Matthew 5:13-16 "Salt and Light"

Good Morning CCLC! Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 5. We are presently looking at the Sermon on the Mount- The Message of the King. Last week we finished looking at the Beatitudes or the blessings. The 8 Beatitudes reflect who we are...because we are saved and have eternal life and are kingdom citizens...thus we are blessed. And therefore, the Beatitudes are 8 characteristics that should define us. They are not what we do to be blessed or to be saved. The Beatitudes are who we are because we are blessed! The remaining teaching of the Sermon on the Mount will address 19 various topics that further define the characteristics of Kingdom citizens, and discuss entrance into the Kingdom. Some of these topics may just be 1 or 2 verses, and some Jesus will expound upon. Today, we will pick up in verse 13 of Matt 5 looking at Jesus' teaching about Salt & Light...which is our theme for today. Let's Pray, and then we will look at Matt 5:13-16. Matt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." 1. When Jesus taught this sermon, there would not have been a division in the flow of the teaching. He would have proceeded from The Beatitudes straight into these verses about being salt and light. 2. And, there is a connection between the Beatitudes and being Salt and Light. 3. The Beatitudes tell us about the kingdom of heaven, and the qualities...the character traits of kingdom citizens...of Christians. 4. If you are living out the Beatitudes, you will also be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. 5. D.A. Carson wrote, "Thus the kingdom norms (vv. 3-12) so work out in the lives of the kingdom's heirs as to produce the kingdom witness (vv. 13-16)." 6. And, that's what verses 13-16 that we are going to look at today are all about...Our witness in the world should reflect the King. 7. Paul in 2 Cor 5:20 wrote, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." 8. This is what these verses today are all about. You are an Ambassador for Christ with a message from the King. 9. Dictionary.com defines an Ambassador as "a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative." 10. Biblically speaking, you are an Ambassador for Christ...an official messenger...a "sent one." 11. Phil 3:20 tells us "our citizenship is in heaven..." 12. Peter calls us "...sojourners and pilgrims..." 1 Pet 2:11 13. Jesus said, "...you are not of the world..." Jn 15:19 14. People, we are just passing through...we are on a mission in a foreign country representing the King of Kings, and LORD of Lords...and it is vital that we represent Him well. As Paul said in 2 Cor 5:20 "...as though God were pleading through us... 15. As we do a good job in representing God to this world, we are being salt and light. 16. There are a lot of sermons and teachings about salt and applications for the christian, and I really like the various illustrations. 17. It's said salt was precious, a preservative, added flavor, created thirst, and could be applied to a wound for healing. 18. The Roman author, and military commander, Pliny the Elder, wrote in 77 A.D., "Nothing is more useful than salt and sunshine." 19. In the OT, salt was added to offerings or sacrifices (Lev 2:13), and was connected to loyalty and purity. As such, there are all kinds of ideas about what Jesus is saying here in Matt 5:13. 20. Now, we have to be careful to pay attention to actually what the verse says, and to not get too far off with nice illustrations. For example... 21. My favorite illustration is salt as a preservative...and I truly do like this illustration. The sayings "worth his weight in salt" or "worth his salt" date back to ancient times, as salt was very valuable...in fact soldiers were sometimes paid in salt. The value was not because salt can be used as a seasoning, but because it was a preservative. Refrigeration was not invented, thus to preserve meat or fish, for example, the food was salted. So, if a Roman Soldier was said to be "worth his salt, " this meant he was valuable or competent. 22. Some Pastors share how as Christians we are the preservative in a decaying world. If you are not a preserving influence, you will be trampled underfoot by the world you were supposed to preserve. It's a great illustration. 23. However, look closely at this verse, when Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount He spoke about salt losing it's flavor. He said, "...but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?" 24. In Gk. "loses its flavor" is one Greek word... mōrainō which by definition means "to act as a simpleton," or "to become foolish." As in Rom 1:22 "Professing to be wise, they became fools..." (Same Gk word...mōrainō). This was the common definition. 25. A secondary definition is "to lose savour," or "to become flat or tasteless," and this is how our Bible translators translate this word in Matt 5:13. 26. Now, the root word for mōrainō is mōrŏs which means "dull or stupid." It's where we get our English word "moron." 27. It's like Jesus is saying, "You are the salt of the earth, but if you become foolish, how will you be salty?" 28. Salt obviously cannot be foolish, but it seems that there is a wordplay happening here... 29. What was Jesus using salt as an example of? YOU...ME...He was speaking to the Disciples when He taught this. And, if we are salt that has lost its flavor... If we are supposed to be this valuable, preserving, flavorful, positive influence in the world, and we are not...guess what that makes us? Fools. 