Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

KJV

οὕτως λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.

Greek NT

Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus : ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in cælis est.

Vulgate

Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

ASV

So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

16 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

δοξάζω
doxazo
verb · 61×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
καλός
kalos
adjective · 100×
λάμπω
lampo
verb · 7×
οὐρανός
ouranos
noun · 274×
οὕτω
outo
adverb · 208×
πατήρ
pater
noun · 412×
φῶς
phos
noun · 72×
ἄνθρωπος
anthropos
noun · 549×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
ἔμπροσθεν
emprosthen
adverb · 48×
ἔργον
ergon
noun · 169×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὁράω
orao
verb · 682×
ὅπως
opos
adverb · 53×
ὑμεῖς
umeis
pronoun · 1828×

Themes

Parable

Historic Christian voices

22 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§326The Scriptural expression "heaven and earth" means all that exists, creation in its entirety. It also indicates the bond, deep within creation, that both unites heaven and earth and distinguishes the one from the other: "the earth" is the world of men, while "heaven" or "the heavens" can designate both the firmament and God's own "place" - "our Father in heaven" and consequentl…
§782The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found in history: - It is the People of God: God is not the property of any one people. But he acquired a people for himself from those who previously were not a people: "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."202 - One becomes a …
§2821This petition is taken up and granted in the prayer of Jesus which is present and effective in the Eucharist; it bears its fruit in new life in keeping with the Beatitudes.94
Men are possessed of free will, and endowed with the faculty of making a choice. It is not true, therefore, that some are by nature good, and others bad. 1. This expression [of our Lord], How often would I have gathered your children together, and you would not, Matthew 23:37 set forth the ancient law of human liberty, because God made man a free [agent] from the beginning, pos…
Homilies on Matthew · 2 passages
2. And when He had said, not to do it before men, He added, to be seen of them. And though it seems as if the same thing were said a second time, yet if any one give particular attention, it is not the same thing, but one is different from the other; and it has great security, and unspeakable care and tenderness. For it may be, both that one doing alms before men may not do it …
2. Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed. That is, since He had said, that of the crop three parts are lost, and but one saved, and in the very part again which is saved so great damage ensues; lest they should say, And who, and how many will be the faithful? this fear again He removes, by the parable of the mus…
1. Do we then run and labor in vain? Are we sowing upon the rocks? Does the seed fall upon the rocks? Does the seed fall without our knowing it by the wayside, and among thorns? I am greatly troubled and fear, lest our husbandry be unprofitable; not as though I shall be a loser as well as you, touching the reward of this labor. For it is not with those who teach as it is with h…
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210208.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210222.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210226.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
2. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. This again is another topic: for not only are the believers unlearned persons; not only is he that speaks unlearned; not only is the manner of the teaching of an unlearned cast throughout; not only was the thing preached of itself enough to stagger people; (for the cross and death were the message brought;) …
Chapter 14.—Concerning the Eradication of the Love of Human Praise, Because All the Glory of the Righteous is in God. It is, therefore, doubtless far better to resist this desire than to yield to it, for the purer one is from this defilement, the liker is he to God; and, though this vice be not thoroughly eradicated from his heart,—for it does not cease to tempt even the minds …
Chapter 1 Having completed seven books, I now propose to begin the eighth. And may God and His Only-begotten Son the Word be with us, to enable us effectively to refute the falsehoods which Celsus has published under the delusive title of A True Discourse, and at the same time to unfold the truths of Christianity with such fullness as our purpose requires. And as Paul said, We …
1 And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the preceding section, my revered brother Ambrosius, brother formed according to the Gospel, we have discussed, as far as is at present in our power, what the Gospel is, and what is the beginning in which the Word was, and what the Word is which was in the beginning. We now come to consider the next point in the work before …
1. The Parable of the Tares: the House of Jesus. Then He left the multitudes and went into His house, and His disciples came unto Him saying, Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field. Matthew 13:36 When Jesus then is with the multitudes, He is not in His house, for the multitudes are outside of the house, and it is an act which springs from His love of men to leave t…
Ye are the salt of the earth. Christianity, true scriptural Christianity, has a double office — to preserve and to season. It preserves the world from total corruption, and it diffuses its own flavor throughout. But if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? A Christian who has lost his vital piety is the most useless of creatures.
Heidelberg Catechism · 2 passages
Q. What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort? A. Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.
Q. Since we have been delivered from our misery by grace through Christ without any merit of our own, why then should we do good works? A. Because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, is also restoring us by his Spirit into his image, so that with our whole lives we may show that we are thankful to God for his benefits, so that he may be praised through us, so that we may b…
Christian faith is not an opinion or human conviction, but a most firm trust and a clear and steadfast assent of the mind, and then a most certain apprehension of the truth of God, presented in the Scriptures and in the Apostles' Creed. It is the gift of God, which is given to the elect according to the measure which God has distributed to each one. Because faith is a gift of G…
The Formula affirms that good works necessarily follow faith and are the fruit of the Spirit, pleasing to God for Christ's sake. Believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works. It denies both that works are necessary for salvation (as a cause) and that believers may live lawlessly. Works are necessary as evidence of faith, not as a ground of acceptance before God.

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 6:20 — For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
  • 1Cor 14:25 — And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
  • 1John 1:5 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  • 1Pet 2:9 — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
  • 1Pet 2:9 — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
  • 1Pet 2:12 — Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
  • 1Pet 2:12 — Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
  • 1Pet 3:1 — Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
  • 1Pet 3:16 — Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
  • 1Pet 4:11 — If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be p
  • 1Pet 4:14 — If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
  • 1Pet 4:14 — If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
  • 1Thess 2:12 — That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
  • 1Thess 5:6 — Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
  • 1Tim 2:10 — But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
  • 1Tim 4:15 — Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
  • 1Tim 5:10 — Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed
  • 1Tim 5:10 — Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed
  • 1Tim 5:25 — Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
  • 1Tim 5:25 — Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
  • 1Tim 6:18 — That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
  • 2Cor 8:21 — Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
  • 2Cor 9:13 — Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
  • 2Cor 9:13 — Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
  • 2Thess 1:10 — When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
  • Acts 9:36 — Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
  • Eph 2:10 — For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
  • Eph 2:10 — For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
  • Eph 4:29 — Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
  • Eph 5:8 — For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
  • Gal 1:24 — And they glorified God in me.
  • Gen 39:3 — And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
  • Heb 10:24 — And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
  • Isa 58:8 — Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
  • Isa 60:1 — Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
  • Isa 60:1 — Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
  • Isa 61:3 — To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteou
  • Isa 61:3 — To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteou
  • Isa 62:1 — For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
  • John 15:8 — Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.