Charles Ellicott 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 — The English phrasing of this sentence is somewhat misleading or ambiguous. It does not simply mean, “Let your light shine so that men may glorify God,” but rather, “In this way, like the lamp on its stand, let your light shine...” The motive for this public witness, however, is the direct opposite of the disposition that led the Pharisee to his ostentatious prayers and almsgiving. The goal is not “to be seen by men” and win their praise, but to win people to glorify the Giver of the light through our use of the light we know is not our own. We have at least a partial fulfillment of this command in the impression the new life of the Church made on the heathen world, when they confessed, in spite of all their prejudices, “See how these Christians love one another.”

Your Father who is in heaven — This name was in common use among devout Jews, but its first occurrence in our Lord’s teaching deserves to be noted. The thought of God as a Father was what was to inspire people not only when engaged in prayer (Matthew 6:9), but also in the activity of obedience (see the note on Matthew 6:9).