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 Did
Jesus contradict himself in the sermon on the mount? He said,
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill
cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven” (Matt. 5:14,16). But later he said, “Take heed that
ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye
have no reward of your Father which is in heaven” (6:1-f.).
“To
be seen of men” indicates a self-glorifying motive; doing
things with no genuine desire to serve God or other men. This is
labeled exactly what it is; i.e., hypocrisy. By such we deceive
ourselves most often; perhaps a few others; but never fool God.
Hypocrisy is not true light in the first place. It has no
heavenly reward; only praise of deceived men.
Regarding
the first verses, true light will shine — that is its
nature. If we will concentrate on being true lights
rather than on being seen, the light will make
known its presence. It will not be hidden unless we follow a
policy of obscuration.
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But
why would any one want to hide his light? A few years back it
may have been fear ‘of being called a “square.” Now it may
be a desire to be thought “free” or “uninhibited.” But
light-hiding usually means we are ashamed of the gospel of
Christ, and fear the unpleasant consequences that may come to
those who defend and live its principles.
Cowards
can find plausible excuses for using the “bushel.” They “show
a brotherly deference” to prejudice-- a condescending
attitude, less than honest. They wish to ”gradually accustom”
men to their new idea. They are lovers of “peace” (where
there is no peace). I remember one fellow saying that John lost
his head because he lost his head — he failed to use tact and
diplomacy. But John’s light shone, and continues to shine on
us.
“Let
your light shine” means we must live for Christ in open,
unashamed fashion. We must “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.” We must be primarily interested
in pleasing the Lord, not in what men see or think of us.
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