Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 5:16

"Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." — Matthew 5:16 (ASV)

Let your light so shine, etc. Let your holy life, your pure conduct, and your faithful instruction be everywhere seen and known. Always, in all societies, in all business, at home and abroad, in prosperity and adversity, let it be seen that you are real Christians.

That they may see your good works. The motive influencing us should not be simply that we must be seen , but rather that our heavenly Father may be glorified.

It is not right to do anything merely to be seen by others, for this is pride and ostentation. Instead, we are to do things so that, by being seen, God may be honored. The Pharisees acted to be seen by men; true Christians act to glorify God and care little what men may think of them, except when, through their conduct, others may be brought to honor God.

Glorify your Father. This means to praise or honor God, or be led to worship Him. When people see the excellence of religion and the power and purity of the gospel in your lives, they may also be won to become Christians and give praise and glory to God for His mercy to a lost world (1 Peter 2:12).

We learn here:

1. that religion, if it exists, cannot be concealed.
2. that where it is not manifest in life, it does not exist.
3. that professors of religion who live like other people give evidence that they have never been renewed.
4. that to attempt to conceal or hide our Christian knowledge or experience is to betray our trust, injure the cause of piety, and render our lives useless.
5. that good actions will be seen and will lead people to honor God.

If we have no other way of doing good—if we are poor, uneducated, and unknown—yet we may do good by our lives. No sincere and humble Christian lives in vain. The weakest light at midnight is of use.

"How far this little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world!"