This post is part of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:13-16. Salt and light are metaphors for godly influence in society.
Without our good works and giving flavor to the good news, the world would be even more lost than it is.
The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
I. Scripture
A. Matthew 5:13-16
13 You are the salt of the earth. If salt becomes unsalty, by what will it be salty? It is good for nothing now, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by people.
14 You are the light of the world. A town sitting above, on a mountain, cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do they light a lamp and place it under a container, but on a lampstand, and it shines on everyone in the house. 16 In this way, let your light shine before people, so that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 5:13-16)
B. Comments
1.. Verse 13
Grains of salt are small but have great effect.
Churches (correctly) teach that salt provides seasoning and acts as a preservative in the days before refrigeration (and it has many other uses). True. Even today experienced cooks have a smokehouse where meat is first salted before they turn the smoke machine on. In the pioneer days, they hung meat in small wooden cabins and salted it. Then they went out to the cabin and cut off a slab for dinner. So the application is obvious: we are to provide virtue and the power of the Spirit (after Pentecost) to preserve the gospel and basic decency in society. The gospel changes hearts, so that improves society morally. Then we are to be seasoning for society. We are filled with the kingdom of heaven, and people like our “taste” because of our words (uplifting gospel message) and behavior (good deeds, in v. 16). Salt also makes a person thirsty, so it takes time for people to thirst after what we have. Finally, salt slows down the leaven rising in a lump of dough, and often (not always) leaven symbolizes sin.
Strictly speaking salt does not lose it flavor, and that was not Jesus’s point, but salt at this time and in this area came from draining swamps, so it had impurities in it. Plus, this is simply a rhetorical question, exhorting us not to lose our salt. The issue has nothing to do with losing or not losing our salvation, but with the kingdom witness and goodness in society.
Apparently, in the world at this time, people threw salt on their flat roofs, because salt strengthened the layer of soil on it. People stomped all over it, as they walked on it.
Commentator R. T. France:
In any case, Jesus is not teaching chemistry, and the ludicrous imagery of trying to “salt” that which should itself be the source of saltiness is a powerful indictment of disciples who have lost their distinctiveness and so no longer have anything to contribute to society. The verb which I translated “become tasteless” more literally means “become foolish.” The apparently appropriate verb points to the metaphorical role of the salt here, to symbolize the wholesome flavour of wisdom which disciples are to contribute. (p. 175)
Finally, we don’t need to overanalyze the saltless salt. Salt losing its flavor is just an inconceivable image which indicates that no true disciple could be merely nominal and remain a true disciple of Jesus (Keener, p. 173).
2. Verse 14:
The symbol of light is found everywhere in the OT. It is the opposite of darkness. So the world of nature illustrates God’s ways. There’s a fit and match with his ways and nature, though nature can act unruly. In any case, here is the basic equivalents in the OT between light and darkness. Light speaks of truth over error; knowledge over ignorance; wisdom over foolishness.
Just go to biblegateway.com and search the word light. Amazing hits.
Jesus said he was the light of the world (John 8:12). Here he says kingdom citizens are the light of the world. Combining these two verses (despite what NT scholars are reluctant to do, combining John and the Synoptics), Jesus is the light first, and when we are in union with him, when we have entered his kingdom, his light shines through us.
A city sitting on a high place can easily be seen, and when people light their oil lamps, the city can be seen in the dark. Kingdom people are to be like that city set on a hill. His light shining through them is intended to be seen. The city is about community, not an individual. It’s about a collective impact. All of our lights shining together are stronger than your light shining alone.
4. Verse 15:
Now the King states the obvious: people don’t place the lit oil lamp under a container or bowl, but put it on a lampstand, maybe a carveout in a wall or a special place just for the oil lamp. Then it lights up everything and everyone in the house. Straightforward, uncomplicated teaching and insight.
Next, here’s how the kingdom citizen’s light is supposed to shine.
5. Verse 16:
Finally, Jesus brings focus on what the light does or equates to.
Light → good works
The arrow means “leads to.”
Or,
Light = good works.
You choose which equation works best (or both do), but light that does nothing–does not shine–is not light.
Further, good works includes more than just feeding programs; it includes healing and demon expulsion. Light upsets the religious guy’s comfortable, sleepy world. It jolts them out of their dogmatic slumber. The purpose of a kingdom citizen’s good works is for observing people to say, “Wow! I like what this guy does! I wonder whether God is in his life! Is he a Jesus follower?”
One does good works for the Father’s honor, not our own honor, to be seen of men (6:1).
Everyone Shall Be Judged by Their Works and Words
These verses may be the background to the image of light:
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Is. 42:6-7, NIV)
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Is. 49:6, NIV)
While we are the light of the world, we are not the source of the light, but God through Christ is.
II. Application
A. Question to ponder
1. Salt preserves, seasons and creates thirst. Do you do any of those things for people in your walk with the Lord? Where do you start?
2. Light is supposed to produce good works. What good works have you done lately? Where do you start?
SOURCES
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 