SERMON XL - Being the Light of the World is a Great Honour - Matthew 5:14
find themselves on their deathbeds, their conscience will compel them to speak differently of the Ministers. Therefore, Ministers should not fret or be distressed when they lose their reputation.
Instead, they should consider whether they have lost some of their savor and strive to be savory. If they succeed in being savory, they need not strive for honour, for God will honour them.
Augustine speaks about this excellently. A person cannot be trampled upon unless they are inferior or subordinate to someone else. However, if their heart is fixed on heaven, even though they may suffer physically, they are not subordinate to anyone. This principle can be applied in the following manner: a person should not willingly submit themselves to the desires of others. In their teaching, they should surpass the satisfaction of fleshly desires, and their doctrine should be founded on the Gospel. Their life should be characterized by heavenly and holy conduct. By doing so, they cannot be trampled upon, and their reputation will surpass all attempts to tarnish it. The very memory of those who have been esteemed in the past, even in recent times, is remarkably savory. They lived above the approval of others, and therefore, they could not be trampled upon.
God has ensured that their names endure from generation to generation. Therefore, Ministers and Christians alike should strive to maintain their savor if they wish to avoid being trampled underfoot by others.
SERMON XL
Being the Light of the World is a Great Honour "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14
To be the salt of the earth and the light of the world is a tremendous honour that God bestows upon His Ministers, as well as His Saints to a lesser extent. After foretelling the sufferings His Disciples would encounter, Christ reassures them about the significant role the Lord has assigned to them. He conveys the message that despite reviling, persecution, and the spreading of false accusations, they should persist in their mission. "You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world." Only those who possess the qualities mentioned earlier—being poor in spirit, mourners, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted—truly deserve this honour. In the previous verse, which we concluded last, we explored how the Ministers of the Gospel serve as the salt of the earth. Those who share the likeness of salt in their Ministry must also resemble light in their Ministry. The more provocative a Minister's words are to a congregation, the more convincingly they should speak. If they are salt, they must also be light. "You are the light of the world." This statement is almost as exalted as any proclamation about mankind could be. For a few humble fishermen to be called the salt of the earth, responsible for preserving it from decay, and the light of the world—what greater honour could be bestowed upon men? Luther remarked on this passage, describing it as an exceptional calling and a greater honour than any other, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Light is an extraordinary phenomenon, and our understanding of it remains limited. This exposes human ignorance, demonstrating that man has little reason for pride. Two of the most vital aspects of life— light and life itself—are subjects on which we struggle to articulate
adequately. The most excellent things are often referred to as light:
God Himself is light according to Scripture, and the highest expression of His glory is light. Christ is light; He is called the light of the world. The angels are light, the Word is called light, grace is light, the saints are called light, comfort is light, God's favour is the light of His countenance, prosperity is light, deliverance from evil is light, and even heaven itself is light. However, when Christ speaks of being the light of the world, it specifically refers to the Gospel and its
Ministry, and then extends to the saints according to their kind and degree. The saints, too, serve as the light of the world, but the Gospel and its Ministers are explicitly identified as the light of the world. It is as if Christ is saying, "As you go forth into the world, you will become bearers of the glorious Gospel, and this Gospel that you are taking to the world is the light that will illuminate it. You are like heavenly luminaries that scatter light upon the Earth." Therefore, we can infer the following: The entire world remains in darkness until the Gospel reaches them. Kingdoms, countries, towns, families, individuals, souls—all dwell in darkness until the Gospel arrives.
Firstly, the world dwells in darkness. Scripture portrays man's natural state as darkness. Before the Gospel is preached in any location, the inhabitants do not know God. "For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). Even the most intellectually gifted individuals remain in darkness until the Gospel reaches them. It is astonishing to observe the meager and misguided thoughts people naturally possess about God—the infinite, glorious, supreme being.
Foolish hearts are shrouded in darkness; they are ignorant of the path of light, the standards of light. Prior to the arrival of the Gospel, people are unaware of the proper way to worship God. They engage in vain worship, worshipping God according to their own
imaginations and inventions. They are ignorant of the purpose of human life, unaware of the ultimate happiness and glory that humanity can attain. This knowledge is only accessible through the Gospel. In their natural state, people fail to comprehend their own condition; they possess limited knowledge of sin, original corruption, and the separation between God and mankind. They remain oblivious to God's ordained path for reconciling the world to Himself
—a profound mystery that has eluded the rulers of this world, only to be revealed through the light of the Gospel. They know nothing of the great work of Mediation or the Covenant of grace—the second
Covenant God established with humanity. They lack understanding of the extraordinary nature of grace. Consequently, individuals in their natural state are immersed in darkness, disconnected from a profound understanding of God. They allow the great and glorious aspects of God to pass them by without grasping hold of them, wandering aimlessly without direction. "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes" (1
John 2:11). They tread the path of darkness, engaging in the works of darkness, stumbling at every turn, stumbling even at the ways of God. Every scandal causes them to despise God's ways, and every reproach reinforces their negative opinion of God's ways. Individuals in their natural state find themselves in a wretched condition, deluding themselves with false comfort and a false sense of light.
