Salty Light – Matthew 5:13-16

Why is Matthew including, at some length, this sermon of Jesus from the mount (Luke includes a portion of this sermon preached on another occasion, Jesus no doubt preaching the message in several towns and villages)? How does this help a Jewish readership to recognize Jesus as Messiah? We don’t realize as automatically as Jesus’ original listeners did just how powerfully and refreshingly different Jesus’ message was from the Pharisees and other religious leaders.  His unique wisdom and love shines through.

In this portion of the message or sermon, Jesus is investing a great deal of value and responsibility in believers.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV)

Jesus puts, in one sense, a tremendous pressure upon us who follow him.  We are responsible for saving the world!  We are to be the salt that was so coveted and needed for seasoning and preservation.  If we aren’t being salty we’re not needed. 

As I was driving through a part of India near the coast I witnessed a number of sea-water ponds where salt was being extracted.  Huge amounts of salt were being collected.  That salt was surely the economic salvation of this people and if it lost its saltiness they would lose their income.  The world needs us to be salty, to make their mouths water for the kingdom, to be a taste of its love and power.  That’s why we’re still here.  Jesus could save us and take us immediately to heaven if we didn’t serve this crucial purpose.

And can you imagine the world without light?  Light dispels darkness and we are to be dispelling darkness in our world, the darkness of sin and disobedience, of lies and distortions.  We know the Lord and can show that by our good works, unselfishly giving to those in desperate need of light so they may give the Father credit for His love and goodness.  We are God’s table lamps.  The world can’t afford for us to hide our light. 

Though this purpose of saving the world seems overwhelming, God is the one shining through us and making us salty as we stay in intimate contact with Him.  He will do amazing things through us if we ask Him to. But remember, being salty and light doesn’t mean we are condemning. Jesus was salt and light and sinners were drawn to him, felt loved by him, were accepted by him, yet also were challenged by him to reconcile with the Father. Is that how people experience you?