Matthew 5:14-16 Light of the World

Script

Jon: The Sermon on the Mount begins with Jesus describing the surprise identity of those who welcome the arrival of God’s heavenly Kingdom here on Earth. He starts with nine announcements about who is experiencing the good life, that is, God’s heavenly blessing. And then Jesus calls his followers “the salt of the land.”¹

Tim: Jesus then concludes with one final image, which goes like this:

Jon: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set up on a mountain isn’t able to be hidden;” ²

Tim: Jesus is taking this image from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah, who said that one day, God’s heavenly reign will touch down on Earth in Jerusalem, high on a hill. This is a heavenly city, and its light will be like the dawn of a new creation.

Jon: So Jesus takes an ancient promise about Jerusalem and applies it to himself and his followers. They are the light? They are the city?

Tim: Exactly. God is beginning his new city, the new creation, right here and right now.

Jon: And in this city, the whole world gets to experience the goodness of God.

Tim: Right, which is what he says next.

Jon: “And they don’t light a candle and place it under a basket. Rather, upon a candle-stand, and it will shine on everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people so that they can see your good works, and so they can give honor to your Father who is in the skies.”³

So what does Jesus mean by “good works”?

Tim: Well, elsewhere Jesus and his apostles describe “good works” as acts of service for people in need and generosity to the poor.⁴ And this links back to the nine announcements where Jesus describes the character of those who are most at home in God’s Kingdom. They hunger for right relationships, and they work for peace in the world. And as they do so, they bring more and more of the light of God’s Kingdom from Heaven down to Earth.