In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16, TLV

Let Your Light Shine.  Matthew 5-7 is what is typically known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” What our Messiah did is give a doctoral thesis of the Torah, yet spoken in the simplest terms that a child could understand. Today’s verse is the conclusion of a pericope (themed section) about light.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (vs. 14, TLV)

Jesus begins by addressing those held in rapt attention to His message, those who will do more than listen — they will do. The set time had come for the fulfillment of prophecies about GOD’s Light coming to Zion and they in turn would go to the nations:

Arise, shine, for your light has come!
The glory of ADONAI [the LORD] has risen on you.
For behold, darkness covers the earth,
and deep darkness the peoples.
But ADONAI will arise upon you,
and His glory will appear over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to the brilliance of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3, TLV

This message may have been confusing to this audience. What most of the people were looking for was deliverance from the Roman oppression. Was this, their hoped for Messiah saying they would bring His light to the world? Even to their oppressors, the Romans? Their previous oppressors the Greeks? Indeed, to all the Gentiles in every nation! They weren’t to withhold His offer of salvation to anyone.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. (vs. 15, TLV)

How about us? Do we seek our Father’s deliverance from the oppressors around us rather than being a light? Admittedly, it’s easier to complain than it is to care enough to share the Good News, especially when we’re bombarded by criticism and ridicule, even persecution. But that’s what He’s called all of us to do: Shine!

What might that look like? How do we begin?

• Pray for our “enemies.” This is a choice, not because we suddenly feel love for them. It’s an act of obedience.
• Realize we don’t know their story. We don’t always know our “enemies’” stories — their hurts, their confusion — but GOD does. He loves them. He longs for them to turn from their wicked ways and become one of His redeemed children. And maybe that is to be their story. If it is, and we shine His light, then we are tiny part of their redemption story. Remember Saul? He went from persecuting Yeshua’s followers to being one.
• Don’t rejoice over their failures. Proverbs 24:17-18 says: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, or let your heart be glad when he stumbles, or ADONAI may see it as evil in His eyes, and turn His wrath away from him. Instead we are to speak or pray blessings on them. Even when we don’t feel it.

What if we begin simply by doing these three things? Perhaps little by little the Holy Spirit will show us more ways to be lights on a hill and not hidden by our bushels of fear, hatred, criticism, or pride. Then we’ll let our light shine with our love and good works. Shine on!

Shabbat shalom!