Let Your Light Shine

The Sermon on the Mount is a treasure trove of truth.

As we continue our look at this portion of Matthew we are immediately confronted with our duty as believers. Read with me what the Lord said… Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13–16 KJV 1900

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I love that Jesus is the Master Teacher. He knows His audience, and He knows His area. He uses two analogies: Salt and Light to teach how we are to live in response to His teaching in verses 3-12. Let’s look at these two analogies:

Salt

Salt has many interesting and important uses, but in this context there is really only one in mind: Preservation or purification.

In Jesus’ day salt was used for more than just flavoring food, it was used to keep food from rotting! Peter and his fellow fishermen were well aware of his. Whatever of their fresh fish were not sold immediately for people’s meals was transported further inland to be salted and sold later.

However, if salt had lost its saltiness, it was useless! It could no longer prevent food from spoiling and was thrown out. I think the picture is clear:

We need to be salty today!

By our faithful witness we are preserving this sinful world by winning others to Jesus

By our obedience to godliness we are preventing or at least slowing the rise of evil practices

One reason it is so vital that God’s people be active in electing godly leaders

One reason it is so vital that God’s people take a vocal stand against evil practices!

We MUST be salty!

We can become useless.

If we fail in our duty to witness or warn of the coming judgment we are useless

Just like the salt that has gone bad, we are good for nothing but to be thrown out and walked on.

This does not mean that we can lose our salvation, rather we can lose our testimony

We’re supposed to flavor this wicked world, not blend in to it!

Christian, I am encouraging you to be salty! Because of Jesus’ teaching, salt became a symbol of holiness to the early church! How we need to return to the doctrine of holiness today!

Jesus encourages us to be salt of the earth, but also to be...

Light

While Jesus walked on this earth He said:

John 8:12 KJV 1900

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

However, Jesus knew that He would not always be here in physical form. He knew that one day He would leave this place and return home to heaven. While He was here, He was the light of the world, in His physical absence, we are the light of the world.

Jesus was teaching that if you knew Him and loved Him, then not letting your light shine would be...

Impossible Matthew 5:14 “14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

The word “world” here refers to the created order of things

The root word means to “carve, plane, or polish” and refers to both order and beauty

Our function as light the light of the world is to make people aware of God’s presence in the universe

If we are doing our job as light bearers properly, it will be impossible to be concealed!

What Jesus was saying is just as important as, where He was saying it!

From His position on the mountainside, the city of Tiberius was easily seen

If you love Jesus then it will be visible for the world to see!

If you love Jesus it is impossible to conceal it, to try and conceal it would be...

Foolish Matthew 5:15 “15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

The purpose of light, regardless if its a candle or a lamp, is to bring light to darkness

The foolishness of lighting either and trying to hide them is obvious...

The people to whom Jesus was speaking understood the foolishness

If you light a candle and put it under a bushel basket you run the risk of putting the flame out or igniting the basket

Jesus was encouraging those listening to Him to burn bright for Him so that the world could see!

We have reached my favorite part of a sermon, not the end, but the point. We must now ask the ever important question: Why? Why is what Jesus is trying to teach so important? Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Conclusion:

It is important that you be salty, that you be a light bearer, not so that you are noticed, but so that God is glorified.

You say, “I don’t know that many people, I can’t have a big impact”, well then just strive as hard as you can to make an impact where you are.

Jesus didn’t say that you and you alone had to reach the world, all He said was you need to do your part.

I guess the only thing left to ask is, “Are you doing your part in letting your light shine?”