2014년 3월 16일 주일 영어예배 설교
마태복음 5:15-16

(Matthew 5:15-16)

     Here is one of the most distinctive commands to believers from Jesus Christ our Lord. In some sense, it is more of a natural result of becoming a follower of Jesus than a command. This order of Jesus to his disciples has a strong appropriateness and necessity. Shining the light of believers before others is the most remarkable characteristic of Christian people, and at the same time the most amazing privilege. In the Bible, the light is described in some ways. It is described as Jesus Christ himself, an inward light that Christian people have, and the light that is shown by Christians. However, the light is ultimately the same light, that is, one light. And, today’s text describes the light as the one that should be shown before others in the world. Today, through the text, we are going to be appreciating what shining the light means and the effect and goal of shining the light of us Christians is.

In verse 15, “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.” Now, Jesus Christ is talking about a general pattern and function of light in this world. It means that a light is usually to be high to light up the darkness. This phrase from Jesus is about the effect that the life of disciples must have on those around them. It is part of the job description of a disciple of Jesus in the world. It is one of the main jobs of a disciple, or Christian. In other words, this job of Christians is not a kind of private personal holiness but the witness of public exposure. In the previous verse, this characteristic of a Christian’s job is depicted like this ‘A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.’

In verse 16, “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.” Here, the words, ‘in the same way,’ means, as described in verse 15, the way that the lamp on a stand gives light to all in the house. Now, we first need to confirm the source of the light and what the good works means. When we say ‘your light’, or the light that Christian people have, the source of the light is undoubtedly Jesus Christ himself. Jesus Christ who came to the world as the light that has shown the darkness of the world. John 1:9 says, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” And in 1 John 4:13, “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” So the source of ‘your light’ is Jesus Christ as the true light. ‘The light’ shed by disciples is in the verse interpreted as the good that they do. Here, ‘good works’ is ‘kala erga’ in Greek, which conveys the qualities of a life that is to be characteristic of Jesus’ disciples, or Christian people. In this passage, ‘good works’ does not simply mean moral behavior, but indicates the distinctive lifestyle of Christian people. Therefore, the phrase, ‘let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works’ signifies ‘let your distinctive lifestyle as Christians be seen to others.’ This is an exact interpretation of these texts. Jesus Christ meant this.

It means that Christian people, as the disciples who have the true light and true life, need to and should show that you live with new desires, new aspirations, a new outlook and a new orientation. ‘Let your light shine before others’ means ‘show to others that there is a totally different life style to mankind in this world.’ Above all, it means that you, Christian people, need to show that you have a new life that loves the light and hates the darkness. How do Christian people do this? If you really live a faithful Christian life before God according to the truth, others cannot help see your distinctive lifestyle and world-view that they never imagine as unbelievers. If you have the light that came from our Lord Jesus Christ who has been the true light to the world, others cannot help see the light abiding in you. You don’t have to shout that you have the light and the new life. You don’t necessarily need to urge them to see and believe in them. Your faithful, steadfast, silent, and bold Christian life is subject to be seen to others. This is what the phrase says; ‘A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.’ This is what the phrase says; ‘let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works.’

Now then, we need to grasp the effect, or goal of it. Why do we let our light shine before others? In verse 16, “[…] So that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This verse tells us the effect, or the goal of shining our light before others. It is the glorifying of God by those outside the disciple community. I said that ‘the good works’ is not merely moral behavior but ‘public witness of distinctive Christian life style.’ Then the effect of the good works is, as this verse makes clear of the meaning, not just the improvement and enlightenment of society but the glorifying of God. Of course, exemplary moral behavior could be included in ‘the good works,’ and it could bring about improvement and enlightenment of society. But the real and ultimate goal of the good works that Jesus says in this verse is not those kinds of things. This is the glorifying of God by those outside the Christian group. That is, the aim of our discipleship is not so much the betterment of life on earth as it is the implementation of the reign of God.

Then what does it mean that they give glory to God by seeing our good works? Before appreciating what it means, there is one thing that we need to even briefly confirm again. That is the Kingdom of God. As I mentioned a couple of times before and you know, the Kingdom of God has been spreading and marching calmly and strongly, and all the universe is under God’s control. You and I are deeply involved in this amazing event. This Kingdom of God will be completed at the time that God set. The effect of ‘the good works’ is related to this. First, through ‘the good works’ that are shown by Christian people, unbelievers recognized the reign of God over this world. Our distinctive and clear lifestyle as real Christians, or the good works makes them see God’s reign. Second, the good works make them recognize the source of Christian’s distinctive lifestyle, their God. When Christian people truly let their light shine before others, that is, when Christian people faithfully live their lives with the new life, new spirit, new sense, new desire, new outlook, and new orientation that is given by God through the Holy Spirit, the effect of it is that they come to glorify God. Specifically speaking, they become to be aware of the reign of God. They recognize God as the source of Christians’ different lifestyles and world-views. They recognize that there is a totally different lifestyle to humankind. That is, they glorify God far beyond just wanting to emulate Christians’ way of life or just wanting betterment of life on earth – they glorify God. In the verse, the expression ‘your Father in heaven’ reflects the distinctive relationship that exists between God and those who, through their response to Jesus’ message, have become subject of His Kingdom. The expression does not merely mean a universal concept of the fatherhood of God.

Everyone, clearly see the light in you that can rebuke the darkness of this world. If you are real Christians, your good works cannot be hidden like a city on a hill. It is seen to everyone. Your good works, or distinctive life style and world-view is subject to be seen to the world. This is one of the important ways for God to be glorified. Rather, Jesus says that your moral behaviors should be conducted secretly. In chapter 6 verses 2-4, “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.” However, today’s command from Jesus our Lord is given as a different way for us to carry out that it. The way is to shine, let everyone see, and let the world know. Why? In that way, God is glorified. The glory that only God definitely deserves is given to God Himself. By shining your light, you come to carry out your number one task as a man – glorify and enjoy God. I really hope that you all have the light that came from Jesus Christ through believing in him, and let your light shine before others so that they see your good works and then glorify God, your father. They may see the reign of God. They may see the different life to mankind. Let your light shine before them.