February 15, 2023
In His famous Sermon on the Mountain in Matthew 5 [NCV] Jesus said in v. 14b “A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden.” The Lord was on the NE coast of the Sea of Galilee and painted a picture for His followers and for those of us who would come after them. He wanted them to know the qualities of heart and life expected of those who were committed to Him and used a variety of word pictures to communicate His truths but also to capture their hearts and minds.
From Jesus’ location on the Mountain of Beatitudes, you get a wonderful view of the Sea of Galilee.
**Below you is Capernaum (the Lord’s center of ministry),
**to the east was Tiberius (the seat of Roman authority in Galilee),
**to the west lay the land of the Decapolis (ten cities that were under Roman rule but Greek in culture, there for considered the height of paganism for the pious Jews),
**to the south-east lay the hills of the Samaritans (a half-breed people who the Jews held tremendous animosity), and
**further to the south the land of Judah (the religious capital of Judaism, Jerusalem).
As Jesus spoke it would have been obvious to everyone present that the phrase “city that is built on a hill” was a reference to one of the key cities of the Decapolis that was nearly set to the mid-point of the western side of the Sea of Galilee, the city of Hippos. The city was founded about 200 A.D. by the remnants of the Greek army of Alexander the Great on top of a cone-shaped mountain that stands some 1,000 feet above the Sea of Galilee.
Cities were often built on hills and raised areas because of three primary benefits to doing this. The position identified itself to those who would seek its location (this was the case of the six cities of Refuge in the Old Testament), it magnified the city’s presence and worth to those around them, and provided protection from those who would attack.
One of the highlights of my trips to Israel was when I took 3 guys from church and we climbed around the ruins of Hippos. One has a clear view of the land of Galilee and it is easy to see how Jesus would have viewed the lights of this city, as He gave the Sermon on the Mount.
Here is a similar picture of a city built on a hill – it’s Èze Village, lying between Nice and Monaco, on the French Riviera. It is similar, in that the city is approximately as elevated as Hippos would have been, that it overlooks a big body of water (like the Sea of Galilee), and Jesus would have been on the land in upper middle of the picture).
In His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus described what the inner character of a true child of God should be like. This passage illustrates God’s kingdom principles, which are directly opposite of the world’s value system. To the casual listener, this teaching may suggest that Christ expects His disciples to withdraw from the world. Nay Nay. In Matthew 5:13–16 [NCV] Jesus followed this up and clearly pointed out that His true followers are to have an outward focus: v. 14 “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Jesus compared Christians to a city on a hill that cannot be hidden because kingdom people are meant to be a beacon in the night, providing spiritual light to a lost and dying world. As long as we live on this earth, we are meant to have an influence on the people around us. The apostle Paul taught in Ephesians 5:8 [NCV], “In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light.”
A Christian’s actions (word and deed) cannot be hidden from the eyes of our families, classmates, co-workers, church body, community in which we live, or the world at large. This being the case, he must live a life that follows Biblical principles, reflects the Lord’s humble and servant nature, and one that, while not perfect, shows sincere desire to making progress to be like Jesus. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 [NCV], “ … let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
As long as we live on this earth, we are meant to have an influence on the people around us. The apostle Paul taught in Ephesians 5:8 [NCV], “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
The purpose of light is to make it possible to see. At night, a city on a hill shines its light in all directions from an elevated position. The light can be seen far and wide, illuminating the way for many travelers and showing them which way to go. Jesus said in John 14:6 [NCV], “Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”
Do you want your family and friends to move toward Jesus, and ultimately into a relationship with God the Father? Ask yourself, “When people look at me what do they see? Is there any light at all? Is the light but a shadow because of the stain of the world? Do they see an occasional flicker of my desire for a close relationship with the Savior? Do they see clearly the life of Jesus and my love for Him?
BE a city on a hill in 2023! [Thanks to www.gotquestions.com]