30. Jesus just finished describing His kingdom citizens in the Beatitudes (poor in spirit, mourning over sin, meek, having a spiritual hunger, merciful, pure, peacemakers and persecuted for righteousness sake)...that's the description of a salty person...those are traits of a person who loves and respects God. If the Beatitudes make you the salt of the earth, and you're not living them out...that's salt that is tasteless...that's acting like a simpleton. 31. Blessed are the poor in spirit...Blessed are those who mourn...we are so blessed. And, with those blessings, we are to extend those blessings to the multitudes. If we don't...that's foolish. 32. Don't get too sidetracked with all the fancy illustrations about salt. Pay attention to the key idea Jesus is teaching. 33. You, and I, are supposed to be something really good in this world, and if we are not, only negative things can be said about us...tasteless, foolish. 34. Jesus says, "It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out an trampled underfoot by men." 35. Scholars are in agreement that this is not referring to a loss of salvation, but a loss of usefulness. 36. Samson (Judges 13-16) is a good example. He was Israel's judge. The Lord raised up judges to deliver Israel out of the hands of neighboring raiders and countries that afflicted them. Samson did this, but he had an eye for women and he fell into compromise. He fell victim to the "lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes..." Numerous times, trouble follows him as he chases after women...and he eventually becomes compromised. Ultimately, he falls in love with a Philistine woman, Deliah, and she betrayed him to the Philistines and then he was figuratively "trampled underfoot" by the Philistines. They blinded him, enslaved him, and humiliated him. All because he lost his saltiness, his usefulness... though he is still mentioned in Heb 11, the Faith Hall of Fame. 37. We see this unfortunately with Pastors who fall into sin...once a prominent Pastor...falls into sin...and they lose their usefulness, though they are still saved. And, the world tramples the Pastor under their feet...these days in the form of defamation through media outlets. 38. A little side note: A chemist may object that Salt does not technically lose it's saltiness as the mineral salt is primarily sodium chloride, a stable compound. 39. Albert Barnes, on this point, commented, "In eastern countries...the salt used was impure, mingled with vegetable and earthly substances; so that it might lose the whole of its saltiness, and a considerable quantity [of salt without flavor] remain. This was good for nothing except that it was used, as it is said, to place in paths, or walks, as we use gravel." 40. The big picture and application for you and I is that salt has an important quality that is useful for many purposes. Just like you and I are to be used for numerous kingdom purposes. If salt becomes impure, or if we become impure, either salt or us will become ineffective and useless. And, like anything that is useless it should just be discarded. 41. Salt would be thrown onto a path becoming gravel trampled on by people walking on the path. 42. We, if we lose our saltiness, will not be used for kingdom purposes. We will be put on the shelf for a season or for however long God sees fit. 43. God desires to use us for kingdom purposes, to share the Gospel, to love people in the world. He will, in various ways, open doors for us to be used by Him. But, if we resist Him or ignore Him, and we don't share the Gospel when we should...we don't go when He redirects our lives...we don't stand up for righteousness when we should...or if we compromise our lives through active sin or idolatry...how effective will we be? We will become like salt that has lost flavor. 44. Resisting God's will...ignoring His commands...living in sin... is mōrainō ...like salt that is tasteless...like a believer who is foolish. Let's looks at this next metaphoric statement of Jesus...verse 14 Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 1. "You" here is emphatic and indicative... this this verse could be rendered, "You, my followers, and none other, are the light of the world." Same thing in verse 13..."You, my followers, and none other, are the salt of the earth." 2. Jesus is not addressing the multitudes of unbelievers...He is talking to His disciples, and since we are also disciples or students of Jesus, He is speaking to us today. 3. Can you imagine being one of these disciples when Jesus gave this sermon? Imagine being a humble fishermen...not learned scribe or Pharisee...a fisherman. And, here Jesus is addressing you "You are the salt of the earth...the light of the world..." just amazed by this teaching. At the end of this sermon (end of Chapter 7) it states "the people were astonished at His teaching..." I bet they were. He would take these nobodies in society and turn the world upside down with them. And, He still desires to use you and I the same way. 4. "You are the light of the world." 5. Respected scholar D.A. Carson gives us some insight about the symbolic meaning of light... He states, "Light is a universal religious symbol. In the OT as in the NT, it most frequently symbolizes purity as opposed to filth, truth or knowledge as opposed to error or ignorance, and divine revelation and presence as opposed to reprobation and abandonment by God." 6. A great example is Jn 3:19-21 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." 