Matthew 5:14-16

Keys to a Bright Future

(The Central Idea of the Text) Matthew summarizes the preaching of Jesus in a passage famous as the “Sermon on the Mount” (chaps. 5–7).

Jesus begins with a series of statements known as the “Beatitudes” (5:1–12). These surprising statements of blessing underline the difference between human values and God’s values.

These statements of blessings also call us to view life and success God’s way. As light, believers must illuminate God’s ways, which alone can guide humanity (vv. 14–16).

Matthew’s purpose for writing this pericope is to give the disciples of Jesus the who, what, and why of discipleship and their future.

(Main Objective of the Sermon/MOS) The purpose of the sermon today is to inform and encourage you reasons for your existence.

#1 - The 1st Key to a Bright Future is to KNOW WHO YOU ARE (14a)

“You are the light of the world...”

At the time of the text Jesus in the company of a large crowd and His disciples come to him and Jesus begins to teach them.

It is after His teaching/preaching that Jesus wants His followers to know who they are.

light (source of) n. — any object that serves as a source of illumination.

Concepts of light and its relationship to vision. Light was often perceived to represent good and positive things as well. (Darkness was often perceived to represent evil and negative things…)

...light in the Gospels follows, on the whole, the use of light in the OT and late Hellenistic Judaism. Hebrew thought uses light as a symbol of the divine presence and salvation (Ex 13:21; Ps 27:1; 36:…

In this Mediterranean world, DARKNESS was a present reality, not simply the absence of light as it is for us. DARKNESS IS THE PRESENCE OF DARK, AND LIGHT IS THE PRESENCE OF LIGHT. Dark pushes out light just as light pushes out darkness.

WORLD - world system, godless world standards...

Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1997 : n. pag. Print.

Witthoff, David, ed. The Lexham Cultural Ontology Glossary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014. Print.

(14b) - hill/mountain

(14b) - cannot - to be able v. — to be or become sufficient to meet a need or task.

(14b) - hid/to be concealed v. — to be or become hidden or not accessible to view/invisible.

(15a) - The normal way to PUT OUT AN OIL LAMP was to put it under a bushel/basket so as not to fill the house with smoke and fumes before a person went to bed.

(15b) - OIL LAMPS were used by all levels of society throughout the Roman Empire. Olive Oil was poured into a lamp through a central hole at the top. A wick was inserted in a smaller hole at the edge.

Lamps were placed on stands. These lamps provided a very dim light.

#2 - The 2nd Key to a Bright Future is knowing WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING (16a)

In the same way; therefore...

to shine (beam) v. — to emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light.

before - in the presence of ...

others

#3 - The 3rd Key to a Bright Future is to know your WHY (16b)

see - take notice of, pay attention to, to consider

good works - high standards; opposed to the world’s “godless standards”

to GLORIFY v. — to positively acknowledge, recognize, or esteem one’s character, nature, or attributes.

Matthew 9:8, …after Jesus had healed a paralyzed man… “But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified/praised God, which had given such power unto men.”

Matthew 15:31, “Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified/praised the God of Israel.”

Jesus, the Promised King

Major Theme

Matthew wrote this account of Jesus’ life to convince the Jews that Jesus was their Messiah.

Background and Purpose

Matthew wrote his Gospel to show the links between the Old Testament and Jesus, to record the wealth of teaching Jesus gave to his disciples, to set out how Jesus expected his followers to behave, to answer some of the questions raised by members of the church, (such as the early life of Jesus and when he would return) and to say how the church should be run.

Author

Matthew. One of Jesus’ twelve apostles, the former tax-collector, who was also known as Levi. When he became a follower of Jesus he abandoned everything and held a feast in his house for Jesus and other tax-collectors and “sinners”.

Date

Probably written between ad 60–65 before the fall of the city of Jerusalem in ad 70.

Keys to Matthew

• Key word Kingdom

• Key chapter 12, in which the Pharisees reject Jesus as Messiah of the nation of Israel.

• Matthew stresses Jesus’ exhortations to his followers and so this book has always had a strong appeal to new Christians. 60% of Matthew’s Gospel, that is 644 verses out of the total of 1,071 verses, contain the spoken words of Jesus.

• Matthew has 53 quotations from the Old Testament and 76 allusions from the Old Testament.

Water, Mark. The Books of the Bible Made Easy. Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishing, 2001. Print. The Made Easy Series.

The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew’s understanding of the kingdom of God is essentially the same as Mark’s, although he does highlight some distinctive features. First, Matthew’s kingdom teaching (forty-nine references) is much more prevalent than Mark’s (fifteen references). Second, Matthew prefers the phrase “kingdom of heaven” (thirty times), probably because of the traditional Jewish aversion to pronouncing the name of God. Third, Matthew focuses attention on genuine membership in the kingdom, warning that many take their membership for granted and are in danger of losing it unexpectedly (7:15–27; 8:12; 13:47–50; 18:1–7; 19:14; 21:43; 25:1–13, 34–46). This final theme clearly refers to Jesus’ rejection by the leaders of Israel. Matthew warns that the supposedly secure occupants of God’s kingdom will find themselves replaced by the repentant sinners, prostitutes, and believing Gentiles who now receive Jesus as their Messiah (21:32; 22:1–10; 24:14).

Puskas, Charles B., and David Crump. An Introduction to the Gospels and Acts. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. Print.

v. 14 - ref. Phil 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”

v. 14 - ref Prov 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

v. 15 - ref Mark 4:21 “And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?”

v. 15 - ref Luke 8:16 “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.”

v. 15 - ref Luke 11:33 “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.”

a “bushel” - holds a little less than 8 gallons of milk; holds a little more than 5 soccer balls

Chapter summary. Matthew summarizes the preaching of Jesus in a passage famous as the “Sermon on the Mount” (chaps. 5–7). Jesus begins with a series of statements known as the “Beatitudes” (5:1–12). These surprising statements of blessing underline the difference between human values and God’s and call us to view life and success God’s way. As salt and light, believers must savor and illuminate God’s ways, which alone can preserve and guide humanity (vv. 13–16). Christ rejects the charge of critics that His teaching is intended to abolish the Law and the Prophets. Instead Christ has come to explain the real meaning of (“fulfill”) the Law (v. 17). His explanation of Law reveals the defects in the Pharisees’ claim to righteousness (vv. 18–20). In a series of examples Jesus shows that God demands righteous intent as well as lawful acts. Righteousness is a matter of the heart and not only behavior (vv. 21–42). In calling for “perfection” Jesus reminds us that true righteousness is actually found only in being like God (vv. 43–47).

Key verse. 5:20: Legal righteousness is not enough for God.

Personal application. If our heart is right, we will do right.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE OF MATTHEW

I. PREPARATION, 1–4

II. PREACHING, 5–7

III. PROOF, 8–17

IV. PRACTICE, 18–20

V. PURPOSE, 21–28

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

Preaching of the King (5:1–7:29)

A. Kingdom Principles (5:1–12)

B. Kingdom Priorities (5:13–48)

C. Kingdom Practices (6:1–18)

D. Kingdom Perspectives (6:19–7:29)

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.