Teks -- Matthew 5:16 (NET)

5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mat 5:16 - Even so

Even so ( houtōs ).

The adverb points backward to the lamp-stand. Thus men are to let their light shine, not to glorify themselves, but "your Father in heaven."Light shines to see others by, not to call attention to itself.

Vincent: Mat 5:16 - So shine

So shine ( οὕτως )

Often misconceived, as if the meaning were, " Let your light shine in such a way that men may see," etc. Standing at the beginning of the sentence, it points back to the illustration just used. " So," even as that lamp just mentioned, let your light shine. Wycliffe has apparently caught this correct sense: So shine your light before men.

Wesley: Mat 5:16 - That they may see

and glorify - That is, that seeing your good works, they may be moved to love and serve God likewise.

JFB: Mat 5:13-16 - We have here the practical application of the foregoing principles to those disciples who sat listening to them, and to their successors in all time. Our Lord, though He began by pronouncing certain characters to be blessed

Without express reference to any of His hearers--does not close the beatitudes without intimating that such characters were in existence, and that already they were before Him. Accordingly, from characters He comes to persons possessing them, saying, "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you," &c. (Mat 5:11). And now, continuing this mode of direct personal address, He startles those humble, unknown men by pronouncing them the exalted benefactors of their whole species.

JFB: Mat 5:13-16 - Ye are the salt of the earth

To preserve it from corruption, to season its insipidity, to freshen and sweeten it. The value of salt for these purposes is abundantly referred to by classical writers as well as in Scripture; and hence its symbolical significance in the religious offerings as well of those without as of those within the pale of revealed religion. In Scripture, mankind, under the unrestrained workings of their own evil nature, are represented as entirely corrupt. Thus, before the flood (Gen 6:11-12); after the flood (Gen 8:21); in the days of David (Psa 14:2-3); in the days of Isaiah (Isa 1:5-6); and in the days of Paul (Eph 2:1-3; see also Job 14:4; Job 15:15-16; Joh 3:6; compared with Rom 8:8; Tit 3:2-3). The remedy for this, says our Lord here, is the active presence of His disciples among their fellows. The character and principles of Christians, brought into close contact with it, are designed to arrest the festering corruption of humanity and season its insipidity. But how, it may be asked, are Christians to do this office for their fellow men, if their righteousness only exasperate them, and recoil, in every form of persecution, upon themselves? The answer is: That is but the first and partial effect of their Christianity upon the world: though the great proportion would dislike and reject the truth, a small but noble band would receive and hold it fast; and in the struggle that would ensue, one and another even of the opposing party would come over to His ranks, and at length the Gospel would carry all before it.

JFB: Mat 5:13-16 - but if the salt have lost his savour

"become unsavory" or "insipid"; losing its saline or salting property. The meaning is: If that Christianity on which the health of the world depends, does in any age, region, or individual, exist only in name, or if it contain not those saving elements for want of which the world languishes,

JFB: Mat 5:13-16 - wherewith shall it be salted?

How shall the salting qualities be restored it? (Compare Mar 9:50). Whether salt ever does lose its saline property--about which there is a difference of opinion--is a question of no moment here. The point of the case lies in the supposition--that if it should lose it, the consequence would be as here described. So with Christians. The question is not: Can, or do, the saints ever totally lose that grace which makes them a blessing to their fellow men? But, What is to be the issue of that Christianity which is found wanting in those elements which can alone stay the corruption and season the tastelessness of an all--pervading carnality? The restoration or non-restoration of grace, or true living Christianity, to those who have lost it, has, in our judgment, nothing at all to do here. The question is not, If a man lose his grace, how shall that grace be restored to him? but, Since living Christianity is the only "salt of the earth," if men lose that, what else can supply its place? What follows is the appalling answer to this question.

JFB: Mat 5:13-16 - it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out

A figurative expression of indignant exclusion from the kingdom of God (compare Mat 8:12; Mat 22:13; Joh 6:37; Joh 9:34).

JFB: Mat 5:13-16 - and to be trodden under foot of men

Expressive of contempt and scorn. It is not the mere want of a certain character, but the want of it in those whose profession and appearance were fitted to beget expectation of finding it.

JFB: Mat 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven

As nobody lights a lamp only to cover it up, but places it so conspicuously as to give light to all who need light, so Christians, being the light of the world, instead of hiding their light, are so to hold it forth before men that they may see what a life the disciples of Christ lead, and seeing this, may glorify their Father for so redeeming, transforming, and ennobling earth's sinful children, and opening to themselves the way to like redemption and transformation.

Clarke: Mat 5:16 - Let your light so shine

Let your light so shine - Or more literally, Thus let your light shine, Ουτω λαμψατω το φως . As the sun is lighted up in the firmament of heaven to diffuse its light and heat freely to every inhabitant of the earth; and as the lamp is not set under the bushel, but placed upon the lamp-stand that it may give light to all in the house; Thus let every follower of Christ, and especially every preacher of the Gospel, diffuse the light of heavenly knowledge, and the warmth of Divine love through the whole circle of their acquaintance

Clarke: Mat 5:16 - That they may see your good works

That they may see your good works - It is not sufficient to have light - we must walk in the light, and by the light. Our whole conduct should be a perpetual comment on the doctrine we have received, and a constant exemplification of its power and truth

Clarke: Mat 5:16 - And glorify your Father

And glorify your Father - The following curious saying is found in Bammidbar Rabba, s. 15. "The Israelites said to the holy blessed God, Thou commandest us to light lamps to thee; and yet thou art the, Light of the world, and with thee the light dwelleth. The holy blessed God answered, I do not command this because I need light; but that you may reflect light upon me, as I have illuminated you: - that the people may say, Behold, how the Israelites illustrate him, who illuminates them in the sight of the whole earth."See more in Schoettgen. Real Christians are the children of God - they are partakers of his holy and happy nature: they should ever be concerned for their Father’ s honor, and endeavor so to recommend him, and his salvation, that others may be prevailed on to come to the light, and walk in it. Then God is said to be glorified, when the glorious power of his grace is manifested in the salvation of men.

