Matthew 5:15-16

Neither do men light a candle, &c.— This seems to be a proverbial expression. See the application that Christ makes of it on another occasion; Mark 4:21.Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33. They formerly used lamps only, instead of candles, and the candlestick was the foot on which they were set up. The meaning of this comparison is the same with that foregoing. The disciples and Christians, being the lights of the world, were designed to light men out of the ways of ignorance and vice to Jesus Christ, and, through him, into the paths of holiness and virtue. "Men do not so much as light a common lamp, to put it under a bushel, and conceal it there; but they set it on a stand, to give light to all who are in the house. How much less will it become you, whom I have compared to the sun, to hide or suppress your rays? The knowledge of divine things is given you, not to be concealed, but to be imparted to mankind around you; therefore, Matthew 5:16 let your light," &c. That is, "Make your doctrine and example bright in the eyes of all who behold you; that they may honour God; first, by acting up to the precepts of the Gospel, strongly impressed on their understandings by your penetrating sermons, accompanied by divine grace, and powerfully recommended to their hearts by your exemplary lives; next, by their returning thanks to God for sending such men to enlighten and reform the world; for to glorify God is not only to praise him (as Luke 2:20 and elsewhere), but also to acknowledge the truth of the Gospel." See Luke 23:47. 1 Peter 2:12. The Greek for in heaven is plural;—(in the heavens), for the Jews reckoned three heavens, the air, the firmament, and the third heaven, or the heaven of heavens, the usual place of God's residence. See Macknight, Beausobre and Lenfant, and Pierce's fourth dissertation. Heylin observes, in nearly these words, That the beatitudes, containing the principal articles of Christian holiness and morality, were as so many texts for the apostles to preach upon, and allure men to the practice of them, by shewing them the happiness which would ensue: but the generality of the world so little know the way to true happiness, that they scorn and abuse those who propose it to them; like men inaphrensy,who spurn the offered medicine, and assault those who would administer it. Our Lord, who foreknew this, forewarned his disciples of it: and lest such ingratitude and ill usage should make them desist from their high office, and not persevere in their endeavours to do good to others, at the hazard of such indignities and calumnies and dangers to themselves, he encourages them with the assurances of the great reward with which their patience would be crowned. He animates their zeal (Matthew 5:12.) by the example of the glorious company of the prophets their predecessors, who had faithfully persisted in publishing the truth, and doing good to mankind, notwithstanding the grievous persecution which thereby they drew upon themselves. And, further to engage his apostles to tread in their steps, our Lord represents to them, that this is their bounden duty, the great work to which they were divinely ordained, and for which they were especially qualified by supernatural abilities; and that as their reward would be great, if they rightly discharged their ministry, so their punishment would be proportionable, if they neglected it. "Ye are the salt of the earth, and your destined office, under my grace, is, to preserve from corruption of heart and manners; but if the salt become insipid," &c. Their especial duty was, to teach others their duty; but if they flinched from it, through fear of persecution, or any other motive, they would be lost irrecoverably, and sink in perdition beneath the rest of mankind, as much as by their sacred office they were placed above them. He goes on, therefore, with repeated allusions to remind them of their high station: "Ye are the light of the world, exposed to public view; a light which should illuminate all around, and in which every the least eclipse will be visible, and of bad influence." They were to be a pattern to others: they were to recommend their doctrine by their example, and to shew how amiable holiness and virtue are in their own practice. Let your light so shine, &c. See his Lectures, p. 75. Dr. Campbell renders the first clause, Thus let your light, &c.