Salt and Light

Background

- this the result of the beatitudes, because of these characteristic you should be this.

- this is actually a parable, it compares Christians to salt and light.

- this is also the first time Jesus uses the term father in reference to God

(read the passage)

1.) Salt of the Earth v13

- three main purposes in the N.T. times

1.) preservative

2.) seasoning

3.) fertilizing

-Salt was a very important part of the culture in the times of Jesus

- If you were at a persons house and were allowed to use that persons salt then you were one of there close friends it was precious to the people.

- Jesus used salt as a medifore to show the value of the Christian in the plan of the kingdom

- salt was also used burning the old testament and put on all of the meat and grain offerings by the priest.

- much like the reason salt was used back then we are to be use today.

1.) we are to help preserve other Christians in time of need and help preserve and guide non-christians until they come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ

2.) we are to season other Christians lives in whatever many they need -Paul and Silas

3.) we are to fertilize the other seed that has been planted.

2.) Light on a hill v14

- a city on a hill does not have to do nothing to be seen other than their normal activity.

- a Christian's normal routine should shine the light of Christ in normal everyday situations

- One can see a city up on a hill for miles in any direction

-The lights in a major city can even be seen from space

-ngu (dark corner)

- we are to be the light that others see.

- we are to light up not ourselves but Christ.

3.) Lamp on a stand v15

- during the time that Jesus said this most the houses there and even up till the early 1900's here in America were one room.

- the higher up you put the light the more light it gives out.

- BSA

- in this verse the word that Jesus uses for "light" is the word " Lampo" which means to give the light of a torch.

- we are not to be a small light but a torch that burns brighter than anything on this earth.

4.) We are to Reflect the Father v 16

- we are to look like our father, our heavenly father.

- bonofer once said a "flight into the invisible is a denial of the call, a community of Jesus which seeks to hide itself has ceased to follow Him".