Definition of light in Matthew 5:16
score:2
The most definite references I found are in
Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
and it continues in verses
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
The fruits of the light indicate the light to be the holy spirit ('same fruit'). But it is the holy spirit who gives us spiritual gifts and talents. He is God living in us. Believers are different people, as their actions differ from the understanding of the world.
Then there is this reference in
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
...which without doubt states the light is God. Maybe it's easier to refer to it as any part of the holy trinity.
Therefore, in answer to your question:
- light ⇔ Holy Spirit, God, Jesus
- shining (light) ⇔ talents, spiritual gifts, God living in us
Upvote:3
First of all, it's interesting to note that in John 8:12, Jesus says, 'I [Jesus] am the light of the world," but here he says that "You [the Jewish followers of Jesus listening to Him at that time] are the light of the world." One understanding of this is that Jesus is the light source, while we are the light rays. Another way to understand it is that Jesus is the first candle, and each of us are candles that are lit by His flame.
Indeed, the Jewish people were given the revelation of God in order to be a testimony to the world, and indeed God used them to be that in Egypt (Exodus - "that the Egyptians will know there I am the Lord"), in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires through the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and in various other ways.
John 1:9 indicates that Jesus gives light to all people. John 3:19 indicates that light has come into the world, but many people have rejected the light.
So, it seems the light is using a physical reality to demonstrate a spiritual reality. The light, then, probably refers to the revelation of God. Jesus was the revelation of God, as He states in John 17. We also are called to testify to the glory of God, so that a people living in darkness can see a great light and come to God in faith.
More post
- 📝 Are there Christian denominations that promote making themselves eunuchs?
- 📝 The Luke 2 census - did everyone travel?
- 📝 Which denominations use the King James Version?
- 📝 What is the significance of a double cross?
- 📝 Was the first Christian community a model for Religious Orders?
- 📝 Did Thomas Pearne do anything other than contradict Granville Sharp?
- 📝 Why can't we boil down the three fonts of Catholic ethics to two?
- 📝 If God created the human "in His image", doesn't that mean that God is evil and full of faults?
- 📝 Is there a story in the Bible about a certain person named Cartaphilus?
- 📝 Seem we have to atone our sins ourselves as per Ezekiel 18?
- 📝 Is there a Christian equivalent to the Wiccan 'fluffy bunnies'?
- 📝 Why does Jesus refer to himself as the "Son of Man"?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church explain the differences in the verses of Lk 4:18 vis-a-vis Isiah 61:1
- 📝 What is the appeal of John Piper (Desiring God Ministries)?
- 📝 What is the origin of the Good Friday tradition?
- 📝 What is the basis of the teaching that souls in purgatory can intercede for the living?
- 📝 God Telling Hagar to Return and then to Leave
- 📝 What exactly is sin?
- 📝 Is tithing something necessary under the new covenant?
- 📝 According to authoritative Catholic exegetes, does 2 Cor. 6:14 forbid Christians from working with non-Christians in the workplace?
- 📝 How does the LDS Church decide what is included in their scriptural canon?
- 📝 When did Judas Iscariot kill himself?
- 📝 Synod of Dordt 1618
- 📝 What happens if the Pope is automatically excommunicated?
- 📝 Is this a mistake in The Book of Mormon?
- 📝 What is the basis for saying rock music is sinful?
- 📝 What exempts a Catholic from going to Mass on Sunday at church?
- 📝 How do Jehovah’s Witnesses explain the unique wording of Colossians 1:15-17 in the NWT?
- 📝 What was the main reason for excluding 35 latest names from the list of recognized saints by ROC?
- 📝 What scripture is used to support a "Pre-Tribulation Rapture"?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Definition of light in Matthew 5:16
- 📝 How do JWs respond to Jude 9 in light of Matthew 4:10?
- 📝 How is the divinity of Jesus defended in light of Philippians 2:9 ("God exalted him") and Matthew 28:18?
- 📝 Why do most Christians seemingly not mind swearing on the Bible in light of Matthew 5:33-37?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church explain their interpretation of Matthew 16:19 (Simon Peter as the first Pope) in light of Matthew 18:18?
- 📝 How do decentralized churches/denominations practically deal with "brothers" from another denomination in light of Matthew 18:17
- 📝 Protestant Interpretation of John 20:23 in Light of Matthew 9:8?
- 📝 What is the Roman Catholic view on Matthew 23:9?
- 📝 What did Jesus mean by "this generation will certainly not pass away.." in Matthew 24:34?
- 📝 How do Protestants interpret Matthew 16:13–20?
- 📝 How does Matthew 25:31-46 ("The Sheep and the Goats") reconcile with salvation by faith?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church explain Matthew 19:9, which seems to allow divorce in case of sexual misconduct?
- 📝 Why does the (N)KJV put Jesus' name in all caps in Matthew 1:21 and Luke 1:31?
- 📝 What does Matthew 5:27-30 ("Cast off your eye/hand/etc") mean?
- 📝 What is the message of Matthew 9:5?
- 📝 In what language was the Book of Matthew written?
- 📝 What does "gates of hell" mean in Matthew 16:18?
- 📝 Why would popes choose the name Pelagius in light of the Pelagian heresy?
- 📝 Why is Jesus occasionally referred to as "The Christ"? Is there a different definition between the two?
- 📝 Are there any Christian groups that follow Matthew 23:9?
- 📝 Adam and Eve Clothed in Light Before the Fall - Origin of this belief?
- 📝 On the topic of marriage in heaven, how does the LDS church reconcile Matthew 22:23-33?
- 📝 How is Matthew 24:36 explained by trinitarians?
- 📝 Why did God describe the light as being good, but not the darkness?
- 📝 How is Matthew 18: 8-9 explained in the context of non works-based salvation?
- 📝 What is the non-abstract definition of love according to the Bible?
- 📝 Is Levi from Luke 5:27 and Mark 2:14 referring to the apostle Matthew
- 📝 In light of the fact that Donatism is heresy, why do most churches require a priest to bless the elements?
- 📝 How do proponents of the Prosperity Gospel interpret Matthew 6:19-21 and Luke 6:20-26?
- 📝 How do proponents of the Prosperity Gospel interpret Matthew 19:24?