We ARE the Light of the World

8/24/2024

14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 KJV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (NRSV)

Each translation captures the essence of being a light in the world and encourages letting one’s good deeds shine to honor God.

Although the motive is not to do so others can see. The motive is to be, AND others will see.

I want to make sure everyone comprehends that? Get the Z axis right and everything else takes care of itself. You will never be “light of the world” because you do good deeds. That’s either manipulative or self-righteous or naïve. Mother Teresa is in hell right now because she had that attitude, amongst other problems. The living “dead to the world and the world to you” process, dying to live, clothed with Christ in *character and motives*... Allows His oil to ignite within you (rather than “strange fire” of being a do-gooder and religious) to BE the Right person that others can see, as GOD allows them to See.

“Lest any man boast.”

From someone...

I just saw the text conversation about Matthew 5:14-16...

What you said: “Although the motive is not to do so others can see but to be AND others will see.” That was True! I knew it. But how to reconcile what I knew was true in my heart with what the English words “so that” appeared to mean??

I looked up the Strong’s translation of the Greek and it looks like “so that” is very misleading! Is this right? “So that” could actually be better translated “and in this way”...??

So Jesus is not stating “they may see your good works” as the motive but just as a result!

Jesus is telling us to SHINE, because we ARE the light of the world. So our motive is to obey and BE who He wants us to be, and then He takes care of results... and the final result is not about “us” at all—but Glory and Honor for our Father who is in Heaven. :)