Matthew 5:15–16

Matthew 5:16 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, found in the Sermon on the Mount, a collection of teachings by Jesus Christ. The verse reads: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." This passage is often interpreted as an exhortation to Christians to live out their faith in a way that is visible to others, reflecting the virtues of the Christian life and bringing glory to God. The phrase "let your light shine" is a metaphor for living a righteous and virtuous life, with "light" symbolizing goodness, truth, and the presence of God. In Hebrew, this verse can be translated as "הָאִיר אֶת אוֹרְכֶם לִפְנֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים, לְמַעַן יִרְאוּ מַעֲשֵׂיכֶם הַטּוֹבִים, וְיַכְבִּידוּ אֶת אֲבִיכֶם אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמָיִם" (ha'eer et orchem lifnei ha'anashim, l'ma'an yir'u ma'aseichem ha'tovim, ve'yachbidu et avichem asher ba'shamayim). Translations in other relevant languages include: "So soll euer Licht leuchten vor den Menschen, damit sie eure guten Werke sehen und euren Vater im Himmel preisen" in German, and "Que votre lumière luise ainsi devant les hommes afin qu’ils voient vos bonnes œuvres, et glorifient votre Père qui est dans les cieux" in French. Contextually, this verse follows Jesus' declaration that his followers are the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world," emphasizing their role in bringing positive influence and moral guidance to society.