Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (2026)

Identity Revealed (Part 5): “Jesus Calls You Salt and Light”

Text: Matthew 5:13–20

Supporting texts: 1 Peter 2:9–12;  Exodus 19:1–8

Goal

That the hearers would embrace their baptismal identity as Christ’s salt and light, living confidently and visibly as blessings to the world—not to earn salvation, but because they already belong to Him.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

For several weeks now during this Epiphany season, we have been hearing one steady refrain:

Identity revealed.

Week after week, Jesus has been telling us who we are.

Not what we must become. Not what we must achieve. Not what we must prove.

But who we already are because of Him.

Do you hear the pattern?

He said: You are forgiven. You are called. You are His. You are blessed.

Not blessed because life is easy. Not blessed because you’re strong. Not blessed because you look impressive.

But blessed because you belong to Christ.

And now today, Jesus looks at His disciples — ordinary fishermen, tax collectors, people just like us — and He says something just as surprising:

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.

Not “try to be.” Not “work toward becoming.” Not “maybe someday.”

But simply:

You are.

And if we understand those two words, it changes everything.

I. The World’s Definition of “Blessed” and “Useful”

But the world trains us to think differently.

The world says:

You are what you accomplish. You are what you earn. You are what people admire.

Blessed are the successful. Blessed are the powerful. Blessed are the impressive.

And slowly we begin to believe that God must think the same way.

So we imagine:

“If I shine brightly enough, God will be pleased.” “If I do enough good works, I’ll matter.” “If I look strong enough, I’ll count.”

And without even realizing it, we turn the Christian life into a performance review.

But Jesus doesn’t start with performance.

He starts with identity.

II. Forgetting Who We Are

And here’s our problem.

We forget.

We forget who we are.

Sometimes we hide.

We keep our faith quiet. We blend in. We don’t want to stand out. We don’t want to look different.

So we tuck our light under a bowl.

Other times, we try too hard.

We perform. We try to look extra spiritual. We try to impress God. We try to impress others.

But that’s just another form of darkness.

Because now the focus is still on us.

Either hiding or performing — both forget the same thing:

Jesus didn’t say, “Become salty.”

He didn’t say, “Manufacture light.”

He said:

You are.

Salt doesn’t try to be salty.

Light doesn’t try to be bright.

They simply are what they are.

In Jesus’ day, salt wasn’t just something you sprinkled on food for flavor. Salt meant survival. Before refrigeration, meat and fish would rot quickly in the heat. Salt slowed the decay. It preserved life. Without salt, everything spoiled.

And salt wasn’t only practical — it was covenantal. In the Old Testament, offerings were seasoned with salt as a sign that God’s promises would not spoil or fail.

So when Jesus says,

“You are the salt of the earth,”

He isn’t saying, “Add a little seasoning.” He’s saying, 

—“Through you, I hold back the rot.

—Through you, I preserve.

—Through you, My faithful presence stays in this world.”

And light? Light doesn’t fight darkness. It simply shines — and the darkness gives way.

That’s who you are.

Not impressive people.

But preserving people. Shining people. People through whom Christ keeps the world from spoiling.

And Jesus says:

So are you.

III. The Indicative — “You ARE”

Listen carefully to how He speaks.

This is not command first.

This is declaration first.

You ARE the salt of the earth. You ARE the light of the world.

That’s Gospel grammar.

Fact before command. Gift before responsibility. Identity before action.

Because discipleship doesn’t create identity.

Identity creates discipleship.

Salt preserves.

In a decaying world, salt slows decay.

Light shines.

In a dark world, light pushes back shadows.

And Jesus says:

That’s what My people are like.

Not loud. Not flashy. Not impressive.

But quietly present.

Preserving. Shining. Blessing the world simply by being there.

IV. The Light Comes First — Peter Helps Us See It

And this is exactly how St. Peter describes the Church too.

Listen to how First Epistle of Peter puts it:

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own possession… that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Do you hear the same movement?

