Salt and Light

CONTEXT

Last week the Preamble of the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes.

Jesus is our authority, Future Reversal, Demonstrated in Christ himself.

Disciples are blessed, but also are called to fulfill a critical purpose.

Text

Matthew 5:13–20 ““You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Introduction

Popcorn. Salt. Grilled cheese sandwiches. Salt. French Fries. Salt. Carmel in my icecream. Salted. Salt makes things tasty. Mmm, that’s better.

You are the salt of the world. Hmmm…

Exegesis

Salt a valuable commodity in the ancient world.

Taste.

Preservative

Cleanser

Ritualistic use

Even used as currency.

Not worth his salt

Earning a “salary” - money given to Roman soldiers to purchase salt, for preservative and cleaning wounds.

The Law of God and the Prophets as salt.

Jesus says I have come not to abolish, but to fulfill. He enacted the law and the prophets. He was salt while he was in the world.

Now YOU are the salt. You are the salt of the earth. The world is bland, you enhance. The world is perishable, you rescue. You are valuable; you have an important function.

You are the Light of the world.

Light also useful and valuable.

Image of candle in a dark room. Used to light the ancient home that does not have electricity. Placed on a lampstand. Not low. Certainly not under a bowl. Up high to light the whole room.

Avoid injury

To do anything

To say we are home

To welcome

To soothe and comfort

Jesus said, a city on a Hill cannot be hidden. A reference to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is the place where God was and where People would see him. It was the light to the world.

Christ said, While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Not Jerusalem. I am the light.

Now YOU are the light. He passes on the light to his disciples.

You are the light of the world. The world is a dark place. You make things clearer. The world is a hurtful place, you prevent injury. The world is a scary place. You comfort.

Thrust is that YOU disciples are the useful, critical thing in this world.

YOU. Christ is replacing the OTHER - not the law (you), not Jerusalem (you), not the scribes and Pharisees (you), not even himself (physically) -- with YOU. The disciples of heaven make the difference.

Interpretation

Lily said, What are you preaching on this Sunday. I said, Jesus said, You are the salt, the light. She said, “Ahhh….” Why? “Because we mean something.” God has called us to himself with a blessing (last week), and also a great purpose. Spiritual purpose. Not to be taken lightly.

God has called us for good deeds which he has prepared for us.

Easy to take salt for granted. But what if there were none?

Popcorn. No salt. Steak. No salt. French fries. No salt.

Tie this to Lent. Instead of giving up sugar, give up salt!

Easy to take lights for granted. But what if there were none?

Sun went down, no lights in the houses, no candles, no lamps to read by, no flashlights, no headlights for your car.

Easy to take salt and light for granted, until you don’t have them.

Easy to take being a Christian for granted.

But what if there were no Christians?

No one to preach the gospel, how shall they believe unless someone preaches?

No one to pray

No one to sing

No one to show the love of Christ

No one to share the gospel

No one who practiced mercy or peacemaking (the beatitudes), match to salt and light.

Maybe cannot imagine what a world without any godliness would be like, but we have one reference to it in the Bible. It would be like the days before the flood. Genesis 6:5 - Wickedness and murder, such that God - as patient and merciful as God is, pented of creation and wiped everything out.

Easy to take salt, light, church for granted.

Easy to take ourselves for granted.

I’m just me. Just a Christian, and not even that good of one.

I’m just salt; I’m just light. Just?

You are important in God’s plan. The kingdom of heaven impacts the world through us. For his love and life to show through us.

To preserve, to improve, to brighten, to comfort, to show, to heal, to bestow value.

If the salt is tasteless, how can the world be salted? If the light is hidden, how can there be any light. You are it says the Lord. What a compliment, no, an affirmation, an empowerment!

APPLICATION

How do we be salt? Light? How by your righteousness, by good deeds.

(Groan?) Before you groan. Not talking about adherence to prudish rules or pretentious proclamations of religion.

Jesus says, Your righteousness must exceeds that of the Pharisees.

Foil: for holding up traditional “religiosity” more than the spirit of the law. For example, You wash the cup (ceremony), but you don’t wash the inside!

Jesus righteousness flows from his relationship with God.

Our righteousness will flow from our relationship with God. When we live from that relationship, we will fulfill all that God requires of us.

I have come to fulfill. He fulfills God’s requirements by living in relationship with God and enables us to do the same thing.

Now an inward orientation of the heart,

Quote from Ezekiel. “I will take out their hearts of stone (which matches the Law carved in stone; and I will give them hearts of flesh, that matches the incarnation of Christ.”

Righteousness just what you do, why you do it. For the love of God and other people (the whole Law and Commandments).. In big and little things. Making the situation better with hopeful speech, taking some time (confess that I do this badly sometimes; godly perspective)

In your marriage; at your job; with your friends. How can I make things better today...not worse. Better.

Will turn people toward God just as their eyes naturally turn toward lighted city or a candle.

Salt on the table. People reach for it.

Dark room. People reach for the switch.

They will reach for you. They will give glory to God. Natural.

CONCLUSION

Salt and light. Good things. We are called into goodness.

Prayer. “God I want to be salt and light….”