Matthew 5-7

Matthew 5-7

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16 ESV) 

To understand what something is, it can be beneficial to consider what something is not. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that believers are to be salt and light. More specifically He has called believers to let your light shine before others. To borrow contemporary corporate jargon, He follows this call-to-action with the value statement. It’s two-fold:

1. may see your good works 
2. give glory to your Father who is in heaven 

So what is characteristic of good works? Or, what is not characteristic of good works? Jesus paints a vivid picture seen in chapter 6.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6:1-4 ESV) 

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6:5-6 ESV) 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)

Does this seem contradictory? In 5:16 believers are called to be seen, but in following verses believers are cautioned about being seen. Consider John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John’s statement provides context for Matthew 5:16. The intention is for good works to point to God, not to any man. Work done for a selfish end is hypocritical; this is confirmed in Matthew 6. Work done for God’s glory is true and rewarded.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
(Matthew 7:15-20 ESV) 

Let your light shine before others in such a way that God is all that others see.