They possess no more understanding than a child born and raised in the depths of a dungeon. Thus, wicked individuals are naturally akin to prisoners in a dark cell, presuming they possess spiritual sight while remaining blinded by their carnal eyes. Furthermore, their path is fraught with danger; they remain uncertain about what awaits them with each step, fearing they may plunge into perdition.
Furthermore, they are under the dominion of darkness due to the darkness within their own spirits. Consequently, the spirit of darkness and their own spirits align and harmonize. It is questionable whether the devil would tempt anyone in any other way than by presenting external temptations if it weren't for the sinfulness of our hearts. When he tempted Adam in his state of innocence, we only read of him using serpents and similar suggestions. When he tempted our Saviour Christ, he did not attempt to tempt Him spiritually but resorted to external temptations, such as taking Him to the top of a mountain. Therefore, in the absence of sin, the devil, or the spirit of darkness, cannot align with the spirit except by presenting evil through external objects.
However, those who dwell in darkness and have their spirits immersed in darkness can align with the Prince of darkness. The devil not only presents outward temptations to wicked individuals but seems to merge with their spirits. This is the misery of natural men.
Lastly, the entire world is so enveloped in darkness that if left to themselves, they will be consigned to everlasting darkness. Many may believe that they are not in darkness, but as Christ said, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth" (John 9:41). The more convinced people are that they are in the light, the more glaring their sin becomes. No one can accurately judge their natural state because they are in darkness, let alone judge spiritual matters. Let us not rely on the judgment of men based on their great intellectual abilities when it comes to spiritual matters because their foolish minds are clouded in darkness. Just as dark vaults are home to toads and repugnant creatures, the same can be said of dark hearts. "Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty" (Psalm
74:20). It is no wonder that people are so fierce and obstinate, for
their hearts are dark abodes of cruelty. Before the Gospel reaches them, people are in darkness, and where the light of the Gospel does not shine, the devil, the prince of darkness, rules both outwardly and inwardly. In some places where the Gospel is unknown, people worship the devil in visible forms. This natural darkness is in direct opposition to God, for God is light. It is detestable to God, and the darkness in the hearts of men is not merely the absence of light, but an active opposition and hatred towards light. All the darkness in the world cannot overcome the illumination of even the smallest candle.
The light of the tiniest candle triumphs over all the darkness in the world. However, the darkness within man's heart not only lacks light but actively opposes and despises it. Their darkness is the shadow of death, a hellish darkness that not only leads to hellish darkness but is itself the beginning of hell within their hearts. It is no wonder that men rely on vain hopes and supports for their eternal salvation. "You are the light of the world." Therefore, the entire world dwells in darkness. This is the natural state of man—darkness. The Gospel brings light into the world. The Gospel, in its Ministry, is the light.
Firstly, Christ Himself is the preeminent light. Just as the scattered light in the universe eventually converges into the sun, all light and illumination come from Christ. Thus, Christ disperses light throughout the world through the Ministry of the Gospel. "He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light" (John 1:8,
9). Every person who enters the world and possesses any light receives it from Christ, who is the true light. John, although a significant light in his own right, was sent to bear witness to the true light. This is the task of the Ministry—to bear witness to that light.
However, Christ Himself is the true light. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John
8:12). Christ is the light; He is the Gospel. The Gospel is simply the doctrine of Christ, the good news concerning Jesus Christ that has
entered the world. That is the Gospel, the light that brings illumination to the world. First and foremost, light is a most beautiful thing. "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun" (Ecclesiastes 11:7). There is no object more worthy of love, more delightful than beholding the glory of God shining through the Gospel. There are sweet things to behold, and it is pleasant to behold that light. When a poor sinner who has lived in darkness all his days finally has his eyes opened to see the light of the Gospel, he stands in awe and wonder, amazed at the things he sees.
The conversion of a sinner is akin to bringing a poor man out of a dungeon where he was born and suddenly exposing him to the glorious creatures of the world—the earth, the stars, and mankind.
