Light of the Word

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 7:15-20

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Last week’s sermon concluded by saying, “Yes, we want to show our love to others because God loved us. That’s good and pleasing to God. But can we be honest? Just because more than 50% of America doesn’t identify as Christian doesn’t mean they’re all not loving their neighbor. Now, of course, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t love our neighbor because someone’s already doing that, either.”

 And maybe you thought, as I did when I wrote the sermon, of Matthew 5:16 and 7:20. And then, perhaps, your thoughts began to wander toward this question, “What about the good works of unbelievers?”

 How can we even measure good works? Perhaps by charitable giving? Though America has steadily become less religious year by year, charitable giving has increased, growing from $427 billion in 2018 to $449 billion in 2019—a change of $22 billion! Research indicates volunteer hours were increasing before 2020 as well.

 Of course, there are other examples of good works, but the truth is clear. Unbelievers also perform acts of love for their neighbor. This is called “righteousness in the sight of the world” or “civil righteousness.” It means the good works a person does even without faith in God.

 But there’s something missing. Jesus says in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.” But how is it that the people Jesus was talking to were any different from everyone else? How did the become light when everyone was in darkness? Saint John tells us in the first chapter of his Gospel, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:9-13). Jesus himself says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The difference is faith in the Light, faith in Jesus Christ.

 Though righteousness in the world’s sight looks good to the world, the writer to the Hebrews tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Righteousness in the world’s sight is not in and of itself righteousness in God's sight. Saint Paul writes, “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law” (Romans 3:20). Instead, “In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last” (Romans 1:17). It is righteousness given, not righteousness earned. This faith receives Christ presented “as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood” (Romans 3:25). Even the good works a Christian does after coming to faith do nothing to earn God's love. “If by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6). However, the good works a Christian does are pleasing in God's sight, not only in the world’s sight.

 The writer to the Hebrews gives the example of Enoch. “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). This whole chapter is about great heroes of faith. Enoch was commended as one who pleased God, but the writer of this letter wants us to know it was by faith in God.

 So, what about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16 and 7:20? In Matthew 5:16, he says, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” The focus is not so much on the good deeds by themselves but that they are an outpouring of the light. Though an unbeliever also does good works in the world’s sight, they lack the light, that is, the faith, to accompany their good works. Their good deeds may cause a person to praise God, if such a person already believes in God and praises him. But an unbeliever’s works will likely have an opposite effect on the person who does not already believe in God. To the unbeliever, a fellow unbeliever’s works further cements the idea that a person does not need the Light to be good. It is not the good works that creates the saving faith, but the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 In Matthew 7:20, Jesus is talking about false teachers. He doesn’t separate the fruits from the message. He warns his followers about wolves in sheep’s clothing, preachers who claim to come from God but do not follow God's commands. He’s telling them, “They may be able to convince you with their words, but their actions will speak for themselves. Their actions may even look good on the outside (in the world’s sight), but are rotten within (in God's sight).”

 For this reason, we also want to do good works, that our light may shine before others, and they may come to believe in God. We don’t want our works to contradict our words. But good works without the gospel change no hearts. As Saint Paul says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? … Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:14,17).

 As Christians, our Savior has given us something unique. He gives us salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Our works don’t save us, nor can they. Nor can they save others. But they can, by pointing to the gospel of Jesus, shine the Light of the world into people’s hearts that they too may have the “light of life” (John 8:12).