“A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden”
What city is Jesus talking about here? Augustine explains how a city on a mountain signifies a city that is built on great and extraordinary righteousness. [1] This also recalls the mountain that Jesus is teaching from, he calls his people to rise up and follow him. Modern uses of the image of a ‘city on a hill’ draws on biblical roots to refer to a physical place that is influential in and throughout the world. It implies a city that is not only involved in worldly affairs, but that is an ideal place to which other cities should strive to imitate.
What is the significance of a city that is set on a mountain? A city set on a mountain is significant because it is physically impossible for a city on a mountain to be hidden or kept out of sight. Also, the light from a city that is on a hill can be seen at night when the rest of the world is in darkness due to the fact that has been built on a higher location. This is important because it implies a sense that the disciples must minister to the nations, they must be seen by the world and not hidden. It is unthinkable for the disciples to keep the Word of God to themselves, because they are the means by which God intended His Word to be spread.
In the 17th century, a Puritan man named John Winthrop quotes this Bible passage about a “city set on a mountain” to refer to the United States. Throughout our history as a country, leaders have seen the US as a shining example of freedom and equality. In his 1989 farewell address, Ronald Reagan speaks about how strong America stands and lights the way as a beacon for all those who are lost and hurtling towards darkness. Is there any truth in their claim for America being a ‘city on a hill’? What are some things that threaten America’s example and claim to “liberty and justice for all”? How is the Church set on the mountain different than America set on top of a hill?
How were the disciples a ‘city set on a mountain’? The disciples were a city set on a mountain in the sense that they lived as a unified community acting for a greater good than worldly success. They were not concerned with success, wealth, or fame but rather with doing the Will of God. Their lives were a light to others and examples that men could not ignore.
How can we be a ‘city set on a mountain’? Just like the disciples, we are called to be witnesses to the Word of God. The Greek word for witness is ‘marturia’ which is where we get our word martyr. Most of us are not called to literally lay down our lives as martyrs for our belief in Christ; however we are all called to lay down our lives according to our callings. We must be witnesses to Christ in every single one of our words and actions even if it means we lose friends, look foolish, or suffer harassment. We must be outstanding examples for all men so they may know without a doubt that we are followers of Christ.
Why does Jesus compare a ‘city set on a mountain’ with a ‘light set on a lampstand’? The connection between light and city is found in Isaiah 42:6 where God promises His people that they will be “a light for the Gentiles.” The Jewish aspiration of being a ‘light to the world’ involved them being the intellectual leaders of the world. [2] Similarly, the disciples are called to be a city on a hill not in the sense of military or political domination, but in a sense of enlightenment as people who possess some special quality.
Why would anyone put a light under a bushel basket? What is a bushel basket? The simple answer is that no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, we light lamps so that they may shine light throughout the house. This analogy would have meant much more to Jesus’ original audience since they lived in a time before electricity and thus relied heavily on the use of hand-lit lamps. This example would have made them uncomfortable because this lamp is being presented in a way that is contrary to its nature.
A bushel basket referred originally to a quantity of grain, however, it came to mean the container used to measure out grain. According to Augustine, the placing of a lamp under a bushel can signify someone placing the comforts of the body as greater importance than the preaching of truth. [3] If a disciple “hides their light” then it shows that they are choosing not to live as God wants them to, but as they want.
How do we set our light on a lampstand? How do we give light to all in the house? As we covered earlier, our light is Jesus Christ and we set that light of faith on a lampstand when we choose to be a witness to Him. We give light to all in the house when we choose to follow Christ; we are set apart from the world. We are not made for this world but for Heaven. Christ tells us that our light is set on a lampstand to be shown for all to see. When Christ was crucified at Golgotha he hung on a cross for all to see the fullness of God’s love for us. Christ tells his disciples and us today, we are set up for far higher standards than what the world has for us. We are to influence the world for good, and if we fail in good works, then we are as useless as flavorless salt or a lamp concealed. [4]
Why can’t we keep our religion to ourselves and let other people believe what they want? With the combination of the three images of salt, light, and city Jesus “strikes the death blow to all religion that is purely personal and private.” [5] These descriptions are united by the fact that they portray the disciples’ mission as a public one. Disciples of Christ are ‘the salt of the earth,’ ‘the light of the world,’ and ‘a city on a mountain’ it is our job to be a physical witness to the Word of God on this earth. It is in our nature to be seen by all men and so it would be unnatural to keep our religion to ourselves. The explanation of the mission of the disciples is not limited to the original twelve; it is a mission that extends to all peoples at all times. Just as Jesus begins by calling the disciples to leave their former lives and follow him, he is calling us to leave our former sinful lives and follow him. As the disciples then were the salt, light, and city to a world in darkness and ignorance of God; we are called to be these things for our world today. It is true that our task is not to introduce a new religion and in America we are free to practice our religion without fear of death. However, we cannot downplay the significance of our missions on earth today; we are called to evangelize the world. Today we are told to tolerate all religions by not trying to impose our beliefs on other people. This view is in complete contradiction to the mission of disciples as described by Jesus. We must spread the good news of the gospel for the salvation of the world, for if one is truly a Christian then one must take up his cross and follow him.
[1] Augustinus, The Preaching of Augustine: "Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount," 17
[2] Betz 160
[3] Augustinus, The Preaching of Augustine: "Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount," 17
[4] New American Bible notes on Matt 5:13-16
[5] Boring. “The Gospel of Matthew,” 182