Matthew 5:16 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹⁶ In that same way, you should allow your light [i.e., influence] to shine in front of people, so that they will see your good deeds and [be led to] honor your Father in heaven.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁶ Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Common English Bible

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁶ So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 Cross References

1 Peter 2:12

You should live such good lives before [unconverted] Gentiles, so that even though they accuse you of being evildoers, by seeing your good deeds, they will [be led to] honor God [for you] on the day He visits us again [i.e., to bring judgment].

Titus 2:7

In everything [you do], you should show that you are a [proper] example of doing good deeds. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,

John 15:8

My Father is honored by your bearing much fruit and [thus] showing that you are my disciples.

Ephesians 5:8

for you people were once darkness [i.e., when living in sin], but now you are light in [fellowship with] the Lord. [So], live like people who belong to light [i.e., who live godly lives],

1 Peter 3:16

May your conscience be able to so approve of your conduct that, even if you are ridiculed, those doing it will [eventually] have to be ashamed [of themselves] for criticizing your Christian behavior.

1 Peter 4:14

If you are spoken against for being Christians, you have God’s blessing, because His glorious Holy Spirit rests upon you [to provide comfort, See John 14:16].

1 Peter 2:9

But you people are especially chosen [by God]; you are a royal body of priests; you are a nation especially set apart for God’s use; you are a people who belong exclusively to God, that you may express the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness [i.e., of sin and error], and into His marvelous light [i.e., righteousness and truth].

Titus 3:14

Our people [i.e., the Christians there on Crete] also should learn to practice good deeds for meeting pressing needs, so that they can be productive [in the Lord’s work].

1 Timothy 6:18

[Urge them] to do what is good, to be rich in [the practice of] good deeds, to be generous and willing to share [with others].

2 Corinthians 9:13

Because you people have proven [yourselves] by this service, the poor Christians in Jerusalem will praise God for your obedient [spirit] in professing [commitment to] the Gospel of Christ, and for your generous contribution to them and to everyone else.

Ephesians 2:10

For we [Christians] are the product of God’s workmanship, [re-] created in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus for [the purpose of] doing good deeds. God had previously determined that this should be our practice.

Hebrews 10:24

And we should consider how we can stir up one another to love [more] and to perform good deeds.

1 Peter 4:11

If someone’s gift is speaking, he should [be sure to] say only what God wants him to. If a person’s gift is serving, he should do so by the strength provided by God [who supplies all such gifts]. This is so that, in using all gifts, God may be honored through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs honor and power forever and ever. May it be so.

1 Thessalonians 2:12

and urging you to live up to the standards of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and splendor.

1 Peter 3:1

In the same way [that Jesus was submissive], you wives should submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even though they may not obey the [Gospel] message [they have heard] they may, without your talking [to them about it],

Acts 9:36

Now at Joppa [Note: This was also a town on the west coast of Palestine, today called “Jaffa,” and is now a part of Tel Aviv] there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (she was also called Dorcas, which means “Gazelle”). She practiced many good deeds and always gave money to poor people.

1 Timothy 5:25

In the same way, the good deeds [of people] are [also] evident, and even those [deeds] which are not [good] cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:45

in order to be [true] children of your Father in heaven, for He makes His sun to rise on evil [as well] as on good people. He [also] sends rain on those who live right [as well] as on those who do not live right.

Titus 2:14

He gave Himself up for us, to buy us back from [enslavement to] all [kinds of] wickedness and to purify for Himself a group of people who belong to Him and who are eager to do good deeds.

1 Timothy 5:10

having a reputation for doing good deeds, [such as] bringing up children, showing hospitality to strangers, washing the feet of the saints [i.e., God’s holy people], assisting people in trouble and devoting herself to doing all [other] kinds of good deeds.

1 Timothy 2:10

but with good deeds, which are [more] appropriate for women who claim to be godly.

Galatians 1:24

So, they gave honor to God for [what He was doing through] me.

Titus 3:4

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared,

1 Corinthians 14:25

The secrets of his heart will be revealed so that he will fall [to the ground] on his face and worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.

Luke 11:2

And He said to them, “When you pray you should say, ‘Father, may your name be highly honored. May your kingdom come [to earth].

Matthew 9:8

But when the large crowds saw [what had happened], they were filled with deep reverence and gave honor to God for giving such authority to men.

Matthew 23:5

But they do all their deeds just to be seen by people. They wear elaborate Scripture texts displayed on their clothing and enlarge [conspicuously] the fringes of their robes.

Matthew 6:16

“In addition, when you fast [i.e., go without food and/or drink for religious reasons], do not be like the hypocrites with long faces; for they go around with gloomy expressions on their faces in order to advertise that they are fasting. It is true when I say to you; these people have [already] received their reward.

Matthew 23:9

And do not call any man on earth ‘father,’ [i.e., in a religious sense], for the [only] one who is your Father is in heaven.

Matthew 6:9

Therefore, you should pray this way: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be highly honored.