It is Time To Shine

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

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

You are the salt of the earth;

If the salt has become tasteless how can it be made salty again?

It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men

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

nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket,

But on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven

Earth - Context of use focuses on humanity

World/Earth - Context of use humanity

There are two pictures of the Christian in closing: salt and the light. Salt speaks of inward character that influences a decaying world; light speaks of the outward testimony of good works that points to God. Our task is to keep our lives pure that we might “salt” this earth and hold back corruption so that the Gospel can get out. Our good works must accompany our dedicated lives as we let our lights shine.

 Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 29–30.

There is a sense in which salt cannot really become unsalty. But contamination can cause it to lose its value as salt. Its saltiness can no longer function.

 John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew, vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 245.

You are the salt of the earth

When food is getting bad and you need to preserve it, you apply salt

Concerning salt, no parent hides it to prevent over-eating by their wards. Maybe in the past it would have been for its cost and worth. It has its own peculiar taste.

You give taste to the earth. Salt is needed when there is no taste. It brings out the taste in the food it is applied to. The earth needs taste, God has made you the salt of the earth through interaction with Jesus. No one needs to improve the taste of their food and try to remove salt. You are to retain your taste. If it is a tasteless salt, it cannot bring taste to the earth. It cannot be made salty again. Saltiness can be removed or lost but cannot be gained again. It becomes trash.

What is the value of the Christian that has lost his savour?

While salt is used to season and preserve food, the focus here is on the impact of salt on the taste which is directly from the seasoning and indirectly from the preservation.

“Salt can cause thirst for others to consider participating in the reason the person the way they are”

Think of a food that has a savoury smell, it is attractive, it draws your attention with its ability to tantalize your smell and your desire for the food, it awakens your imagination and you begin to dream of the impact of such savoury meal on your palettes, then you get a taste of it and you notice it is tasteless. That is how the world is. It is projects its goods and plays on your senses on your eyes on your desires, it promises you enjoyment when you partake of its diverse goods. You are drawing by its tinsels and its glitterings. The idea of partaking of things so wonderfully packaged drives at your heart.

The Lord says, you are the salt of the earth.

Salt add a bit of its taste to whatever it comes in contact with.

There is no taste in the earth.

Salt -

You are the light of the world

A city on the hill cannot be hidden - Because of its vantage point, It is high above all the others. It shines in the day and is visible in the night by its vantage point.

No one lights a lamp then hides it. Lamps are lit so they can add value to the one that is doing the lighting and those around the lighter.

Light lit and put at a corner adds some value but the value is much more when it is put on a lampstand, then the value of the light is greater.

Light shines and gives direction

John 1:4 ESV

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Ephesians 5:8–14 ESV

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

When Light shines in a lamp, it gives light to those around but also draws attention to itself. Light shines best in the midst of darkness.

As light of the world, your good works is the light you are pushing out which men can see - your light is your good works. The sighting of your good works bring glory to your Father in heaven. If it does not, then it is not the right type of good works.

Good works speaks of moral deeds, good acts

Glorify - to speak of something as deserving honor

Light -

A secret Christian is as incongruous as a hidden light. Lights are to illuminate, not to be hidden; to be displayed, not to be covered. Christians are to be both subtle salt and conspicuous light.

 John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew, vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 245.