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b) The Purpose of the Sermon on the Mount: The Application of the Law of God (Matthew 5:13-16)
MATTHEW 5:14-16
14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (John 8:12; Philippians 2:14-15; John 15:8; Ephesians 5:8-9)
How great is the grace of Christ! He caused the light of His kind love and the rays of His holy truth to glow in His followers. Do not think that the new light within you is yours. It is a gift of your Lord. Do not hide your divine gift fearing the opposition of men, for Christ has given you the constant privilege and hope to be lights in our pessimistic world. Do not be ashamed of being like a lit match for it can be seen from miles away, even in the darkest night. When Christians meet in fellowship sharing their faith they are like a city that is set on a hill shining as a group of glittering stars guiding straying vessels to the safety-port.
Christ is inviting you to be a light for those in darkness. He changes you into a witness of His virtues and enables you to proclaim His Name in your house, in your school and in your office. One young believer worked in a factory where people were ungodly. They tried to spoil him with their unclean words. His friends warned him, “Leave this work lest you fall into the pit of misery,” but he answered them, “I am not alone there. Christ stands by me, protects me and dwells in me. He promised not to leave me, and where I am there He is also, therefore I will fear no evil.”
The divine King of Kings orders you to pluck up courage and to radiate with the light shining in you. So do not hide yourself or keep yourself out of sight, but go on reassured as one sent by God to your neighbors and colleagues. Meet people and talk to them in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What can people see in you all day long? Does Christ clearly shine in you?
Christ is inviting you to live a pure life. Then people will honor God for His kindness and power in you and will believe by virtue of your conduct whether the Spirit of God dwells in you.
As lights of the world, followers of Christ are shining – and they are being watched by all who know them. Some observers admire them, commend them, rejoice in them and seek to imitate them. Others envy them, hate them, censure them and seek to destroy them. All believers need therefore to walk circumspectly before men. They are examples of Gods gift to the world and should avoid all that is wrong, because they are constantly watched.
Christ gave you a chance and the privilege to participate in glorifying His Father in heaven. In the Sermon on the Mount we read in this verse for the first time the great secret that the almighty God is our Father! The Holy is neither far from us nor fearful to us. His divine love appears to us in the authority of “the Father.” Jesus enables people to believe in the Fatherhood of God through our conduct in the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. You are allowed to be either a proof of the unity of the Holy Trinity or a reason for unbelief and reluctance of others. According to your nature you are a sinner since childhood, but the Spirit changes you from a lost person in darkness into a son of light. The Spirit of Jesus dwelling in you appears through your words and work, that the greatest promise should be fulfilled in you according to the words, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).
Our light must shine – by good works. Our deeds can cause others to think well about Christ. We should do good works that benefit others, but not that we might be seen. We are told to pray in secret, and what lies between God and our souls, should be kept to ourselves. But whatever is open and obvious to the sight of men, we should seek to make conformable with our profession and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Our friends should not only “hear” our good words, but also “see” our good works; that they may be convinced that religion is more than a bare name, and that we do not only confess our faith, but abide under the power of it.
Yet, for what purpose should our light shine? That those who see your good works may tend not to glorify you, but to glorify your Father, which is in heaven. The glory of God is the great aim we should keep in mind for all we do. We should not only endeavor to glorify God ourselves, but we are called to do all we can to bring others to glorify our Father in heaven.
Our good works could guide others to glorify God our Father. Let them see your good works, that they can recognize the power of God’s grace in you and begin to thank Him for its rays of piety in you. Let them see your kind behavior, that they may be convinced of the truth and excellence of the Christian religion and be provoked by a holy zeal to imitate your good works and glorify the holy God.
Believers in some difficult countries are unable to express their faith openly before conservative fanatics, but their silent conduct is a living testimony to their Savior and Heavenly Father.
PRAYER: O Heavenly Father, You are the holy light. You have sent your beloved Son Jesus as a shining light into our world. We were in darkness, but the Spirit of Your Son furnished us with divine light. Please let Your light shine into our surroundings that many people will be freed from their sins and become pleasing lights too. We glorify You for Your great salvation and seek Your guidance in the best use of the light that no one would become an unbeliever because of our acts, but recognize You in us. Amen.
QUESTION:
- How can you be a light in the world?
QUIZ
Dear reader,
having read our comments on the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew in this booklet, you are now able to answer the following questions. If you answer 90% of the questions stated below, we will send you the next parts of this series for your edification. Please do not forget to include writing your full name and address clearly on the answer sheet.
- What is the acceptable repentance?
- What are the principles of the preaching and the life of John the Baptist?
- Who are the Pharisees, and who are the Sadducees?
- What does the Creator expect from you to do?
- Why is Christ able to baptize with the Holy Spirit?
- What is the difference between the baptism with the Holy Spirit and the baptism with fire?
- Why was Jesus baptized at the Jordan though he was innocent?
- How did the Holy Trinity proclaim himself in Jordan Valley?
- Why did not Jesus make bread out of the stones, though he was able to?
- Why did not Christ throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple?
- Why did Jesus order Satan to worship only God?
- Why did Jesus reiterate the Baptist’s good news: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"?
- What is the implication of Jesus calling, "I will make you fishers of men"?
- Why do we call Matthew 4:23-25 the small Gospel or the summary of the Gospel?
- Why does the Law of Christ begin with the word “Blessed” instead of “You shall” or “You shall not?”
- Why does the poor in spirit enter first into the kingdom of heaven?
- Why will the meek and not the powerful inherit the earth?
- How does Christ quench our thirst for righteousness?
- How can we change from being selfish into being merciful?
- How can you become pure?
- How will Christ use you to bring peace to others?
- How do the propagators of the gospel of peace experience sometimes violent opposition?
- What are the wages paid to persecuted believers?
- What does it mean that Christ invites you to be “the salt of the earth?”
- How can you be a light in the world?
We encourage you to complete with us the examination of Christ and his Gospel that you may receive an everlasting treasure. We are awaiting your answers and praying for you. Our address is:
Waters of Life
P.O.Box 600 513
70305 Stuttgart
Germany
Internet: www.waters-of-life.net
Internet: www.waters-of-life.org
e-mail: info@waters-of-life.net