Salt and Light

INTRODUCTION

Christians are different, and the Sermon on the Mount calls us to be different.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve discovered the attitudes of a Christian — or the Beatitudes. Jesus is showing us what his disciples are to be — different.

As we move on to really the meat of the Sermon, Jesus will clearly articulate how believers are to be different.

We ended with the discover that the world will undoubtedly persecute the church; and we begin this next section discovering that it is the church’s calling to serve this persecuting world.

Tonight, we’ll discuss two ways in which we actively demonstrate that we are different from the world. Then we’ll close with Jesus’ fundamental understanding of the Jewish law.

ARE YOU SALTY?

Look with me at Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:13 KJV 1900

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Remind me… who is Jesus talking to again? Who is the Sermon on the Mount directed towards? — the disciples / followers of Christ.

While not originally talking to you, Jesus is indeed talking to you today.

Jesus calls believers the salt of the earth. Why do you think Jesus compares us to salt?

Here’s two reasons… There’s probably more, but we’ll just stick with two for tonight.

Salt creates desire.

We ate tonight my favorite flavor of chips — salt and vinegar. But I cannot eat salt and vinegar chips without a drink… preferably soda. Why? Salt creates or enhances thirst.

Jesus is essentially stating that the way we conduct our lives should make people thirsty. But thirsty for what?

Our lives should create a desire for Jesus in the lives of others.

Our responsibility is to point men to Jesus Christ. If you do that, out of you will flow His life and character, and others will see that and be satisfied. — Boice

*picture frame illustration — the point of a frame is not to be looked at but rather a placeholder for something even more special.

Believers are not designed to be the object of satisfaction in the eyes of the world. But rather, we are to create a desire for Jesus in the lives of those we interact with.

That means Christians are to influence their society. Whether that be the political, economic, social, or religious realm.

Wherever you go, you should leave a desire for Jesus with those around you.

But we must remember… We cannot quench thirst. We are salt. We must point others to the only one who can quench the desire we help cultivate in the lives of others — We must point others to Jesus.

John 7:37–38 KJV 1900

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Salt stops the spread of evil.

Anyone here like avocados? Avocados are one of my favorite foods. Especially when they’re used in guacamole — Maria makes some incredible guac btw.

One thing that I hate about avocados is how fast they go bad… How fast they can develop mold.

Mold is pure evil. It ruins things that I love — avocados, bacon, cheese, etc.

Here Jesus specifically references salt because of its preservative nature. It keeps things from going bad / developing mold.

Hear me and this point will be quick: Believer’s lives are meant to combat evil.

But how?

Believers stop the spread of evil by making disciples.

This is evangelism. Be evangelists.

Believers stop the spread of evil by advocating for righteousness.

We ought not allow sin to continue unabated.

Think — abortion, social injustice, church health, etc.

Let me ask you, Are you salty?

Jesus ends with a strong warning. (read the last part of the verse)

Believers who are not salty are unprofitable — useless.

Believers who are indistinguishable from the world are useless.

ARE YOU SHINING?

Look at our next section of verses.

Matthew 5:14–16 KJV 1900

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

JESUS IS THE LIGHT

Believers are candlesticks. We do not and cannot create our own light.

2 Corinthians 4:4–6 KJV 1900

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:5–6 KJV 1900

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

BELIEVERS REFLECT HIS LIGHT

*flashlight and mirror illustration — moon illustration.

The Christian cannot be the light of the world. However, we can show forth the light to the extent that he first receives it from the Lord Jesus Christ and reflects it from Him to others. — Boice

Our brightness reflects our relationship.

Acts 4:13 KJV 1900

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

The closer you are to Jesus, the brighter you’ll shine.

How do we draw closer to Jesus?

This is our purpose. Are you shining? Or are you embarrassed? What or who does your life reflect?

PROMOTE THE SPREAD OF TRUTH

There cannot be darkness when light is present.

Light dispels darkness. A mark of a believer is the propagation of truth and the destroying of error, sin, and wickedness.

Darkness is merely the absence of light. And where we see wickedness in our world, we can understand that there is an absence of righteousness.

But Jesus says more… The presence of light brings glory to the Father.

Our light is his light, and that our works are his works done in us and through us. So it is the light they will praise, not the lamp which bears it; it our Father in heaven whom they will glorify, not the children he has begotten and who exhibit a certain family likeness. — Stott

Are you shining?

ARE YOU READY?

In this last section of our passage, Jesus is asking us this question… Are you ready?

He’s about to show us — through the Sermon on the Mount — how wicked our hearts are but how beautiful he is.

Matthew 5:17–20 KJV 1900

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

There’s two major points in this section of Scripture. And really these function as the thesis of the Sermon on the Mount. We will see these truths over and over again as we get into the meat of the sermon.

Jesus fulfills and expands the law.

What is the law? (ten commandments, etc.)

Are we to obey the law? (yes)

Some believed Jesus’s coming was meant to abolish the law. But rather, what the sermon tells us is that Jesus fulfilled the law.

What does this mean?

Jesus fulfills the law through prophecy.

Galatians 3:22–25 KJV 1900

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Jesus fulfills the law through righteous obedience.

Jesus is the only one that could ever and did ever obey the law.

The purpose of the law (and one of the subtle purposes of the sermon) was to expose the wickedness of man — the fact that no one could ever perfectly keep the law.

Yet people tried.

*explain how the Pharisees made the law super explicit so they could say they had kept the law.

But, in the sermon on the mount, Jesus expands the law in order to expose man’s wickedness and condemn the “righteous.”

Heart righteousness comes from God.

The only righteousness of which you are capable is external. God demands a transformation of the heart.

This is essentially a repeat of the light illustration. We are not meant to conjure up righteousness. We are meant to reflect true righteousness.

Kinda like what John 15 states. We only produce fruit because we are connected to the vine.

Obedience to the law reveals external righteousness (morality). Inward righteousness is a work of the Spirit in the believer’s heart.

APPLICATION

How are you different from the world in your conduct? Are you salty? This is every area of your life. You are different so be different in your school, sports teams, family, neighborhood, etc.

Are you shining? Do you reflect the light of Jesus? Can people tell that you have a relationship with Jesus? This is the most important relationship you’ll ever be a part of.

Are you ready? Jesus is going to say some hard things in the next couple of verses/chapters. Are you ready to receive? The answer is not to try harder to produce righteousness. The right answer is to realize true righteousness comes from God. Lean in to Him!

PRAYER PROMPTS

Pray for courage to live differently. Ask God for boldness to live in a way that stands out from the world and draws others to Jesus, even when it brings criticism or opposition.

Pray for a life that points to Jesus. Ask God to help you be “salty”—that your actions, attitudes, and conversations would make people thirst for the hope and life found in Christ.

Pray for true righteousness. Thank God that righteousness doesn't come from our efforts but from Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your heart and produce His fruit in your life.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

In what ways do you think your life currently creates a thirst for Jesus in others—or fails to? Where do you think God might be calling you to have a greater influence?

How can you be a light in the specific places you spend your time (school, sports, home, etc.)? What does it look like to reflect Jesus there?

What’s the difference between trying to "act good" and being truly changed by Jesus? How can you rely more on God to produce real heart change instead of just modifying behavior?