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Salt and Light
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.14Youarethelightof theworld.A cityona hillcannotbe hidden.15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.…

Treasury of Scripture

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

the light.

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the justis as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

John 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

John 12:36
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

a city.

Genesis 11:4-8
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose topmay reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth…

Revelation 21:14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

AbleBuiltCityHidHiddenHillHill-TopLightMountMountainSituatedTopWorldAbleBuiltCityHidHiddenHillHill-TopLightMountMountainSituatedTopWorld1.Jesus' sermon on the mount:
3.The Beattitudes;
13.the salt of the earth;
14.the light of the world.
17.He came to fulfill the law.
21.What it is to kill;
27.to commit adultery;
33.to swear.
38.He exhorts to forgive wrong,
43.to love our enemies;
48.and to labor after perfection.

You are the light of the world.
This phrase identifies the followers of Jesus as a source of spiritual illumination in a world often characterized by darkness and sin. In biblical context, light symbolizes truth, purity, and divine revelation. The metaphor of light is used throughout Scripture, such as inIsaiah 42:6, where God calls His servant to be a light to the nations. Jesus Himself is described as the "light of the world" inJohn 8:12, indicating that His followers are to reflect His light. The call to be the light implies a responsibility to live in a way that reveals God's truth and love to others, influencing the world positively and guiding others to Christ.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
This imagery suggests visibility and prominence. In the historical and geographical context, cities in ancient Israel were often built on elevated ground for defense purposes, making them visible from a distance. The city of Jerusalem, for example, is situated on a hill and served as a spiritual and cultural center. The metaphor implies that the lives of believers should be conspicuous and impactful, much like a city that stands out in the landscape. This visibility is not for self-glorification but to draw others to God. The idea of being a city on a hill also connects to the prophetic vision of Zion inIsaiah 2:2-3, where nations are drawn to the mountain of the Lord. Believers are called to live in such a way that their faith and actions cannot be concealed, serving as a beacon of hope and righteousness in the world.

1.Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, delivering the Sermon on the Mount, teaching His disciples and the gathered crowd about the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven and the character of its citizens.

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 World
Refers to the broader human society that is in darkness due to sin and in need of the light that believers are called to shine.

4.City on a Hill
A metaphor used by Jesus to illustrate the visibility and influence that believers should have in the world.

5.Sermon on the Mount
The context in which this teaching is given, a collection of Jesus' teachings found in Matthew chapters 5-7.Identity and Purpose
Believers are inherently called to be the light of the world, reflecting the light of Christ in their lives.

Visibility and Influence
Just as a city on a hill is visible to all, Christians are to live in such a way that their faith is evident and influential in their communities.

Responsibility and Witness
The call to be light carries the responsibility to live out the values of the Kingdom, serving as a witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Contrast with Darkness
The presence of light is most impactful in darkness; believers are to engage with the world, bringing hope and truth where it is most needed.

Community and Support
Like a city, the collective witness of believers is powerful. Christians are encouraged to support one another in their mission to be light.1.What is the meaning of Matthew 5:14?

2.How can you be a "light of the world" in daily life?

3.What does Matthew 5:14 teach about Christian influence in society?

4.How does Matthew 5:14 connect with Philippians 2:15 on shining as lights?

5.In what ways can your church embody being a "city on a hill"?

6.How can you ensure your light is not hidden under a basket?

7.What does "You are the light of the world" mean in Matthew 5:14?

8.How does Matthew 5:14 challenge Christians to live differently in society?

9.What historical context influences the interpretation of Matthew 5:14?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 5?

11.How can we let our light shine before others?

12.What defines being a "city on a hill"?

13.What defines being a 'city on a hill'?

14.How can you be salt and light in the world?You are the light of the world

- Jesus states, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14). He speaks directly to His followers, giving them a clear, present-tense identity—not a future possibility.

- Light dispels darkness:

•John 8:12—Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” By calling us light, He shares His own mission with us.

•Ephesians 5:8—“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” The transformation is already accomplished; our role is to live it out.

- Light guides the lost:

•Philippians 2:15—Believers are to “shine like stars in the sky” in a “crooked and perverse generation.”

•Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” showing that we reflect God’s truth when we live it.

- Light reveals truth and exposes what is hidden:

•1 Peter 2:9—We are called “out of darkness into His marvelous light,” so our very existence testifies to God’s saving power.

•2 Corinthians 4:6—God “made His light shine in our hearts” so others can see “the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

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A city on a hill cannot be hidden

- Jesus adds, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14). The image shifts from individual lamps to a collective, elevated community.

- Visibility is unavoidable:

•Isaiah 2:2-3—Zion is lifted up so that “all nations shall stream to it,” portraying God’s people as a landmark of hope.