7. The contrast between light and darkness is very clear in this verse. 8. Darkness is symbolic of evil. And the person practicing evil hates the light because the light will shine on and reveal the evil deeds. This is a person who rejects Jesus and thinks their works are sufficient for salvation, but the light exposes all works as filthy rags. 9. In contrast light is symbolic of all that is good and holy. Light in these verses are namely Jesus. A person who is honest (does the truth) is attracted to the light because they know He is their redemption. They do good works because, even in imperfection, they come to Jesus. 10. In and of ourselves we have no light. Jesus is the source of light, and we are a reflection of His light. 11. Jesus is to the sun, as we are to the moon. The moon only has light, because it reflects the Sun's light. 12. Turn to John 1. In the Gospel of John, there many statements about Jesus being light....let me read a few of these statements as you are turning to John 1. 13. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Jn 8:12. 14. "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." Jn 12:36. 15. "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." Jn 12:46. 16. But, I really love how in John 1:1-9, we see a marvelous description of the various ways Jesus is the light... 17. John 1:1-9 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world." 18. In these verses we see Jesus is creator who provides and is the source of life which is the "light of men" (verse 4)...He breath life into us, and He serves as a guide..He is the "light of men"...as Ps 119:105 states ...a "lamp to my feet And a light to my path." He guides us in life to know how to live and to know the way to heaven. 19. Verse 5: He is the "light that shines in the darkness..." Since the fall, sin has darkened our minds. Jesus is the light guiding us out of darkness. 20. Verse 7: John came "to bear witness of the Light." John was the forerunner to the King. He bore witness that Jesus was the Messiah...that Jesus was the "light"...John pointed people to the light...to the Messiah. Which is our role too. 21. Verse 9: Jesus is the "true light..." He is the only authentic Savior of mankind. Joseph Smith is not the true light. Apollo Quiboloy is not the true light. Only Jesus is the true light. 22. Verse 9: Jesus "...gives light to every man coming into the world" ...not that all are saved, but that Jesus testifies to all men. Later in Matt 5:45, Jesus will say, "He make His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." God is impartial...He loves all people. "For God so loved the world..." the whole world, not some of the world. He sent His son to give light to every man, but you have to receive it to be saved. 23. Now back In Matthew 5:14, Jesus says, "You are the light of the world." 24. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world. You are to bear witness of that Light, by sharing the Gospel and by how you live. 25. So, let me ask you...does your life reflect Jesus?...Are you living out the Beatitudes?...If someone were to put you on trial for your Christianity, would there be enough evidence to convict you? And, if you were convicted of Christianity, could you be convicted of your good works? If you are not sure, or if you know you are lacking...this is an opportunity to fall before a merciful God and plead for help. 26. Daniel is a great example of a person that had a reputation of being light in the world. The very ungodly king Belteshazzar called for Daniel (in the writing on the wall account), and he said to Daniel, "I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you." Dan 5:14. 27. Did you hear that...Belteshazzar specifically said light was found in Daniel. 28. That's how people should see us! People who are clouded by sin...clouded by darkness...should say of us that the Spirit of God is in us, that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in us! 29. Back in Matthew, Jesus continues "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." 30. At face value this saying is fairly obvious...A city that is on a hill is elevated making it visible by day because it stands so prominent...and ancient cities were often built of white limestone which caused them to gleam in the sun; and by night they were visible because the lights of the lamps in the city would illuminate the darkness. 31. But, some scholars also believe "A city that is set on a hill..." may also be an allusion to Isa 2:2-4 which speaks about Jerusalem, a city on a hill, during Jesus' Millennial reign...listen to this beautiful scene... 32. Isa 2:2-4 "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore." 33. What a beautiful picture of what we can look forward to...the people of the world flocking to seek the Lord and living in peace. Jesus, Himself, will be the light of the world as the people flock to Him. 34. For us, the application is simple, we are to be a prominent light...like a city on a hill...visible to the world...illuminating the path to God to a world living in darkness...living in sin. Providing hope to those who have lost hope. 35. Jesus continues (verse 15), "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 36. Jesus continues the metaphor with another illustration. Just as a city on a hill is elevated for all to see, a lamp is effective when it is elevated. It is to provide light for ALL who are in the house. 37. We are to share the light of Christ to all who are in the world. The light is not for the Jews only, but all the people of the world. 