In the same way
This phrase connects the current verse to the preceding verses, where Jesus speaks about being the light of the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. It emphasizes continuity in the believer's conduct, suggesting that just as a lamp is placed on a stand to give light to everyone in the house, so should the believer's life be a visible testimony to others.

let your light shine before men
The "light" symbolizes the truth and righteousness of God reflected in the believer's life. In a cultural context, light was essential for safety and guidance, especially in the ancient world where darkness was associated with danger and evil. This phrase calls believers to live openly and authentically, demonstrating their faith in a way that is visible to others. It echoes the call to be a witness, as seen in Acts 1:8, where believers are called to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.

that they may see your good deeds
"Good deeds" refer to acts of kindness, charity, and righteousness that are a natural outflow of a transformed life in Christ. In the historical context of first-century Judaism, good deeds were often associated with adherence to the Law. However, Jesus redefines them as actions stemming from a heart aligned with God's will. This aligns with James 2:17, which states that faith without works is dead, emphasizing the importance of living out one's faith through actions.

and glorify your Father in heaven
The ultimate purpose of letting one's light shine and performing good deeds is to bring glory to God. This reflects the biblical principle that all actions should point back to God, as seen in 1 Corinthians 10:31, which instructs believers to do everything for the glory of God. The reference to "your Father in heaven" highlights the personal relationship believers have with God, a revolutionary concept in the context of the time, where God was often seen as distant and unapproachable. This phrase also points to the eschatological hope that all nations will come to recognize and worship God, as prophesied in Isaiah 60:1-3.

1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, delivering the Sermon on the Mount, which is a foundational teaching of Christian ethics and discipleship.

2. Disciples
The primary audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all believers who are called to live out the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven.

3. The Sermon on the Mount
A significant event in the New Testament where Jesus outlines the characteristics and behaviors expected of His followers.

4. The Father in Heaven
Refers to God, emphasizing the relationship between believers' actions and the glorification of God.

5. The World
The broader audience of "others" who observe the actions of believers, highlighting the public witness of Christian life.The Nature of Light
Light is inherently visible and transformative. As Christians, our lives should naturally reflect the light of Christ, impacting those around us.

Purpose of Good Deeds
Our actions are not for self-glorification but to direct others to glorify God. This aligns with the Greek word "doxaz?," meaning to honor or glorify.

Public Witness
Our faith is not meant to be hidden. We are called to live openly as Christians, allowing our conduct to testify to God's goodness.

Consistency in Character
The call to let our light shine is a call to integrity, where our private and public lives align with the teachings of Christ.

Impact on the World
By living out our faith authentically, we become instruments through which God can draw others to Himself.(16) Let your light so shine.--The English form of the sentence is somewhat misleading, or at least ambiguous. It is not simply, Let your light so shine that men may glorify; but, "Thus, like the lamp on its stand, let your light shine. . . ." The motive to publicity is, however, the direct opposite of the temper which led the Pharisee to his ostentatious prayers and almsgiving; not "to be seen of men," and win their praise, but to win men, through our use of the light which we know to be not our own, to glorify the Giver of the light. We have at least a partial fulfilment of the command in the impression made on the heathen world by the new life of the Church when they confessed, in spite of all prejudices, "See how these Christians love one another."

Your Father which is in heaven.--The name was in common use among devout Jews, but its first occurrence in our Lord's teaching deserves to be noted. The thought of God as a Father was that which was to inspire men not only when engaged in prayer (Matthew 6:9), but in the activity of obedience. (See Note on Matthew 6:9.)

Verse 16. - Matthew only. Let your light so shine; even so let your light shine (Revised Version); οὕτως λαμψὰτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν. The Revised Version (cf. Rheims) does away with the misinterpretation suggested by the Authorized Version, "so that," for οὕτως refers solely to the method of shining spoken of in ver. 15, "like a burning lamp upon its stand" (Meyer). Our Lord has here no thought of effort in shining, such as may improve the brightness of the light given, or of illuminating others, but of not concealing what light the disciples have. (For a similar οὕτως, cf. 1 Corinthians 9:24.) Yet remember, "A lamp for one is a lamp for a hundred" (Talm. Bab., 'Sabb.,' 122a) and "Adam was the lamp of the world" (Talm. Jeremiah, 'Sabb.,' 2:4 - a play on Proverbs 20:27). Your light. Either genitive of apposition, the light which you are (Achelis), cf. ver. 14; or genitive of possession, the light of which you are the trusted possessors (Meyer, Weiss). The latter is preferable, as the disciples have, in ver. 15, been compared to the lamp, i.e. the light-bearer. Before men (ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων). More than ἐνώπιον, "in presence of," for the position of the lamp "in front of" the people is what our Lord is here emphasizing (cf. John 12:37). That they may see your good works (u(mw = n τὰ καλὰ ἔργα). Your. Three times in this verse. Our Lord lays stress on personal possession of light, personal action, personal relationship and origin. Good works; i.e. of your lives generally (Weiss-Meyer), not ministerially (Mever). "Noble works, works which by their generous and attractive character win the natural admiration of men" (Bishop Westcott, on Hebrews 10:24). And glorify. This is actually done in ch. 9:8; 15:31. St. Peter's language (1 Peter 2:12) is probably due to a reminiscence of our Lord's words. Your Father which is in heaven. The Fatherhood of God is here predicated in a special sense of the disciples, in the same way as the Fatherhood of God is, in the Old Testament, always connected with his covenant relation to his people as a nation (cf. Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 3:4; Deuteronomy 32:6). Our Lord here is not thinking of the original relation of God to being and especially to humanity, in virtue of man's creation in the Divine image (ὁ πατήρ), but of the relation into which the disciples have entered through the revelation of God in Christ; cf. further Bishop Westcott, on John 4:21 (Add. Note) and on 1 John 1:2 (Add. Note); also Weiss, 'Life,' 2:348. The phrase, which occurs here for the first time in St. Matthew (but cf. ver. 9, note), henceforth occurs frequently, becoming of great importance for this Gospel (cf. vers. 45, 48; Matthew 6:1, 9, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


In the same way,
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

{let}
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

light
φῶς (phōs)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457: Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.

shine
λαμψάτω (lampsatō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2989: To shine, give light. A primary verb; to beam, i.e. Radiate brilliancy.

before
ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen)
Preposition
Strong's 1715: From en and pros; in front of (literally or figuratively) or time).

men,
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

that
ὅπως (hopōs)
Conjunction
Strong's 3704: From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual).

they may see
ἴδωσιν (idōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

good
καλὰ (kala)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

deeds
ἔργα (erga)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

glorify
δοξάσωσιν (doxasōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1392: To glorify, honor, bestow glory on. From doxa; to render glorious.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

Father
πατέρα (patera)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

heaven.
οὐρανοῖς (ouranois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 5:16 Even so let your light shine before (Matt. Mat Mt)