‘They may see your good deeds’
[Matthew 5:14-16]
We have already received a lesson from God while meditating on the word of God under the title of “Let’s not be the Christians who lost the taste” based on Matthew 5:13. One of them is that God taught us that we, as the salt of the world, should live a life that brings out the distinctive flavor of the gospel of Jesus Christ and faithfully take on the role of preventing the corruption of this society. In order to do that, we learned that we must not only preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with our lips, but also live a life worthy of the gospel with our lives. Today, I would like to receive a lesson from God to you and me under the title “they may see your good deeds” based on the text of Matthew 5:14-16.
Look at Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Jesus tells us to let our light shine before men (v. 16). Here, the phrase “In the same way” refers to today’s text Matthew 5:14-15: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” That is, Jesus said that we should let our light shine before men (v. 16). Just as a man lights a lamp and puts it on a lampstand, not under a bowl, so that it can shine on everyone in the house, so the disciples of Jesus should shine the light to the world. Why should we shine the light to the world? It is because we are the light of the world (v. 14). Then why have we become the light of the world? Look at John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” The reason we became the light of the world is because Jesus, the Light of the world, gave us the light of life by dying on the cross and resurrecting for us. Here, “life” refers to eternal life. In other words, we have received eternal life by believing in Jesus by God's exclusive grace, and that eternal life is the light of people (Jn. 1:4), so we must shine the light to the people of this world. Then, as the light of the world, what kind of light should we shine on the people of this world? It is our good deeds (5:16). We, as the light of the world, shine our good deeds into the world, so that the world may see and glorify our Heavenly Father. I have thought of this good deed in three short ways in the context of today's text alone:
First, good deeds is living a life of harmony between words and deeds.
Look at Matthew 5:19 – “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” We must obey God's commandments. We must not obey only with our lips. We must obey the Lord's commandments by our actions. This is how we do the Lord's will. And when we do the will of the Lord, we live a righteous life (v. 20).
Second, good deeds are living a loving life.
What is love life? It is not easily angered with the brother (1 Cor.13:5). Look at Matthew 5:21-22: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brotherwill be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Also, to love our brother is to live in harmony with him. Look at Matthew 5:23-24: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” And the loving life is not only to love our brothers but also our enemy. Look at Matthew 5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” As Christians, we should not only love those who love us (v. 46). Such love is a love that even non-believers who do not believe in Jesus know how to do (v. 47). We must love our enemy, just as Jesus loved us who were His enemies (Rom. 5:10).
Third, good deeds is living a holy life.
Read Matthew 5:27-28: “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” We are God's holy people. Therefore, we must be holy just as God is holy. And there must be no adultery in that holy life. In the Old Testament, God commanded not to commit adultery. But in the New Testament, Jesus says that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Also, Jesus is saying that if we divorce our spouse without marital unfaithfulness, we are making our spouse commit adultery (v. 32). And whoever marries the divorced spouse commits adultery (v. 32).
We are the light of the world. As the light of the world, we must shine the light of Jesus Christ in this dark world. To do that, we must obey the commandment of Jesus. What is Jesus’ commandment? The commandment of Jesus is that our good deeds may be seen by the world, so that they may glorify our Heavenly Father (v. 16). To that end, I hope that we should live a life of harmony of words and deeds, a life of love, and a holy life.