38. The lamp is not put under a basket...in Gk. modios...this basket or bowl was a dry measure for grain...8 3/4 liters typically...not typically used to cover a lampstand...and Jesus is drawing attention to what is not normal. 39. It is not normal to hide a lamp under a basket; and it is not normal for His kingdom citizens who are so greatly blessed, as we read in the beatitudes to hide these blessings...to hide the truth of the Gospel...we are not to hide it...it is to be shared. We are to share Jesus with the world. 40. And so, Jesus finishes this exhortation by saying, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 41. Spurgeon observed that this is the first time in the New Testament that God is called our Father. Spurgeon said, "Is not this the first time in the New Testament that God is called our Father? Is it not singular [remarkable] that the first time it peeps out should be when men are seeing the good works of his children?" 42. Great observation by Spurgeon...don't miss this...here in verse 16...we observe the first mention of God being called our Father in the New Testament and the context is so personal to you and I, His children, being a reflection of Him when we let our light shine before men. 43. "Let" is an imperative, a command. It's not a suggestion, but a directive. 44. If you call Jesus Lord...that means He is your master and your are His servant. So, when He says Let your light so shine before men, you are to do it. 45. Your witness should be visible. People should be able to observe our lives and know we have been with Jesus. Our Christian lives as kingdom citizens should have great appeal, and when people see us living out our good works...they should only respond by lifting praise to God. 46. It's not our words that are in reflection here...it's what is visible by our deeds...our lives. Not that this is a works based salvation, but because we are so blessed, as seen in the Beatitudes, there should be an outpouring of works as a result. 47. James said, "Show me you faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 4:18 ...same idea. 48. When we love God and love others, we let our light shine...these are good works. 49. When we are bold in our faith sharing truth in love...we will not be hiding our light...it will be shining. And, there are so many people out there that need that light...that need Jesus. 50. I remember grabbing coffee with a Pastor in Bluffton a few months back and as we were getting ready to leave, this baby came crawling over to us and started reaching for our pant legs...it was a bit odd... Like "who's baby is this?" So, mom walks over, eventually, and we struck up a conversation. And, the doors to ministry just swung open. The hurt in her life...a divorce...kids...and when the conversation shifted spiritual...she was totally seeking and even had connections with the Pastor's sister. We were able to pray over her and invite her to church. It was so cool. There's millions of people out there like that mom. And, there's millions of God moments like that just waiting for you, so don't be foolish...you're blessed...let your light shine...be salt and light. 51. Spurgeon said "The object of our shining is not that men may see how good we are, nor even see us at all, but that they may see grace in us and God in us, and cry, 'What a Father these people must have.'" Wow! 52. Another way our good works are observable before people in the world is not just by what we do, but also by what we choose not to do. 53. Liberty, freedom, is not just what we have freedom to do, but also what we have been liberated from, and what we have the freedom not to do. 54. Peter wrote, "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." 1 Pet 2:11-12 55. Our conduct should be honorable, and we do this by what we choose not to do...by not giving in to fleshly lusts...by not falling prey to any sinful desires that is inconsistent with God and His holiness. When we are victorious, it says here in Peter that unbelievers will glorify God because of the witness of our good works. 56. For every person, there will be a day of visitation by God...either in Grace as they come to salvation; or in judgement at the Great White Throne Judgement. 57. And, your life...when it shines as a light...when your good works are observed...they stand as a witness to the world. 58. People out there this week, this month will observe how you are living, and when you are living in a holy and honorable way (even though it may be counter-cultural...even though it may sting to them like salt in a wound...even though it may be like a blinding light in their eyes...even if they reject you and your holy living)...your life will serve as a witness and God will be glorified. Worship Team Come... It's a tall order to be a Christian. We you agree to walk with the Lord...when you are committed to Him and His commands, placing Him above all...Deut 26:18-19 tells us "...the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, 19 and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken." God thinks of you as a treasured possession as your life is reflective of Jesus...as you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Go out this week and be salt and light. Fathers, pray for your family every morning that they would be salt and light wherever they go. Let your witness be like Daniels that people would say of you "... the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you." Amen? Let's pray!