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, (Mymvbv wnyba) , "Our and your Father which is in
heaven", is a name, appellation, or periphrasis of God,
frequently used by Jewish writers F19; and is often expressed
by Christ in these his sermons on the mount.