I am a Jesus pusher!!! Jesus increases the issue of “visibility” by saying, “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). All three verses in this section use the imagery of “light” (Matthew 5:14-16). Jesus presented the lamp and the lampstand as part of this imagery, giving the picture of a city. What was His purpose? The keyword seems to be “design.” In Jesus’ day, the people built their cities on top of a hill, not by accident but for visibility. The best clue for interpreting our phrase is in the next verse’s beginning Greek word (Matthew 5:15). “Nor” is a translation of the Greek word “oude,” a conjunction linking two clauses, which represent parallel “impossibilities.” No one can hide a city on a hilltop; you do not light a lamp and put it under a bushel. Building a city on a hill is assertive, expressing absolute confidence and claim to importance, telling us that the inhabitants desire to play a broader role in human affairs. People who want to live a quiet and secluded life build their cities out of sight, hoping others will not notice. Our statement focuses on the ridiculous image of trying to hide a city by design made for prominence.
Jesus used this imagery to highlight the truth about the Kingdom of Heaven’s function. Man is helpless; God fills him with the Holy Spirit, which gives him a new level of living. There is design involved in this linking of God and man. God did not fill you for seclusion and isolation. No one can hide the Kingdom of God because that violates the design or nature of its being. The hidden or concealed Kingdom of God is an oxymoron. It is as unimaginable as dry water. The Jesus pusher is designed by God to reveal Himself to our world. We are Jesus pushers!!!