Calvin: Mat 5:16 - Let your light shine before men

16.Let your light shine before men After having taught the apostles that, in consequence of the rank in which they are placed, both their vices and their virtues are better known for a good or bad example, he now enjoins them so to regulate their life, as to excite all to glorify God. That they may see your good works: for, as Paul tells us, believers must,

“provide for honest things, not only in the sight of God,
but also in the sight of men,” (2Co 8:21.)

The command, which he gives shortly afterwards, to seek concealment and a retired situation for their good works, (Mat 6:4,) is intended only to forbid ostentation. In the present instance, he has quite a different object in view, to recommend to them the glory of God alone. Now, if the glory of good works cannot be properly ascribed to God, unless they are traced to him, and unless he is acknowledged to be their only Author, it is evident, that we cannot, without offering an open and gross insult to God, extol free will, as if good works proceeded wholly, or in part, from its power. Again, we must observe, how graciously God deals with us, when he calls the good works ours, the entire praise of which would justly be ascribed to himself.

TSK: Mat 5:16 - your light // that // and // your Father

your light : Pro 4:18; Isa 58:8, Isa 60:1-3; Rom 13:11-14; Eph 5:8; Phi 2:15, Phi 2:16; 1Th 2:12, 1Th 5:6-8; 1Pe 2:9; 1Jo 1:5-7

that : Mat 6:1-5, Mat 6:16, Mat 23:5; Act 9:36; Eph 2:10; 1Ti 2:10, 1Ti 5:10,1Ti 5:25, 1Ti 6:18; Tit 2:7, Tit 2:14, Tit 3:4, Tit 3:7, Tit 3:8, Tit 3:14; Heb 10:24; 1Pe 2:12, 1Pe 3:1, 1Pe 3:16

and : Isa 61:3; Joh 15:8; 1Co 14:25; 2Co 9:13; Gal 1:24; 2Th 1:10-12; 1Pe 2:12, 1Pe 4:11, 1Pe 4:14

your Father : Mat 5:45, Mat 6:9, Mat 23:9; Luk 11:2

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mat 5:16 - that they may see your good works // and glorify your Father which is in heaven

Our Saviour now plainly tells us what he intended by the comparisons before mentioned. Let the light of that doctrine which you receive from me, and the light of your holy conversation, (the latter by the following words seemeth to be here principally intended),

so shine before men be so evident and apparent unto men,

that they may see your good works all sorts of good works, whatsoever I have commanded or shall command you; and as I command you, and in obedience to such commands, otherwise they are no good works;

and glorify your Father which is in heaven You are not in your good actions to aim at yourselves, to be seen of men, as Mat 6:1 , nor merely at doing good to others; good works are to be maintained for necessary uses, Tit 3:14 , but having a primary, and principal respect to the glorifying of your Father; for, Joh 15:8 , Herein is my Father glorified, if ye bear much fruit: not that we can add any thing to God’ s essential glory, but we may predicate and manifest his glory; which how we can do by good works, if they proceed from mere power and liberty of our own wills, not from his special efficacious grace, is hard to understand. Our Father is said to be in heaven, because, though his essential presence filleth all places, yet he is pleased there, more than any where, to manifest his glory and majesty.

PBC: Mat 5:16

Most of us are just average people. We are not in positions from which we can exert much influence. What can we do in these turbulent times? Well, the answer is that there is a lot that we can do that is very important. One of the most effective things that we can do is to live lives in obedience to the Word of God. As we do this we will inevitably have a good influence on the society about us. This is at least a part of what Jesus meant when He said in Mt 5:16 to " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." We may not think we are doing much good, but people are always watching us. We will have a great influence by our consistent, day-after-day examples of personal godliness. In this way we can exercise as " the light of the world," and as the " salt of the earth."

249

Gill: Mat 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men // that they may see your good works // and glorify your Father which is in heaven

Let your light so shine before men,.... Here Christ applies the foregoing simile to his disciples, and more fully opens the meaning and design of it. His sense is this; that the light of the Gospel, which he had communicated to them, the spiritual knowledge of the mysteries of grace, which he had favoured them with, were to be openly declared, and made manifest before men. Light was not given merely for their own private use, but for the public good of mankind; and therefore, as they were placed as lights in the world, they were to hold forth, in the most open and conspicuous manner, the word of light and life:

that they may see your good works: meaning their zeal and fervency; their plainness and openness; their sincerity, faithfulness, and integrity; their courage and intrepidity; their diligence, industry, and indefatigableness in preaching the Gospel; their strict regard to truth, the honour of Christ, and the good of souls; as also their very great care and concern to recommend the doctrines of grace, by their example in their lives and conversations:

and glorify your Father which is in heaven; that is, that when the ministration of the Gospel has been blessed, for the illumination of the minds of men, to a thorough conviction of their state; and for their regeneration, conversion, sanctification, and comfort; they may give praise to God, and bless his name for qualifying and sending such Gospel ministers to show unto them the way of salvation; and that the word has been made useful to them for communicating spiritual light, life, joy, and comfort, אבינו שבשמים, "Our and your Father which is in heaven", is a name, appellation, or periphrasis of God, frequently used by Jewish writers ^s; and is often expressed by Christ in these his sermons on the mount.