Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Lord Jesus said: You are the light of the world. This is what Lord Jesus said to all those who believe in him and to all his disciples. What does it mean? Let’s look at the following verse first.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Here Lord Jesus said that he is the light of the world, whoever follows him will never walk in the darkness, but have the light of life. Those who follow him walk in the light and have the new lives from him. With his life in us, we become the light of the world.
Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. (John 12:36)
Here Lord Jesus said that he is the light, believe in him while there is light. If you believe in the light, you become the children of light.
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” (Luke 8:16-18)
This is the parallel passage from gospel Luke. Lord Jesus told us not to cover our lamps with a clay jar or puts it under a bed, but put them on the lampstand. Our lives must be used by the Lord. In Matthew 10:27, Lord Jesus said: “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.” What Lord Jesus told us in the dark, speak in the daylight. Let people know the light of the Lord and receive the light of the Lord’s life. The Lord gives different gifts to different people. We should use the gifts the Lord gave us. The more we use, the more the Lord will add to us. If necessary, the Lord will give us new gifts. If we bury the gifts the Lord gave us and do not use them, we will lose the gifts. When we are used by the Lord, we give light to everyone in the Lord’s house, also the light shines before others. People see our good deeds and give glory to our Father in heaven. We should not give glory to ourselves, but give glory to our heavenly Father, because we do it not by our own ability, but by God’s grace.
May God bless you and your family. 😊
