The Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light

This week’s passage: Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

We have visited these passages previously because they are the inspiration for this blog. If you want to review my thoughts from that post, you can read it here. 

As are the other lessons in the sermon, this one on salt and light gives us an illustration of how the followers of Christ should approach life and shares the consequences for believers who toss the information to the side or half-heartedly attempt to comply.

“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.” (Matthew 5:13 ESV)

Any seasoning you add to food during the last step of cooking adds its own distinct flavor that does not blend with but enhances the food​. As Christians we should be like this, not blending with the world but affecting others in a positive way that encourages them in Christ. During the rein of King Solomon the Lord appeared to him in the night saying…

“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)

Jesus said because we are the salt, preservation begins with us, our humbleness, our prayer, and our thirst for righteousness. If we lose the distinctiveness He has given us we are worthless to His kingdom!

Leave the Light On

Even the smallest of cities can be seen on a hill at night. The light Christ has given us should not be hidden; the world must be able to recognize who we are regardless of how it may react to that recognition.

“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 5:14-16 ESV)

Have you ever had someone express surprise when they find out you count yourself among the Christians? I have, and let me say, that reaction surprised and embarrassed me! I keep this memory close because I know it was an act of the Holy Spirit, convicting me to make sure I am not covering the light of Christ in my life. I want to bring glory to God, and I don’t want to hear anything but “Well done, good and faithful servant” when I am judged before Him.

Stay salty my friends and keep the light on! I trust you to help me to do the same. If we truly love each other, then we can and should hold each other accountable so that Christ can count us among those He considers valuable to His kingdom!