Salt and Light

Introduction

Matthew 5:13–16 (ESV)

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The statements describe a state of BEING not a state of DOING

** Interestingly, neither of these statements as calling us to do something. They are calling us to BE something.   

‘You ARE’ - Present Active Indicative - state of being

You are salt, not can be salt

You are light, not can be light

Stay Salty

Matthew 5:13–16 (ESV)

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

You ARE the salt of the earth

Salty things are distinct from not salty things

ILLUST - salted fries vs. non-salted fries.

Being salty means being distinct.

Distinct doesn’t just mean different.

‘distinct’ doesn’t change one thing into another thing - it seasons it - makes it distinct.

Jesus says that is what we are to be to the world around us - distinct or salty

Salt was known to do two things in the ancient world:

season

preserve

Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary (iii. The Distinctiveness of the Disciple (5:11–16))

“Disciples, if they are true to their calling, make the earth a purer and a more palatable place. (But they can do so only as long as they preserve their distinctive character: unsalty salt has no more value)”

Rabbis commonly used salt as an image for wisdom

Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Greek word for “lost its taste” can actually mean “become foolish”

In Aramaic, tapel, actually has both meanings at the same time, and Jesus likely spoke Aramaic.

What does it look like for us to “be salty?” to season or preserve?

Season:

There are things in life that don’t taste good - like brussel sprouts. Or sickness, or losing a job, or having someone you love, die.

For many of our neighbors, family, friends, these things just taste bad.

Like with Brussels sprouts where, in the presence of enough salt, I just may be able to choke them down, we might be able to give someone wisdom of hope for their situation so they may be able to make it through.

Preserve:

The moral influence of our lives SHOULD help those around us make wise choices.

Sometimes it is hard - you want to go along with everyone else BUT, what does Jesus say if we are no longer distinct?

but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Salt that is not salty has lost its purpose

“Unsalty salt is a contradiction in terms (“like water losing its wetness”; Betz); if it is not salty, it is not salt.”

— RT France, NICNT

ILLUST - sprinkling ‘salt’ on fries and they taste BLAH

It is difficult to make a difference in the world when you are no different from the world.

In Jesus’ day they generally didn’t get salt from the salt shaker or from their spice cabinet.

Usually it was dug form the shores of the Dead Sea, but with the salt would come other minerals and ‘stuff.’

as it was used or over time, salt would dissolve and what was left was not salt, so it was thrown out like dirt.

Salt loses its saltiness when it becomes diluted - When that which makes it distinct has left it and nothing different remains.

How do we ‘stay salty?’

by holding on to those things which make us distinct from the world.

By learning about and reminding ourselves about what makes us distinct.

Do I flavor life in the circles I’m in? or do I make them sour?

When you are around someone going through a difficult time. . .

Stay salty!

When friends want you to. . .

Stay salty!

Kids, in what way are you distinct from your friends at school, etc.?

Would your friends say you are distinct?

Be Bright

Matthew 5:13–16 (ESV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Again, Jesus points out that we are to be distinct, this time from a dark world.

City on a hill cannot be hidden.

Being distinct can sometimes have you be seen as different.

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

The reason why we shine is because that is the purpose of the light.

ILLUST - broken flashlight — what’s it good for?

Who would ever turn on a flashlight and put it in a pocket?

It defeats the purpose

This means the purpose of being a light is not simply to be a light but to SHINE

IILUST - This Little Light of Mine - parents, let’s show them how it’s done.

ILLUST - my super cool awesome MagLight that I rarely used.

There are many different types of lights - all can look different, but all must shine or they are useless

A secret disciple is no more use in the world than one who has lost his distinctiveness (v. 13)1

1 France, R. T. 1985. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 1. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

A ‘secret’ Christian is like a flashlight in your pocket in the woods at night.

Be the Light and SHINE the Light

This is why Jesus says. . .

16 In the same way,(as the household lamp) let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Shining the light means to Radiate!

Sharing with everyone

Let your light shine before “others” - lit. men, people

We don’t keep our light to ourselves

Sometimes Christians only shine their lights when they are at church.

It’s like using a flashlight only during the day.

Showing good works

so that they may see your good works

This is what makes us different.

This is what people are seeing - this is the ‘light’ that displays Jesus.

Shining God’s glory

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The glory is not for us.

It is not so they see us; rather, it is so they see God.

Neither salt nor light exist for themselves.

No one ever put vegetables under their salt in an effort to make their salt taste better.

The fundamental reason for putting salt on you food is to preserve your food or to flourish the flavor of the food you put it on. (corn on the cob)

No one ever turns on a light in a room just to stare at the bulb. The point of the light is to help others see.

This sounds funny, but Jesus is telling us that we do not live out Kingdom life simply to make our lives better or to make us a ‘shinier’ Christian.

Your purpose is to radiate the light and flavor of Jesus to every space your poured into

home

school

work

Where are the dark places God has allowed you to be so you might radiate the light of Jesus?