•Proverbs 4:18—“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Our influence is meant to grow, not recede.

- Elevation implies responsibility:

•Acts 1:8—Jesus promises power to witness “to the ends of the earth,” confirming that our public platform is Spirit-empowered.

•1 Thessalonians 1:8—“The word of the Lord rang out from you … your faith in God has gone forth everywhere,” showing how a congregation’s testimony reaches far beyond its borders.

- Corporate witness strengthens individual light:

•Hebrews 10:24-25—Believers gather to “encourage one another,” so the collective glow intensifies.

•Revelation 1:20—Churches are pictured as lampstands, emphasizing that a community of believers radiates Christ’s light more broadly than isolated individuals.

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summary

Jesus declares that His followers already are the world’s light, sharing His own illuminating presence. Individually, we shine by living transformed, truth-telling lives; together, we form a conspicuous city whose collective brightness cannot be concealed. Our God-given identity carries the joyful duty to reflect Christ openly, guiding others from darkness to the saving light of the gospel.

(14)The light of the world.--In its highest or truest sense the word belongs to Christ, and to Him only (John 1:9;John 8:12). The comparison to the "candle" or "lamp" inMatthew 5:15 shows, indeed, that even here the disciples are spoken of as shining in the world with a derived brightness flowing to them from the Fount of light.

A city that is set on an hill.--Assuming the Sermon on the Mount to have been preached from one of the hills of Galilee near the "horns of Hattin," our Lord may have looked or pointed at Safed, 2,650 feet above the sea, commanding one of the grandest panoramic views in Palestine. It is now one of the four holy cities of the Jews, and probably existed as a fortress in our Lord's time (Thomson'sThe Land and the Book, p. 273). The imagery might, however, come from the prophetic visions of the Zion of the future, idealising the position of the actual Zion (Isaiah 2:2;Micah 4:1). No image could so vividly set forth the calling of the Church of Christ as a visible society. For good or for evil, it could not fail to be prominent in the world's history, a city of refuge for the weary, or open to the attacks of the invader. . . .

Verse 14. - Matthew only.Ye are the light of the world. After speaking of the moral tone that the disciples were to give to the world, in contrast to sin in its corrupting power, Christ refers to them as enlightening, in contrast to sin as darkness and ignorance. Our Lord further naturally exchanges the term "the earth" (which from its strong materialism had suited the figure of the salt) for "the world" - a phrase which must, indeed, as regards the disciples, be limited to this earth, but as regards the light, need not be limited to less than the solar system. In other words, the simple reason why he exchanges "earth" for "world" is that they are respectively the best suited to the figure employed. Notice that Christ never applies the former figure, of salt, to himself; but the latter, of light, once or twice, especiallyJohn 8:12, where, since he is speaking of himself, and not of others, he adds the thought of life being connected with light,acity, etc.; literally,a city cannot be hid when set on a mountain. It seems at first slightly awkward to introduce the figure of a city between those of the sun and the lamp, both these having to do with light. The reason is that the city is not considered as such, but only as an object which can be teen, and which cannot (οὐ δύναται, emphatic) from its physical conditions avoid being seen. There is a true gradation in the thought of influence. The sun must be seen by all; the city, by the whole neighbourhood; the lamp, by the family. Our Lord comes from the general to the particular; from what is almost theory, at best a matter of hope and faith, to hard fact and practice. The influence you are to have - if it is to be for the whole world, as indeed it is, must be felt in the neighbourhood in which you live, andafortiori in the immediate circle of your own home. Conjectures have been made whether any one city can reasonably be mentioned as being in sight, and so having suggested this image to our Lord. If the exact spot where he was then sitting were itself certain, such conjectures might be worth considering. But, in fact, so many "cities" in Palestine were set on hills that the inquiry seems vain.Safed, some twelve miles north-west of Capernaum, the view from which extends to Tiberias (Neubaur, 'Geogr.,' p. 228), has been accepted by many, but evidence is lacking for it having been a city at that time. Tabor, at the south-west of the lake, has also been thought of, and at all events seems to have been then a fortified town. The view from it is even more extensive than fromSafed (vide especially Socin's Baedeker, p. 365).

Parallel Commentaries ...


You
Ὑμεῖς(Hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are
ἐστε(este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
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.

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

of the
τοῦ(tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world.
κόσμου(kosmou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889:Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

A city
πόλις(polis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4172:A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.

on
ἐπάνω(epanō)
Preposition
Strong's 1883:From epi and ano; up above, i.e. Over or on.

a hill
ὄρους(orous)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3735:A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

cannot
δύναται(dynatai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1410:(a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

be hidden.
κρυβῆναι(krybēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 2928:To hide, conceal, lay up. A primary verb; to conceal.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world (Matt. Mat Mt)