Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Neither? To what does neither refer? What does it matter? Well it does. Neither is a conjunction. Conjunction, junction, what’s your function? Its function is to connect clauses or sentences. Connect is the key word here. That word neither is a big yellow warning sign that tells the bible student DO NOT DISCONNECT. The connection between this and the previous verse is the negative aspect of it. Neither means also not. The negative that this verse is connected to is the the fact that a city on a hill cannot be hid. So neither a city on a hill nor a candle on a stick will be missed. If they are connected, then the context has not changed.
If we stay in the context, this imminence of being seen by all, from atop a hill or a candlestick, is a result of persecution. We must rid ourselves of this notion that all Christians are God’s trophies set up on a mantle for all the world to see. Yes, God ultimately, as the metaphor says, places us upon the hill or the candlestick; but in this context it is clear that this is a promise to those that are truly persecuted for the name of Christ, and end result of the works of wicked hands. (Act 2:24) The perfect demonstration of this, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
…he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him (Phillipians 2:8,9)
First humility… He humbled himself. Then persecution… The death of the cross. Then exaltation… God hath highly exalted him. You see the same three aspects in the first part of the Sermon on the Mount and in the same order.
- Humility: the poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, they which hunger and thirst, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers.
- Persecution: persecuted for righteousness’ sake, men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, so persecuted they the prophets.
- Exaltation: set on a hill cannot be hid, on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
What is important to get from all this contextual analysis is this: The exaltation in all this is to be used of God; that God would lift us up in order that a lost and dying world would see Jesus in us. Our exaltation is truly the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, a saved person is not automatically exalted. We may all be salt, but not all have lost their savour. (See #11 Losing Your Savour) Until we lose our savour, God will not use us, or exalt us. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)
Somehow, it seems that in today’s modern Christianity, we want to put ourselves on that hill. We want to put ourselves on that candlestick. We want to give light unto all with our Christian T-shirts, our youth programs, our social meetings, our concerts, flashy mailers, and all sorts of promotional efforts to get people’s attention. But God is the one who opens the eyes of men. Jesus is the one that lighteth every man. God does the exalting. There’s only one way to get the attention of sinners and be instrumental in their conversion. There’s only one way the lights will be turned on. That is humility toward God.
O but when God does do the exalting, and the Holy Ghost turns on the lights on a poor wretched sinner, and he comes out of darkness into His marvellous light, what a glorious sight. Toiling, labouring, and suffering for the cause of Christ will most assuredly come to fruition. God will give the increase. God will reveal himself. God’s glory cannot be hid. Neither will it be put under a bushel. The imminence of exaltation in suffering is very encouraging. It will be worth it all.
Humility will take you places ability will never go.
Stay with the stuff, and the stuff will stay with you.