"THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT"
Salt And Light (Mt 5:13-16)
INTRODUCTION
- In "The Beatitudes", the CHARACTER AND BLESSEDNESS of the
citizens were described
- In the final beatitude, Jesus described the attitude the world
would often display towards the citizens of the kingdom (10-12)
- Jesus now proceeds to describe the opposite: The influence of
the kingdom upon the world.
- He does this by using two metaphors: "salt" & "light"
- "YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH" (Mt 5:13)
- SALT HAS SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS...
- It is white, enhances flavor, preserves, etc.
- Based on the context, it is probably salt's ability to
enhance flavor to which Jesus refers in his illustration
- Notice: "...but if the salt loses its flavor..."
- Salt has the ability to give flavor to that which is
otherwise bland
- Job mentioned this ability in Job 6:6
- THROUGH THE METAPHOR OF "SALT"...
- Jesus illustrates that the relationship of the citizens of
the kingdom to the world is one of:
- Making the world palatable (bearable) to God, and possibly
to others as well
- Perhaps making it possible for God to continue to bear
with this world and its "distasteful" wickedness
- The idea that the "righteous" few can make it is easier for
God to forbear the many wicked is illustrated:
- In Abraham's conversation with God over Sodom - Gen 18:20-32
- In God's dealing with Jerusalem - Jer 5:1
[So from God's point of view, the citizens of the kingdom give the
world what good "flavor" it has!]
- JESUS GOES ON TO WARN AGAINST LOSING OUR FLAVORING ABILITY!
- With pure salt...
- It actually never loses its flavor
- But when mixed with impurities salt can lose its ability
to enhance flavor
- We too might lose our ability to be a "flavoring agent" for
the world...
- If we allow "impurities" into our lives - 1Co 15:33
- Therefore, we need to keep ourselves from sin - Ep 5:3-7
- IF WE LOSE OUR "FLAVOR"...
- How are we going to be "seasoned"? (impurities prevent us
from being useful)
- We will be thrown out!
- Is Jesus teaching the possibility of losing our
salvation?
- He certainly does elsewhere! - Mt 13:40-43; Re 3:15-16
[First of all, then, we are told of the relationship of the citizens
of the kingdom to the world FROM GOD'S POINT OF VIEW: "You are the
salt of the earth."
Continuing, we find Jesus teaching concerning the citizens of the
kingdom as to their PRIMARY FUNCTION in the world...]
- "YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" (Mt 5:14-16)
- USED BY GOD TO TRANSMIT HIS GLORY TO THE WORLD!
- They are "lights" in a dark world - Php 2:14-15
- Their purpose: to proclaim the praises of God! - 1Pe 2:9;
Ep 5:8b-9
- THEY ARE NOT A "LIGHT" IN AND OF THEMSELVES...
- Only in the Lord - Ep 5:8a
- Christ is the "true" or "original" light - Jn 8:12
- Citizens of the kingdom are simply "luminaries" reflecting
The One True Light, just as the moon reflects the sun
- 2Co 4:6
- CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM HAVE A TWO-FOLD RESPONSIBILITY AS
"THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"...
- They must be VISIBLE
- Implied by Jesus in His use of a "city" and a "lampstand"
as metaphors
- Jesus therefore expects His followers to be SEEN by the
world - e.g., Jn 13:35; 17:21
- They must RADIATE (give light)
- This principle conveyed by the idea of the lamp
- Designed to SHINE on a lampstand
- Not put under a basket
- This principle explicitly stated in "let your light SO
SHINE before men"
- The purpose of such VISIBLE RADIATION: so men may GLORIFY
THE FATHER in heaven - e.g., 1Pe 2:11-12; 2Co 9:12-13
CONCLUSION
- Why be concerned with being "the salt of the earth" and "the light
of the world"?
- Because of the One Who is described as "YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN
HEAVEN"!
- This expression should remind us that God is both:
- TENDER (a term of tenderness)
- and MAJESTIC (He is "in heaven")
- Such a Majestic Being Who is willing to be our Father makes Him:
- Worthy to be pleased!
- And worthy to be praised!
- We who claim to be the children of God, citizens of the kingdom,
are we:
- Pleasing to our Father (by being "the salt of the earth")?
- Praising Him (by being the "light of the world")?
If not, then may the prayer of David in Ps 51:10-15 become our own:
10 Create in me a clean heart, O
God;
and renew a right spirit within
me.
11 Cast me not away from thy
presence;
and take not thy holy
spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy
salvation;
and uphold me [with thy]
free spirit.
13 [Then] will I teach
transgressors thy ways;
and sinners
shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from
bloodguiltiness,
O God, thou God of
my salvation:
[and] my tongue shall
sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips;
and
my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.