Be-Attitudes

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 (Matt 5:16).

We know this one, right? Let your good works shine as a light to others so they can glorify God. Nice. Good stuff. But ... what does it mean? I ask this because we so often read it in a vacuum rather than in context. Let's look at it in context.

Jesus is just starting off His "Sermon on the Mount". He has just finished off the "Beatitudes". And then He gets into this conversation about "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." In this context He says, "In the same way ..." In what same way? "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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" (Matt 5:14-15). In that way. Just as you use light to light up the world around you, do that with your good works.

So, what good works? Well, He specifies that in the previous two metaphors. You are salt and you are light. No, these are not calls to be involved. He is not saying "be salt and light". Some people think it means, "Get involved! Start boycotts! Vote for the right candidate! Write to your city counsel!" No, He says you are salt and light. How so? We are salt in the sense that we give flavor to the truth of God. We are light in the sense that we illuminate the truth of God. Note that in either case salt can fail to provide flavor or light can be hidden. Those are faulty components. And Jesus is saying, "Don't be faulty salt and light."

Okay, so now we have a little better idea of what Jesus was saying. Your good works provide a flavor to the Gospel. Your good works light up the Gospel to those around. In your good works, then, God is glorified.

But is Jesus speaking here in a vacuum Himself? Does He indicate what He means by "good works"? Or are we just supposed to fill in that blank for ourselves? No! Jesus is not being vague. He has already outlined the "good works" that He has in mind that will flavor the Gospel and light it up for others to see. What good works? Who is it that provides salt and light? Jesus has already said it. It is the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.

Well, now, isn't that a strange set of "good works"? I don't think so. We tend to think of "super Christians" and the ordinary believer. Jesus seemed to describe what should be the ordinary believer. "You are ..." salt and light. "Blessed are ..." those who do these things, who have these qualities. These qualities give you flavor and illumination. These characteristics make you useful to God and bring glory to the Father. "What do you think we are," you might ask, "saints?" Well, yes. That's the biblical description. Now, live up to that which you have already attained (Phil 3:16).