THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Matthew 5:14-16

Christ describes the proper function of His disciples by using two metaphors. The first is salt! Salt is used as a preservative and to give flavor. It can also make one thirsty. The second metaphor is light! Jesus begins verse 14 by stating, "you are the light of the world!" We need light because we are born in sin's darkness, blinded by sin and choose sin. John 3:19 makes that clear, "this is the verdict, light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." John 12:35 also states, "the man who walks in the dark doesn't know where he is going." The Scribes and Pharisees thought they had the true light but Jesus said they were "blind leaders of the blind." Today religion tries to produce light through human effort but to know avail.
While in the Temple area during the Feast of Lights (October-November) Jesus stood by the four large seven-teared candelabras in the Court of Women. These lights were seen all over Jerusalem as everyone celebrated God's deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt through a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The celebration would end as the lighted lamps began to die down late in the evening. Sometime during this celebration, Jesus stood up and cried out, "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). Jesus thus pointed to man's futile effort to find light in the midst of darkness. He is the "only way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). When man turns from his sin to the Savior, he finds the true light. He then becomes a bearer of Christ's Light!

But a warning and a command is then given in verses 15-16. It is easy to excuse ourselves by hiding our testimony, "people don't light a lamp and put it under a bowl." What good would that do? Yet, how many times we are silenced when we should articulate our faith. Daniel stands out because he "purposed in his heart not to defile himself." Later, he faced a stronger opposition and even though he was put in a lion's den, he stood his ground, and his "light" has shown through history as an example we can follow.
The command is verse 16 is not an option: "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." As Christians, we have an opportunity to live productively and consistently so that the "Light" we have will shine as brightly as possible. Are you shinning brightly for Jesus Christ or are you hiding under a bushel? "Let your light shine!"