5th SUN ORD – “Light in the House”

  So far we’ve seen that foolish salt needs to be thrown out (ballo).  And right eyes, right hands, stumbling feet (all that leads to sin), and unfruitful trees also need to be thrown out.

Jesus’ continuing instruction (between chapters 5 & 7 and throughout) will teach us about both what unhealthy eyes look like and what healthy eyes look like.  [Literalists, beware!]  First, Matthew needs to set the ‘place’ for the teaching – in the house.

Matthew uses the Greek, oikia, ‘house’, as the place where 1) Jesus heals, 2) Jesus teaches disciples, and 3) Jesus dines with sinners & engages Pharisees.

Matthew 5:15      No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

First, Jesus is the light that shined in the darkness and on those who dwelt in the shadow of death.  He instructed disciples then and does so now to show us HOW to be light of the world…

The HOUSE serves as a sacred place in Matthew (Note: the lamp and the lamp stand – terms used primarily to indicate the light that shined in the tabernacle (see chapter 27, Exodus) to highlight the presence of God).   The HOUSE seems to be an image of our heart of hearts.

In responding to his call, we disciples walk with him to learn as best we can how to be lights in this world and raise the praise of God!

Lampstand = luchnia

Matthew 5:15        No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Leviticus 24:4        He shall set up the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord regularly.

House = oikia

Matthew 5:15        No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Matthew 7:24–27        “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26 And

Matthew 9:10f        And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 9:28f       When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.”

Matthew 13:36f      Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;