Salt & Light
Jesus called His disciples to make a noticeable and positive difference in the world. That is why I believe He used the examples of salt and light because they are things that everyone can relate too. Just like in the ancient world, today salt is present in almost every food and light is essential to viewing everything around us. Without salt, food would be tasteless and without light, everything would be in total darkness. So when Jesus said that His disciples are both the salt of the earth and the light of the world He was preparing them to make a life changing impact in people’s lives. As a result, are you salting the world and burning bright for Jesus?
TEXT
Matthew 5:13-16, “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.”
TERMS
- Sermon on the Mount: The longest single portion of Jesus’ teaching found in Matthew 5-7 that serves as the foundation of Christian morality and spiritual practice. #KingdomBasics
- Disciples: Born again committed students and followers of Jesus Christ.
- Kingdom of Heaven/God: The active rule and reign of Jesus in one’s life and upon the earth with kingdom blessings. The kingdom is all about the King!
SALT OF THE EARTH
- SALT: A mineral substance composed primarily of sodium chloride.
- SALT=INFLUENCE: For the disciple salt represents their influence in the world that comes from obedience to God’s commands.
- PURPOSE OF SALT: (1) HEALTH: According to Dr. Aiyer, director of the heart center at the Magee-Women’s Hospital, “Salt is the most essential substance for health. This is because the body can not make it and the body cells needs salt to function optimally.” Also, salt has been used in the past to cleanse wounds and help heal the body (ex., salt baths). (2) FOOD: Salt was and still is important in seasoning and preserving food. In the ancient world, as today with beef jerky and canned goods, salt was the best means of preserving food. (3) OTHER USES: Salt has been used to melt ice and make gravel for roads.
- HOW DOES SALT LOSE ITS SALTINESS? Be being diluted with other things, especially with water. Though the chemical compound of salt technically does not change, however, its impact weakens when it is overpowered by other things. For example, if a gumbo calls for a certain amount of salt for a specific amount of water if you add more water the salt with lose its saltiness in the gumbo. Therefore, Jesus’ is most likely referring to the Christian becoming so influenced by the world that their salt (Christian life) is diluted and not effective.
- APPLICATION: Jesus’ disciples are to be moral disinfectants in the world and the flavor of God’s grace everywhere they go. Colossians 4:6, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
- LIGHT: Electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye and is responsible for the sense of sight.
- LIGHT=ILLUMINATION: For the disciple light represents their illumination in the world. They help people in darkness see God, His commands, and blessings.
- PURPOSE OF LIGHT: (1) SIGHT: Without light it would be impossible for the human eye to see. (2) LIFE: Without light upon the earth from the sun, which is key for photosynthesis, plants wouldn’t grow and thus the entire food chain would collapse and mankind would become extinct. (3) HEAT: Light in the form of fire (most likely what Jesus was speaking about) produces heat and is used for many essentials things including metal working and cooking.
- APPLICATION: Jesus’ disciples are to bring God’s illumination to the world making it possible for people to see God, good/evil, and the meaning of life. Ephesians 5:8-20, “8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Salt influences and is full of grace; Light illuminates and pushes back the darkness!