Called out of darkness… into light.

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.”

Peter says, “You have been brought into His marvelous light.”

It’s the same picture.

Christ shines on you first.

Then you reflect Him.

The light is never self-generated.

It is always received… and then reflected.

You don’t produce the light.

You stand in Christ — and His light shines through you.

V. The Ground — Why This Is True

But maybe you’re thinking:

“Pastor, you don’t know me. You don’t know my failures. You don’t know my weakness. How can Jesus say I’m the light of the world?”

Answer: Because the light isn’t yours.

It’s His.

And that’s why Jesus immediately says something about the Law:

“I have not come to abolish… but to fulfill.”

In other words:

“I kept everything you couldn’t.”

Every command. Every requirement. Every demand.

Fulfilled.

For you.

Your righteousness isn’t yours.

It’s Christ’s.

Your holiness isn’t yours.

It’s Christ’s.

Your standing before God isn’t built on your obedience.

It’s built on His.

And because you are in Christ, His light becomes yours.

So of course you are salt and light.

How could you not be?

You belong to the Light of the world Himself.

VI. Now the Imperative — Shine

And only then — after all that grace — comes the command:

“Let your light shine.”

Not: manufacture light. Not: earn God’s love. Not: impress people.

Just:

Shine.

Be what you already are.

At home. At the table. At work. At school. In the hospital room. In the grocery store.

Ordinary faithfulness.

Ordinary kindness.

Ordinary mercy.

Peter says it this way:

“Keep your conduct honorable… so that they may see your good deeds and glorify God.”

That should sound familiar.

It’s almost word-for-word what Jesus said.

Not spectacular lives.

Not heroic lives.

Just steady, faithful, Christ-shaped lives.

And through that quiet faithfulness, people begin to notice something different.

Something hopeful.

Something bright.

And they glorify the Father.

VII. Conclusion — Identity Revealed

Dear saints,

This whole Epiphany season has been teaching us one thing again and again:

Not what you must do.

But who you are.

You are not forgotten.

You are not condemned.

You are not disqualified.

You are:

Blessed. Chosen. Forgiven. Children of God. Salt of the earth. Light of the world.

So stop trying to become something impressive.

Just be what Christ has already made you.

Because when salt is salt…

and light is light…

the world is blessed.

And your Father is glorified.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers of the Church

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Heavenly Father, You have called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light and declared us to be salt of the earth and light of the world. Grant that Your Church would live confidently in this identity, trusting not in our own strength but in Christ alone. Preserve us in the true faith, and let Your light shine through us in love and good works. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the holy Christian Church throughout the world, for pastors, missionaries, teachers, and all servants of Your Word: strengthen them to proclaim Christ crucified and risen. Through their preaching and teaching, preserve many from spiritual decay and bring those who sit in darkness into the light of salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For this congregation and all Christian homes: make us faithful in the ordinary callings You have given us. Where we are tempted to hide our faith, give us courage. Where we grow weary, give us strength. Where we forget who we are, remind us that we belong to Christ. Let our homes, our workplaces, and our daily lives reflect Your mercy and truth. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For our nation and for all in authority: grant wisdom and integrity to those who govern. Restrain violence, division, and unrest. Preserve peace and good order among us, that we may live quiet and godly lives and serve our neighbors freely as Your people in this land. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all who suffer in body or soul, for the sick, the hospitalized, the recovering, the lonely, and the anxious: shine the light of Christ into their darkness. Give healing according to Your will, patience in trial, and confidence that nothing can separate them from Your love in Christ Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those who mourn or carry heavy grief: comfort them with the sure hope of the resurrection. Assure them that those who die in Christ rest safely in His eternal light and that the day is coming when sorrow and death shall be no more. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For our witness in the world: as You have made us a royal priesthood and Your own possession, teach us to proclaim Your excellencies with both our words and our lives. Use our small acts of faithfulness to preserve what is good, to hold back what is evil, and to draw others to glorify You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.