Matt 5:16-20
From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.
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The New Testament > Matthew > Chapter 5
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Questions
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Verse 16
- Letting light shine vs. giving in secret. Jesus tells us here to let our light so shine before men so that they see our good works. In the next chapter in verses 3-4, he tells us to do our alms in secret. How do we reconcile these two commands?
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Lexical notes
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Exegesis
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Verse 16: Letting light shine vs. giving in secret
Although there is an apparent tension between this verse and 6:1-4 where Christ admonishes his disciples to do their almsgiving in secret, the phrase "that they may glorify your father" (cf. John 15:8) may offer a key distinction. That is, in Matt 6:1 the phrase "to be seen of [men]" suggests a difference in intent. Jesus may be advocating that we let our good works shine with the intent of glorifying God, but we should take care not to do good works for the purpose of glorifying ourselves rather than God (see also Philip 1:11).
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Related links
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Verse 16
- Boyd K. Packer, "A Defense and a Refuge," Ensign, Nov 2006, pp. 85–88. Elder Packer said: "Not only are we to maintain the highest of standards, but each of us is to be a standard, a defense, a refuge."
- Letting light shine vs. giving in secret. See Elder Oaks' Credential Touting at Christian Cardall's blog.
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Verse 17
- Joseph Smith said that "Christ Himself fulfilled all righteousness in becoming obedient to the law which he had given to Moses on the mount, and thereby magnified it and made it honorable, instead of destroying it" (History of the Church, 5:261).
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