This sermon was preached to the disciples of Jesus Christ. This group of disciples splintered into two groups: a group of lost disciples of Jesus Christ; and a group of saved disciples of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the sermon’s purpose was to shed light on who were His actual disciples.
The sermon’s function describes who the disciple of Jesus are from the inside out.
The beatitudes and other portions of the sermon focuses on the inner man.
While out current section focuses on the outer man.
Jesus encourages His disciples in this section to influence their culture. Regardless of how wicked, evil, or immoral a culture is Christians can make an impact. Jesus did not say if everything breaks your way then you can be the salt or light. Instead, He said we are to be salt and light to the world no matter how wicked or immoral our culture is. If we are truly disciples of Jesus Christ then we will be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.”
