Matthew 5:14 (WEB)
“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
Catechism · 3
The Sacrament of Baptism
“In him the baptized are "the light of the world."” — Catechism footnote: Mt 5:14; cf. Phil 2:15.
The Seven Petitions
“This petition is taken up and granted in the prayer of Jesus which is present and effective in the Eucharist; it bears its fruit in new life in keeping with the Beatitudes.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 17:17-20; Mt 5:13-16; 6:24; 7:12-13.
The Church - People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit
- §782Paragraph 2 · The Church - People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy SpiritRead at vatican.va
“This is the "new" law of the Holy Spirit. - Its mission is to be salt of the earth and light of the world.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 5:13-16.
Fathers and councils · 62
Origen
“…hope for the enjoyment of the most glorious rewards with God on account of their virtuous lives, and who had heard the words, “Ye are the light of the world,” and, “Let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father who is in heaven,” and who possessed through practice this…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment- Origen, Against Celsus VII.51Book VII
“And if our actions are worthy of Him who taught His disciples, “Ye are the light of the world,” and of the Word, who says, “The light shineth in darkness,” then we shall be light to those who are in darkness; we shall give wisdom to those who are without it, and we shall instruct the ignorant.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
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Gregory of Nyssa
“…the light after the heavens and the earth, we have heard the Life and Truth Himself, even Christ, saying to His disciples, ‘Ye are the light of the world,’ we have learned from the blessed Paul, when he gives the title of ‘Light unapproachable’ to the God over all, and by the addition defines and teaches us the…” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 14
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“And this they declare to be “the salt” and “the light of the world.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 13, 14.
Read the whole comment“And He says, “Ye are the light of the world;” that is, as the stars of heaven.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
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Jerome
“In 1 John i. 5, John i. 7, 8, Matt. v. 14, Christ and the Apostles are called the Light of the world.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment““Ye are the light of the world,” “ye are the salt of the earth,” ye are “vessels of gold and of silver.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“…slain the prophets and shed the blood of Christ, but that which is made glad by the streams of the river, which is set upon a mountain and so cannot be hid, which the apostle declares to be a mother of the saints, and in which he rejoices to have his citizenship with the righteous.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“But that came exactly to pass which is written: “a city set on a hill cannot be hid.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
“(Matt. 5:14.)” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on Mark
- BedeCatena Aurea on Mark
“Nor can it be doubted that is the rock of which Paul spoke, “And this rock was Christ.” [1 Cor 10:4] For as Christ was the true light, and allowed also that the Apostles should be called the light of the world, [Matt 5:14] so also to Simon, who believed on the rock Christ, He gave the name of Rock.” — the author cites it
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Ambrose of Milan
“He Who Himself was the light of the world granted to His disciples to be the light of the world through grace.” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 14.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XVIII.1Conference XVIII
“For he was set on the top of a high mountain like that city in the gospel, and at once shed his light on our faces, whose virtues and miracles, which were wrought by him under our very eyes, Divine Grace thus bearing witness to his…” — editor's note: Cf. S. Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.19Conference XXIV
“For, as the Lord says, “A city set on an hill cannot be hid,” because “them that love Me,” saith the Lord, “will I honour, and they that despise Me shall be contemned.”” — editor's note: Cf. S. Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment “And though he concealed himself here for some time, yet like “a city set on an hill” (to use our Lord’s expression) he could not long be hid.” — editor's note: S. Matt. v. 14.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Run ye to and fro everywhere, ye holy fires, ye beautiful fires; for ye are the light of the world, nor are ye put under a bushel.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“Out of that of which it is said, “A city set upon a hill cannot be hid.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“This is the city set upon an hill, which cannot be hid: this is the candle which is not hidden under a bushel, to all known, to all proclaimed.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14, 15.
Read the whole comment“For as they are a light, because to themselves also hath been said, “Ye are the Light of the world,” but something different hath been called “the true Light which enlighteneth every man,” so they are mountains; but far different is the Mountain “prepared on the top of the mountains.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“But whence comes the light of which it is said, “Ye are the light of the world,” unless from Him concerning whom it is written, “That was the true light, which lighteth every man coming into the world”?” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“For they are compared only to the kindled light, which is not to be put beneath a bushel, but to be set upon a candlestick; as He also says of John the Baptist, that “he was a burning and shining light.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14, 15.
Read the whole comment“Behold the city of which it is said, “A city set upon a mountain cannot be hid!”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“…corporeal, but spiritual; yet not in such way spiritual, that it was wrought by illumination, as it was said to the apostles, “Ye are the light of the world,” but “the light which lighteth every man,” that very supreme wisdom itself who is God, of whom we now treat.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14
Read the whole comment“But He did not set up this as the end; for He has added, “and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14–16.
Read the whole comment“They were also called light: “Ye are the light of the world;” but in another sense is He called so, concerning whom it was said, “That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment““So let your light shine,” saith He, “before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify,” not you, but “your Father who is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14–16.
Read the whole comment“…may give light to all that are in the house: so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven:” but He did not say to them, Ye are come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on you should not abide in darkness.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14–16.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“Yet has He given a share of His own name to His servants and as He is Light, calls His saints light, for “Ye,” He says, “are the Light of the world,” and being named servants and being named “Sun of Righteousness” He says of his servants “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14
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Gregory the Great
“If, then, the hour of light will be afterwards, since it is said to the elect, Ye are the light of the world (Matth. v. 14), and as it is written, The righteous shall have dominion over them in the morning (Ps. xlviii. 15), whatever we suffer in the hour of the power of darkness is not to be deplored.” — the author cites it
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John Chrysostom
““Ye are the light of the world.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
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Tertullian
“You are a light of the world, and a tree ever green.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14; Phil. ii. 15.
