The Similitudes 2c

Following the Beatitudes, Jesus uses two metaphors to illustrate how those He has just described affect the world around them. This week we will finish looking at the second metaphor: light.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Remember that Christians are not only a light in the world, but we are the light of the world. Previously, we have seen that, because of the flame that God has placed within us, we all have the potential to bring light to everyone we meet—as long as we don’t allow any bowls to cause our light to be dimmed or even completely blocked.

Jesus is encouraging His disciples to, “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” At first reading it appears that Jesus is equating our light with our good works. In other words, He seems to be encouraging us to display our good works for all to see, in the hope that those looking on will discern that our heavenly Father is the enabling power behind those good works. However, I don’t believe this is the correct interpretation of this passage of Scripture.

Putting our good works on display for all to see contradicts many of Jesus’ other teachings. For example, in Matthew 6:1-4 Jesus said:
1“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

A closer look at the passage in question reveals an alternative interpretation. I believe Jesus was saying that when you  “let your light shine before men,” then they will be able to “see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” It is only in an environment with sufficient light that we can see clearly what is happening and respond appropriately. Likewise, it is only when our lives are sufficiently radiating God’s light that others can see our good works in the proper context and respond by giving glory to our Father.

We can look to the life of Jesus for a positive example to emulate. Jesus never sought recognition from people. On the contrary, He often went to great lengths to avoid it. But there is no question that millions of people have seen His good works and have given glory to His Father. Why? Because He is the original Light of the World, perfectly shining the Divine light for all to see.

Today, let’s pray that we will shine God’s light and will seek to glorify God, not ourselves.