The sun must be seen by all the city, by the whole neighbourhood the lamp, by the family. There is a true gradation in the thought of influence. The reason is that the city is not considered as such, but only as an object which can be teen, and which cannot ( οὐ δύναται, emphatic) from its physical conditions avoid being seen. It seems at first slightly awkward to introduce the figure of a city between those of the sun and the lamp, both these having to do with light. literally, a city cannot be hid when set on a mountain. Notice that Christ never applies the former figure, of salt, to himself but the latter, of light, once or twice, especially John 8:12, where, since he is speaking of himself, and not of others, he adds the thought of life being connected with light, a city, etc. In other words, the simple reason why he exchanges "earth" for "world" is that they are respectively the best suited to the figure employed. Our Lord further naturally exchanges the term "the earth" (which from its strong materialism had suited the figure of the salt) for "the world" - a phrase which must, indeed, as regards the disciples, be limited to this earth, but as regards the light, need not be limited to less than the solar system. After speaking of the moral tone that the disciples were to give to the world, in contrast to sin in its corrupting power, Christ refers to them as enlightening, in contrast to sin as darkness and ignorance. For good or for evil, it could not fail to be prominent in the world's history, a city of refuge for the weary, or open to the attacks of the invader. No image could so vividly set forth the calling of the Church of Christ as a visible society. The imagery might, however, come from the prophetic visions of the Zion of the future, idealising the position of the actual Zion ( Isaiah 2:2 Micah 4:1). It is now one of the four holy cities of the Jews, and probably existed as a fortress in our Lord's time (Thomson's The Land and the Book, p. The comparison to the "candle" or "lamp" in Matthew 5:15 shows, indeed, that even here the disciples are spoken of as shining in the world with a derived brightness flowing to them from the Fount of light.Ī city that is set on an hill.-Assuming the Sermon on the Mount to have been preached from one of the hills of Galilee near the "horns of Hattin," our Lord may have looked or pointed at Safed, 2,650 feet above the sea, commanding one of the grandest panoramic views in Palestine. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.Įllicott's Commentary for English Readers(14) The light of the world.-In its highest or truest sense the word belongs to Christ, and to Him only ( John 1:9 John 8:12). Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. So that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light." After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, "I am the light of the world. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. 'Ye are the light of the world, a city set upon a mount is not able to be hid A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. *You* are the light of the world a town cannot be hid if built on a hill-top. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. You are the light of the world, a city set on a mountain is not able to be hid A city located on a hill can't be hidden. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, You cannot hide a city that has been built upon a mountain. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden. “You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
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