– Matthew 5:13-16
Context: The teaching of Jesus, in Matthew 5:1-16, helps us learn more about who God is and invites us into a blessed interaction with God. Jesus teaching about those who have received salvation through faith in the grace given by God and are responding in wholehearted devotion. We read about the heart condition of such people and how God shows his blessed approval of them. Jesus is teaching that God’s blessing invites us into relationship with him and his kingdom.
Who is God?
· One True Living God – Jer. 10:10-12 Psalm 18:46 1 Thess. 1:9
· Life-Giver: Provider & Protector Matt. 7:11 Jn. 14:14 2 Sam. 22:2-7 Psalms 138:7
· Creator & Redeemer Gen. 1:1 Isa. 44:24 43:1 Col. 1:15-28
· Good Father, Relational – Gen. 1:26-28 Isa 64:8 Matt. 6:26-33
· Rewarder of those who seek – Heb. 11:6
Who are we?
· Someone who God loved and gave identity, value, and purpose. Gen. 1:26-28
· Jesus follower Lk. 9:23-24 Jn. 13:34-35
· Child of God Jn. 1:12-13 1 Jn. 3:1 Rom. 8:16-17
· Coheir with Christ Rom. 8:17
· Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation 1 Peter 2:9
God’s story line tells us 4 things:
1. What God wants for us (Creation)
2. What happened to us and what went wrong with the world (Fall)
3. What God has done in Jesus Christ to put things right (Redemption)
4. How history will turn out in the end as a result (Restoration)
– Timothy Keller Good News of Jesus Christ: What God has done and will yet do.
To help us learn what this means, Jesus teaches with two analogies: salt and light.
13 “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.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 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
“Salt of the Land” – Matthew 5:13
For thousands of years, people without refrigeration used salt to preserve food. Jesus teaches with an analogy of the value and use of pure salt.
“Pure salt cannot lose its taste. In the ancient world, what was often sold as salt was highly adulterated and the sodium chloride could leach out in humid weather, in which case the residue (normally a form of lime) would be useless.” – Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon
Salt is associated with God’s long lasting covenant promises, in Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 13:5. “God showed his love by choosing people to be partners with him, blessing them so that they could together spread life to those around them.” – The Bible Project As we continue this partnership with God, it is by choice…a current choice and a continued choice of wholehearted devotion to God. Breaking covenant or rejecting God’s way is how people may “lose their saltiness”. What a contrast! Preserving the covenant with God and sharing it with others brings a Kingdom-of-God-type of spiritual preservation, “saltiness”.
“City on a Hill” – Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God, using powerful imagery that they were familiar with. The prophet Isaiah saw the “mountain of the house of the Lord” as being recognized by people of all nations, in the “latter days”, in Isaiah 2. People would be drawn to this elevated “house of the Lord”, saying “Come let us go to the mountain of the Lord…that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths”, Isaiah 2:3. “Let us walk in the light of the Lord.” – Isaiah 2:5 “The Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” – Isaiah 2:17 It will be a heavenly city, and its light will be like the dawn of a new creation. Jesus is teaching with this imagery. Jesus applies this promise to himself and his followers. God is bringing about the Good News, of loving promise, and the Kingdom of God here and now (fulfilled in Jesus at that time and on the day to come).
The whole world will be able to see this goodness. Jesus calls his followers to not hide their “light under a basket”, but let it shine through the heart condition and behaviors referenced in his teaching, (including Matthew 5:3-12). This includes acts of service for people in need and generosity to the poor. The followers of Jesus hunger for right relationships and work for peace. “As they do they bring down more and more of the light of God’s Kingdom from Heaven to earth.” – Bible Project Jon Collins & Tim Mackey This Light is powerful and beneficial. It is what our world needs more than anything else.
Some of the 5,000 plus shipwrecks found in North Carolina’s Outerbanks were led to their destruction by false lights set out by pirates. These robbers would wait for cargo ships to crash, while following their mini fake lighthouses, and then scoop up the valuable supplies that drifted ashore. Some people are shipwrecked by following false lights. Paul warns New Testament believers against “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves,” and of the enemy who is “masquerading as an angel of light,” in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.
We’re invited to wholehearted devotion to Jesus Christ and lifting up his light of Good News for all to see. We do this through our heartfelt lifestyle of love and committed to God.
Circles of Influence
Jesus is teaching, inviting his followers to participate in the expansion of the Kingdom of God. Using the analogies of salt and light, Jesus teaches an active role for us in bringing others into a relationship of being influenced by God. Where God has the most influence we find the Kingdom of God. Here and now, we are given opportunity to participate in the Kingdom of God, on this earth.
What do we learn?
1. The teaching of Jesus is helpful for our understanding and perspective of our natural world and the Kingdom of God.
2. Jesus teaches that we’re invited to receive salvation and participate in the Kingdom of God. In this way we can participate in the positive redemptive changes God is making here and now.
What should we do about this?
1. Pray, asking God to help us see and repent of any impurity.
2. Consider how we can bring the flavor of God’s blessed covenant to our circles of influence.
3. Pray, asking God what we should do to share his light of Jesus’ Good News.