Salt & light

​The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:13–16 NIV

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

For sure it’s not easy to be a dedicated Christian. Our society is not a friend of God nor to God’s people.

Whether we like it or not, there is conflict between us and the world.

WhY?

because we are different from the world and we have different attitudes.

As we read the Beatitudes, we find that they represent an outlook radically different from that of the world.

The world praises PRIDE, not Humility.

The world endorses sin, especially if you “get away with it”.

The world is at war with God , while God is seeking to reconcile His enemies and make them His children.

we must expect to be persecuted if we are living as God wants us to live.

But we must be sure that our suffering is not due to our own foolishness or disobedience.

The Beatitudes work attitudes towards God, the Lord.

Now let's take a look at our attitude towards the world.

The Salt

13 “You are the salt of the earth.

What could they do in so large a province as the whole Earth?

Nothing if the were to work by Force of Arms and Dent of sword;

I was thinking, looking at the map of Canada, While I was praying. What can we do in such a big country?

But, being to work silent as salt, one handful of that salt would diffuse it flavor far and wide, would go a great way, and work insensibly and irresistibly as leaven, or yeast.

Matthew 13:33 NIV 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The doctrine of the Gospel is as salt, it is penetrating, quick, and powerful.

Hebrews 4:12 - 'For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. '

It Reaches the heart

Acts 2:37 'Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” '

Salt serves mainly to give flavor, and to prevent corruption.

Disciples, if they are true to their calling, make the earth a purer and a more flavorful / tasty and palatable place.

But they can do so only as long as they preserve their distinctive character: unsalty salt has no more value.

In any case, Jesus was not teaching chemistry, but using a proverbial image

Matthew 5:13b NIV

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

The Rabbis commonly used salt as an image for wisdom (cf. Col. 4:6), which may explain why the Greek word represented by lost its taste actually means ‘become foolish’.

Colossians 4:6 NIV

6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

A foolish disciple has no influence on the world.

The Light

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

They must shine as light

Light, like salt, affects its environment by being distinctive.

By their good preaching.

The knowledge they have they must communicate for the good of others

Not put it under a bushel but spread it. The disciple who is visibly different from other men will have an effect on them.

A secret disciple is no more use in the world than one who has lost his distinctiveness (v. 13).

The talent must not be buried in a napkin but traded with

The Disciples of Christ must not Muffle themselves up in privacy and obscurity, under presence of contemplation, modesty, or self-preservation but as they have received the gift they must Minister the same.

By their good living.

The must be burning and Shining lights

John 5:35 NIV

35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

must evidence, in their whole conversation, that they are indeed followers of Christ

James 3:13–18 NIV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

They must be two others for instruction, direction, quickening and comfort.

How our light must shine

16a In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds…

We must do good works that may be seen 2 the edification of others, but not that they may be seen to our own ostentation, we are Bid to pray in secret, and what lies between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves.

But that which is of itself open and obvious to the sight of men, we must study to make Congruous to our profession and praiseworthy.

Philippians 4:8–9 NIV

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

For what end our light must shine

16b …and glorify your Father in heaven.

That those who see your good works may be brought, not to glorify you ( which was the things the Pharisees aimed at, end it boiled all their performance). but to glorify your father which is in heaven

The glory of God is the great thing we must aim at in everything we do in religion

in this Century the lines of all our actions must meet. we must not only seek / strive/ endeavor to Glorify God ourselves, but we must do all we can to bring others to glorify him.

the site of our good works will do this by Furnishing them.

But the aim of his good works is not to parade his own virtue, but to direct attention to the God who inspired them.

with matter of praise

with motive of godliness / devotion

Conclusion