THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: The Lampstand (1)

If they be as they should be they are as good salt, white, and small, and broken into many grains, but very useful and necessary—Without salt human life cannot be sustained. See in this:What they are to be in themselves—seasoned with the gospel, with the salt of grace; thoughts and affections, words and actions, all seasoned with grace

Matthew 5:14-16

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

¹⁵Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Beatitudes

Basic Traits, Character AND THE KINGDOM.

· The Beatitudes describe the essential character of kingdom citizen, and the metaphors of salt and light indicate the citizens’ influence for good as they penetrate secular society.

Jesus calls His people to a holiness that proceeds from the heart. Holiness is now the outcome of personal loyalty to God and the realization of the fulfilling fruitfulness originally intended for mankind. Sooooooo, we, as God’s people are to recognize that our lives have either a positive or negative effect. How are we to do this? We do it by living responsibly to bring glory to God.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines the primary attributes of people who receive the rule of the kingdom He brings. There are nine [9] direct reference to the “the kingdom” in this sermon, calling for: humility, willingness to suffer persecution, earnest attention to God’s commandments, refusal to substitute false piety for genuinely right behavior, a life of prayer, prioritizing spiritual over material values, and above all, acknowledging Christ’s lordship by obeying the revealed will of God.

But for now, why don’t we take this parable verse-by-verse? Here we go:

Verses 14-16

II. Ye are the light of the world, Matt. 5:14. All Christians are light in the Lord (Eph. 5:8), and must shine as lights (Phil. 2:15), but ministers in a special manner. Christ call himself the Light of the world (John 8:12), and we are workers together with him, and have some of his honour put upon us. Hallelujah!

Truly the light is sweet, it is welcome; the light of the first day of the world was so, when it shone out of darkness; so is the morning light of every day; so is the gospel, and those that spread it, to all sensible people. The world sat in darkness, Christ rose up his disciples to shine in it; and, that they may do so, from him they borrow and derive their light....to be cont'd