He cannot help but stand amazed. The same is true of the conversion of a sinner. Examine whether you have found the light to be lovely and captivating, whether your heart has been filled with wonder upon seeing things you have never seen before. Just as light reveals, the nature of light is to uncover things. "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light" (Ephesians 5:13). The Gospel, which you bring into the world, reveals great things. What does it make manifest? It reveals God Himself. Those who lived without knowledge of God now see Him as God. They behold God in the face of Jesus Christ. The light of the glory of God truly appears to them. The Apostle Paul, speaking of the light that shines in the hearts of those whom God has worked upon, says, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2
Corinthians 4:6, 7). The light surpasses the eyes; it shines in the heart. It is transformative. It transforms those who were once darkness into light itself. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8). The light of the Gospel is an increasing light, growing as the times and ages of the Gospel
progress. It is not all revealed at once but gradually increases in the souls it reaches. It is an everlasting light, the very beginning of the light of glory. It is impossible to comprehend until it is seen. If one were to speak about light to blind men, expounding on its qualities, could they truly grasp the concept of light without ever having seen it? They cannot comprehend its excellence until they see it. Similarly, we can speak of the Gospel as light, but until you see it for yourself, you will never truly understand it or know its excellence. This light of the Gospel is not conveyed except through the Ministers of the Gospel. The Ministers are the light of the world. Thus, it is the duty of Ministers to shine in their doctrine and burn in their conduct.
Through their teachings and way of life, they should display the light of the Gospel wherever they go. "He was a burning and a shining light" (John 5:35). If Ministers fulfill their role as they should, they will be shining and burning lights. They bring light through their doctrine and their lives. The purpose of the Ministry is to open people's eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ. The end goal of the Ministry is to open people's eyes, to turn them from darkness to light. The Gospel ushers in the day of grace and salvation in its Ministry. As the preaching of the Gospel reaches a place, so does the day of grace and salvation. When God removes the light of the Ministry, the day of grace and salvation also departs. "He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). When God sends a faithful
Minister to a place, He brings light to that place. Then the light of the Gospel shines, and the day of grace and salvation arrives. As long as God sustains the light of the Ministry of the Gospel, the day of grace and salvation persists. However, once that light is extinguished, the sun sets. "You are the light of the world." We possess this light in
earthen vessels, but it is the lamp that shines with the light of the knowledge of God.
The message would be very rare if I had to address a gathering of Ministers. I would tell them the importance of being filled with light themselves, having knowledge of the Mystery of salvation. When they come to preach, they should come with the radiance of the Gospel, allowing it to shine upon them. They should come like Moses descending from the mount, his face aglow with light. Similarly,
Ministers should come with their light shining, spreading its beams to the souls wherever they go. Some souls will be grateful for the light that enters their lives, and the Minister's duty is to share light with the people, presenting the whole counsel of God without holding anything back. John was a burning light, consuming himself to give light to others. Ministers should also devote themselves and expend their efforts to bring light to others. They should have compassion for those who dwell in darkness and guide them towards the light.
Ministers should recognize the significant task they are sent to accomplish, which is to carry light to those who sit in darkness. In their Ministry, Ministers should ensure it is full of light. They should be cautious not to mix it with their own human inventions or dilute it with unnecessary elements. Some preachers tend to incorporate their own ideas, but the more human invention is mixed with preaching, the less light it gives. It is the simplicity and purity of the Gospel that illuminates the soul. Ministers should be mindful not to let their personal passions dictate their preaching.
Moreover, there is a special providence of God over faithful Ministers. If they remain faithful, they can expect God's special providence to protect their lives and guide their paths because they are light. In Revelation 1:16, it is said, "He had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and
his countenance was as the sun shines in its strength." These stars, representing the Ministers, cannot be plucked out or fall because
Christ holds them in His right hand. Whenever Christ desires light to shine in a place, He sends out a Minister to provide that light. Some
Ministers may shine more brightly than others, while some may only offer a dim light. Those who had light in their youth but have succumbed to worldly desires have extinguished that light within themselves.
Ministers should rejoice in the knowledge acquired by the people. It is not fitting for Ministers to be vexed when the people gain knowledge. They should be like light that shines on refuse without defiling itself. Ministers should strive to do good to all, even to the worst of people, and adapt to their circumstances without becoming contaminated. If a Minister engages in conversation, it should be to illuminate others, but they must be cautious not to be tainted by such interactions.
Learn to value the Ministry of the Gospel because it is the light of the world, bringing the light of God to the people. Be grateful that the Gospel has come among you and that God, in His mercy, has shown favor to your generation. Though many seek to extinguish the light,
God keeps His chosen Ministers in His right hand. As long as the light of the Gospel continues to shine, it signifies God's goodness towards His people. Be willing to sustain the charge of maintaining the light. Light is invaluable; one would rather give ten thousand pounds than be without it. In Chrysostom's time, the people cherished the light of the Gospel that he preached to them. They believed it was better for the sun to withdraw its beams than for Chrysostom's mouth to be silenced. John was a burning and shining light, precious in his ministry. Therefore, Herod should not have hesitated to spare John's life when he made an oath. We should