Read the whole comment“Why, moreover, does the Lord call us the light of the world; why has He compared us to a city built upon a mountain; if we do not shine in (the midst of) darkness, and stand eminent amid them who are sunk down?” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“For instance,—A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid; while yet it might possibly be hidden by another higher hill being in a line with it.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
Read the whole comment“Let us be made light, as it was said to the disciples by the Great Light, ye are the light of the world.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
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Aphrahat
“And He said again to His Apostles:—Ye are the light of the world.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 14.
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Clement of Alexandria
“…the ineffable mysteries, and disdaining to let their nobleness be seen in the world; whom the Word calls “the light of the world, and the salt of the earth.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 13, 14.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
As the doctors by their good conversation are the salt with which the people is salted; so by their word of doctrine they are the light by which the ignorant are enlightened.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But to live well must go before to teach well; hence after He had called the Apostles “the salt,” He goes on to call them “the light of the world.” Or, for that salt preserves a thing in its present state that it…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
By the world here we must not understand heaven and earth, but the men who are in the world; or those who love the world for whose enlightenment the Apostles were sent.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is the nature of a light to emit its rays whithersoever it is carried about, and when brought into a house to dispel the darkness of that house. Thus the world, placed beyond the pale of the knowledge of God, was…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
For as the sun sends forth his beams, so the Lord, the Sun of righteousness, sent forth his Apostles to dispel the night of the human race.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Mark how great His promise to them, men who were scarce known in their own country that the fame of them should reach to the ends of the earth. The persecutions which He had foretold, were not able to dim their…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
He instructs them what should be the boldness of their preaching, that as Apostles they should not be hidden through fear, like lamps under a corn-measure, but should stand forth with all confidence, and what they…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thus shewing them that they ought to be careful of their own walk and conversation, seeing they were set in the eyes of all, like a city on a hill, or a lamp on a stand.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
This city is the Church of which it is said, “Glorious things are spoken of thee, thou city of God.” [Ps 87:3] Its citizens are all the faithful, of whom the Apostle speaks, “Ye are fellow-citizens of the saints.”…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the mountain is the great righteousness, which is signified by the mountain from which the Lord is now teaching.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
“A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” though it would; the mountain which bears makes it to be seen of all men; so the Apostles and Priests who are founded on Christ cannot be hidden even though they would, because…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the city signifies the flesh which He had taken on Him; because that in Him by this assumption of human nature, there was as it were a collection of the human race, and we by partaking in His flesh become…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
How Christ manifests His saints, suffering them not to be hid, He shews by another comparison, adding, “Neither do men light a lamp to put it under a corn-measure,” but on a stand.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, in the illustration of the city, He signified His own power, by the lamp He exhorts the Apostles to preach with boldness; as though He said, ‘I indeed have lighted the lamp, but that it continue to burn will be…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The lamp is the Divine word, of which it is said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.” [Ps 119:105] They who light this lamp are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
With what meaning do we suppose the words, “to put it under a corn-measure,” were said? To express concealment simply, or that the “corn-measure” has a special signification? The putting the lamp under the…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, men of the world may be figured in the “corn-measure” as these are empty above, but full beneath, so worldly men are foolish in spiritual things, but wise in earthly things, and therefore like a corn-measure they…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the Lord likened the Synagogue to a corn-measure, which only receiving within itself such fruit as was raised; contained a certain measure of limited obedience.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Matthew
And therefore let none shut up his faith within the measure of the Law, but have recourse to the Church in which the grace of the sevenfold Spirit shines forth.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, Christ Himself has lighted this lamp, when He filled the earthen vessel of human nature with the fire of His Divinity, which He would not either hide from them that believe, nor put under a bushel that is shut up…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, the lamp, i.e. Christ Himself, is set on its stand when He was suspended on the Cross in His passion, to give light for ever to those that dwell in the Church; “to give light,” He says, “to all that are in the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
For it is not absurd if any one will understand “the house” to be the Church. Or, “the house” may be the world itself, according to what He said above, “Ye are the light of the world.”
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
He instructs the Apostles to shine with such a light, that in the admiration of their work God may be praised, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.”
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
That is, teaching with so pure a light, that men may not only hear your words, but see your works, that those whom as lamps ye have enlightened by the word, as salt ye may season by your example. For by those…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Had He only said, “That they may see your good works,” He would have seemed to have set up as an end to be sought the praised of men, which the hypocrites desire; but by adding, “and glorify your Father,” he teaches…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
He means not that we should seek glory of men, but that though we conceal it, our work may shine forth in honour of God to those among whom we live.
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Cross-references · 44
Cited together in Catechism §2821.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.8 and 1 other place.
Cited together in The Life of S. Hilarion.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.8.
Cited together in The Life of S. Hilarion.
Cited together in Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Life of S. Hilarion.
Cited together in Bede on Luke 14:34–35 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 14:34–35 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Heresies I.6.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII VIII.2.
Cited together in Catechism §782.
Cited together in Catechism §782.
Cited together in Catechism §782.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.6.
Cited together in Catechism §2821.
Cited together in Catechism §2821.
Cited together in Catechism §2821.
Cited together in Catechism §2821.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.8.
Cited together in Catechism §782.
Cited together in Against Heresies I.6.
Cited together in Bede on Mark 3:13–19 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 5:14 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §1243.
Cited together in Catechism §782.
Cited together in Catechism §1243 and 1 other place.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.1.
Cited together in Catechism §782 and 1 other place.
Cited together in The Life of S. Hilarion.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.19.
Cited together in The Life of S. Hilarion.
Cited together in On the Sermon on the Mount II.1.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII VIII.2.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.8.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII VIII.2.
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 5:14 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 5:14 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Celsus VII.51.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII VIII.2.
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 5:14 (2) (Catena Aurea).