Matthew 5:14-16 … The Light of the World (02/04/17)
“You are the Light of the world … No one after lighting a lamp hides it under the bushel basket, but places it instead on a lamp stand; where it gives light to all … 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.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16)
Please note the following important points when reading this passage:
01) Note that Jesus tells his audience that they are the Light of the world (which he also intimates via the more enlightened interpretations of both John 1:3-5 — “What has come into being via [the Logos] was life, and that life was the Light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” & John 8:12 — “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of life”) …
02) Note that we are called here not to meditate upon our Light in private (in contrast to how we are called by Jesus to pray in secret – see Matthew 6:6-7) but rather are to openly shine out Light via our being; via courageous words and noble deeds …
03) Note that we are to shine this Love Light not merely upon those we like or those we love – not merely towards those who are being kind to us or treating us well, but rather upon all others (indeed, especially upon those who are being “mean” to us or are treating us poorly – see Matthew 5:40-48) …
04) Note that we do so not to have others Joy-fully receive the same, but rather to illuminate their Way – to remind them that they too have been similarly Called to shine their Love upon the others in their lives … and
05) Note that this is how we give glory to our internal Father (John 14:20), thereby gain access to our internal Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 17:20-21), and thereby attain what many call “Salvation” (John 13:15-17).
Amen … Let it be so.
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