Click to Play
1 plays
Sign in to like or dislike songs
“You are the light of the world.”
Those are not the words of a preacher, a theologian, or a songwriter. They are the words of Jesus Christ Himself.
Let us look at what the Word of God says:
> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
> — Matthew 5:14
> “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
> — Matthew 5:16
> “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light;
> but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
> — Matthew 6:22–23
The central theme in these lyrics and these passages is this:
God has made His people bearers of His light, and He requires that light to be seen.
The song “Shine Your Light” echoes the voice of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. It is not a suggestion. It is a declaration and a commission:
> “You are the light of the world.”
Not, “You might be.”
Not, “Try to be.”
But, “You are.”
The question is not whether we have light. The question is whether that light is shining, or whether it is covered, obstructed, and dimmed by compromise, fear, and impurity.
This teaching will show:
These words were spoken by Jesus at the beginning of His public teaching ministry in what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7).
He is speaking to His disciples, with the crowds listening in. He has just given the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12), describing the character of those who belong to His kingdom:
Then immediately He moves from character to influence.
From being to impact.
> “You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13)
> “You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:14)
Salt and light both speak of influence.
Salt preserves and restrains corruption.
Light reveals, exposes, guides, and brings life.
So picture the setting:
In the Old Testament, Israel was called to be a light to the nations:
> “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
> — Isaiah 49:6
Ultimately this is fulfilled in Jesus, who says:
> “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
> — John 8:12
Notice the progression:
1. Jesus: “I am the light of the world.”
2. To His disciples: “You are the light of the world.”
3. To us: “Among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15)
He shares His light with those who follow Him. That is the context in which the lyrics say, “You are the light of the world” again and again. They are echoing Jesus’ own commissioning of His disciples.
Matthew 6:22–23, “The eye is the lamp of the body,” appears in the same sermon. Jesus is still addressing the same audience. Here He explains how the inner focus (the “eye”) determines whether we are filled with light or darkness. So we have two linked themes:
The song holds both together: Our calling to shine outwardly, and the inner battle to stay full of His light.
Let us take two key words: “light” and “eye.”
### 1. “Light” – *phōs* (φῶς)
In Matthew 5:14:
> “You are the light (*phōs*) of the world…”
The Greek word φῶς (phōs) means:
In John 1:4–5, speaking of Jesus:
> “In him was life, and the life was the light (phōs) of men.
> The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
So when Jesus says, “You are the *phōs* of the world,” He is not merely saying, “You are an example.” He is saying:
Light both reveals and disturbs. It comforts the honest and troubles the deceitful. That is why shining your light will always involve spiritual conflict.
### 2. “Eye” – *ophthalmos* (ὀφθαλμός)
In Matthew 6:22:
> “The eye (*ophthalmos*) is the lamp of the body…”
The word ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos) is the physical eye, but in Hebrew thought (which underlies Jesus’ teaching), the “eye” also speaks of:
Jesus continues:
> “If your eye is healthy (*haplous*)…”
The word ἁπλοῦς (haplous) literally means “single,” “simple,” “undivided.” It is often connected with generosity or singleness of purpose. A “healthy eye” is a focused, pure, undivided inner gaze—directed toward God.
By contrast:
> “But if your eye is bad (*ponēros*)…”
The word πονηρός (ponēros) means “evil, wicked, corrupt, diseased, morally bad.” It is the same word used for “the evil one” (the devil).
So Jesus is saying:
This deepens the lyrics:
> “The eye is the lamp of the body
> If your eyes are healthy, your whole body fills with light
> But if your eyes are bad, darkness takes over
> Keep your heart pure, let His truth flood in
> So the light inside you stays bright and strong”
The song is applying this principle: Guard your inner life—what you look at, what you focus on, what you desire—because that determines whether you are a bright witness or a dim, compromised one.
Let us walk through the main themes of the lyrics and connect them to Scripture.
### A. “You are the light of the world / A city set on a hill cannot be hidden”
> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
> — Matthew 5:14
The lyric simply repeats Jesus’ words. This is important because many Christians struggle with identity. They say, “I’m just a weak believer,” “I’m an ordinary person,” or “I don’t have much impact.”
Jesus contradicts that mentality.
He defines who you are in the kingdom:
In Philippians 2:15, Paul says:
> “…among whom you shine as lights (*phōstēres*, luminaries) in the world.”
