Matthew 5:14-16 The
Light of the World
Introduction: In verse 13 Jesus paid the disciples a great
compliment. In verse 14 He does
also. He speaks of the believers as the light
of the world. He compares them with the
light of the sun.
I. Not a contradiction to passages which
speak of Jesus as the light of the world. Verse 14
A. Jesus is called
the light of the world in other scriptures.
1. In
Matthew 4:16 Matthew calls Him a great light shining in great darkness.
2. In
John 1:4 it is that Jesus is the light of men.
B. The import of
these verses is that Jesus is the only light of man.
1. If
Jesus had not given light to the world, the world would
still be in darkness.
2. If
Jesus had not come to save, the world would be without a Savior.
C. Jesus seemed to
contradict this: He called the disciples the light of the world.
D. There is no
contradiction.
1.
Jesus is the only Savior, but the disciples are His witnesses.
2. The
believer has no light of his own, but Christ is the light.
II. The
light of a city set on a hill. Verse 14
A. Jesus compared
the disciples to a city set on a hill.
1. The
disciples were familiar with such cities in
2. The
light of a city down in a valley could be seen only for a short distance.
3.
But, the light of a city on a hill could be seen for miles.
B. By this
illustration Jesus taught two things.
1. The
light is best seen when it is combined with others.
a. He did not say that a lamp on a hill cannot
be hid.
b. But the combined lamps of a city
cannot be hid.
c. Thus a disciple’s light shines best
when he works in harmony with other disciples in
a
group.
2.
That light shines best when it is lifted up. (This idea is further illustrated by the lampstand).
III. The light of the lampstand. Verse 15
A. The lamp in
olden days was oil in a bowl with a wick which ran through a spout.
B. A lamp put
under a basket would not give much light.
1.
Neither would one on floor level.
2. The
lamp lifted high on a stand would light the room.
C. Even so the light
of Christ in the believer should be lifted up so that it can shine.
A. It is the
individual’s responsibility to let his light shine.
B. His light will
shine brighter in a New Testament church.
1.
This combines His light with the light of others.
2. This
puts His light on the lampstand.
C. His light will
shine brighter by cleaning up his life.
1. The
Biblical light had a wick which needed trimming.
2. The
old kerosene lamps had chimneys which needed washing.
3.
What every believer needs to do is clean up his life.
Conclusion: 1. I am asking every
child of God here to renew your efforts to clean up your life.
2. I
am asking you who need a church home to put your light in this church and help
it to
shine
brighter.
3. I
am asking you who are lost to look at the godly Christians about you and to
heed their
testimony
of Christ and to trust Christ as Savior.
4. I
am asking our people to witness for Jesus.
Preached at