Scripture Daily

Context No. 3378 of 4322 · Matthew

Context · Reflection

Matthew 5:11-16: in context

11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. 14“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus tells his followers what they are: you are the salt of the earth, and you are the light of the world. Salt that loses its savor is good for nothing; a lamp is not meant to be hidden under a basket but set on a stand; a city on a hill cannot be hidden. The Christian is not to blend invisibly into the world but to have a real, preserving, illuminating effect on it.

And notice the stated purpose of the light: let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. The aim is not to draw attention to ourselves but to point people to God. Our good works are meant to be visible, yet not for our own credit; they are lamps that light the way to the Father, so that he receives the glory. To be salt and light is to live in such a way that others are drawn to think well of God, not of us. The shining is real, but the glory goes to him.

Is my light shining visibly through good works, and does it point others to glorify God rather than to admire me?

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