The Church is not an invisible, underground movement in the spiritual sense. God’s design is that His people be seen, noticed, and unmistakable as different from the surrounding darkness.
To hide is to contradict our calling.
### B. “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket… so it gives light to everyone in the house”
> “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”
> — Matthew 5:15
Jesus uses a simple image: a lamp. In His time, that would be an oil lamp—small but effective.
Notice the process:
1. Someone lights the lamp.
2. The lamp is placed deliberately on a stand.
3. The purpose is that it gives light to everyone in the house.
Translating this spiritually:
1. God ignites you—new birth, the Holy Spirit within, revelation from His Word.
2. God then positions you—family, job, location, church, relationships.
3. The purpose is that everyone around you benefits from the light.
The lyric mirrors this truth:
> “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket
> They place it on a stand
> So it gives light to everyone in the house”
That “house” may be:
If your Christianity only shines in church and is hidden at home or at work, you have put your lamp under a basket.
The “basket” can be:
Jesus states that such behavior is illogical. Nobody lights a lamp and then smothers it. Yet many believers live that way spiritually.
### C. “In the same way, let your light shine before others… So they may see your good deeds and give glory…”
> “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
> — Matthew 5:16
Notice some important details:
1. Command: “Let your light shine.” This is an imperative, not an optional suggestion.
2. Audience: “Before others.” Our faith is not meant to be entirely private and hidden.
3. Evidence: “Good works.” The light shows itself in visible actions.
4. Result: “Glory to your Father who is in heaven.” God, not us, gets the praise.
The lyric expands this:
> “In the same way, let your light shine before others
> So they may see your good deeds
> And give glory to your Father who is in heaven
> Don’t cover what God has ignited in you
> Live openly, love boldly, point straight to Him”
Here are three vital elements:
So the theology is simple but sharp:
A believer who hides his or her faith is disobedient to Jesus’ command. The light must be seen, through conduct, speech, and sacrificial love.
### D. “The eye is the lamp of the body… Keep your heart pure, let His truth flood in”
This stanza directly quotes Matthew 6:22–23:
> “The eye is the lamp of the body…”
As we saw, the “eye” represents the inner focus. Jesus connects our inner gaze with our whole condition:
The lyric says:
> “But if your eyes are bad, darkness takes over
> Keep your heart pure, let His truth flood in
> So the light inside you stays bright and strong”
Notice the connection between eye and heart.
In Scripture, the heart is the center of:
Proverbs 4:23 says:
> “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
The song applies Jesus’ truth correctly:
If we fill our eyes and mind with impurity, violence, greed, pornographic content, occult imagery, and worldly values, we cannot expect to be full of light.
Spiritual warfare often begins with what we allow in through the eyes.
The psalmist said:
> “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.”
> — Psalm 101:3
### E. “Darkness can’t stay where true light breaks through… Push back the shadows”
This stanza describes a spiritual reality:
> “Darkness can’t stay where true light breaks through
> So rise and shine, there’s work for you to do
> Push back the shadows, lift up His name…”
In Scripture, light and darkness are not equal forces. Darkness is simply the absence of light. When true light appears, darkness is driven back automatically.
John 1:5:
> “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Colossians 1:13 says:
> “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…”
So, when you shine the light of Christ—through truth, love, holiness, and proclamation—the darkness around you has no legal right to remain.
However, there is opposition:
That is why the lyric says:
> “No fear, no hiding—He’s the source of your glow
> Let it burn brighter than they’ve ever known”
Fear and hiding are primary tactics of Satan to silence believers. Hebrews 2:15 speaks of people being held in slavery by the fear of death. Fear of rejection, fear of ridicule, fear of persecution—all of these can cause us to dim our light.
But the source of the light is not us.
The source is Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Our task is to remove the coverings, so that His light can shine unhindered.
### F. “You carry the light that conquers the night… Good works that sparkle”
> “You carry the light that conquers the night
> Good works that sparkle, drawing hearts to what’s right
> Glorify the Father with every step you take
> Shine without shame for the world’s sake”
This is a poetic way of stating a profound New Testament truth:
Ephesians 2:10 says:
> “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
These “good works” are prepared by God. When we walk in them, they “sparkle,” in the sense that they stand out in a dark environment.
Philippians 2:14–15:
> “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, **among whom you shine as
Deepen your worship with these related songs:
No more songs available