Matta 5:16

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

"Here the character of the position for the disciples goes beyond 'the salt of the earth.' For this was expressive of righteousness; a righteousness not outward like that of the scribes and Pharisees (which sought reputation of man, and was little beyond the pride of a Stoic), but lowly and real as in God's sight. Whereas 'the light of the world' is the shining forth of grace, and inseparable from the confession of Christ in that respect. Salt preserves, but does not make everything manifest as the light does."

"'The world' had no such special dealing of God as 'the earth.' There moral darkness had reigned, which the light was to dispel as far as He gave it scope and power. Redemption, Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension, would give the light a penetrating energy unknown before."

"It is not His mind to let our good works shine before men, but our light, or confession of Himself in word and deed."

"Only let us not forget the Lord's momentous caution as to this. 'Thus let your light (your living profession of Him, Who is the true Light and made you light in Him) shine before men, that they may see (not your inconsistencies, but) your comely works, and glorify your Father that is in the heavens.' He means the very reverse of men displaying their benevolent works before their fellows, so as to bring glory to themselves. He would have His own let their confession of Him, the one source of their light, shine, so that men may see the goodly fruits, and therefore glorify not the disciples but our Father in the heavens, the Father of lights, of whom is every good giving, and whence comes down every perfect gift from above."

"'Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good (or, comely, καλά) works, and glorify your Father that is in the heavens.' This is practical Christianity in its outgoing, as the salt is the preservative power of purity which we always need to have in ourselves. It is to confess and live Christ, not only in secret which is essential and so pressed elsewhere before Him who sees there, but also truly and unflinchingly before men. Benevolent works are no test, and are not what Christ looked for and here expresses. He spoke of works excellent in the sense of what suits the Father and the Son, and of which the Holy Spirit is the sole power in us."

"Nor can anything other or short of this secure the end He proposes. For I might dole out all my goods in what men call charity, or deliver up my body to be burned without confessing Christ, and therefore without in any way glorifying the Father. There is neither light nor love without the faith and the confession of Christ; and self might thereby be honoured, but not the Father. Whereas let the light of Christ shine in your confession; and when men see right works in accordance with the will of God, they glorify not you but the Father who is the spring and aim of what you do."

"You will observe what a simple injunction this is. We are instructed to let our light shine. Unquestionably, the main function of light is to shine. We are enjoined to let it do so. Unless the light is covered by a bushel or concealed under the bed it will shine with usefulness. Place the lamp on its stand, and it will shed light to all that are in the house. Even so, said the Lord, let your light shine before men. It is as if He had said, You have your light; take care to allow no obstruction to interfere with the diffusion of its radiance around you."

"This metaphor is beautifully expressive of the unobtrusive example set by the true Christian disciple, and of that quiet confident demeanour which is the accompaniment of a simple faith in God."

"When you are thus lifted up with joy and peace because you know the Lord is near at hand, depend upon it, 'your light' is then shining. For then your eyes of faith would be upon the face of Him whose countenance shines likes the sun, and in consequence, the light that never was on sea or land would be shining forth from you, though you, yourself, might be unconscious of it."

"Were we to clothe this figure in New Testament language, we should quote our Lord's words when He says to us, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' Wherever the true light of the Spirit shines it will always yield a clear testimony to Christ. It will call attention not to itself, but to Him; and this is the way to glorify God."

"The very finest evidence which can be afforded of true spiritual work is that it tends directly to exalt Christ. If attention be sought for the work or the workman, the light has become dim, and the minister of the sanctuary must use the snuffers."

"May we so abide in Christ, so receive from Him, day by day, and moment by moment, the pure oil, that our light may shine, without our thinking of it, to His praise, in whom alone we have ALL, and apart from whom we can do absolutely NOTHING."

"It is a blessing when we can sink ourselves, that others may come into prominence. 'Let your light,' it is said, 'so shine before men, that they may see your good works [not, you], and glorify (not you, but) your Father which is in heaven.' If any chide with us, let us seek grace to go down, and take the lowest place, and give them credit."

"It is not the truth in and by itself that convinces souls, but it is rather the evidence afforded in the undoubted presence of God, and in the holy lives of His people. … This, in other words, is the lesson given by our blessed Lord to His disciples, when He says, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'"