthew 5:15 ESV

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.

III. The Purpose of Light

Matthew 5:16 ESV

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.

Matthew 5:

Matthew 5:17 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.