Salt and light – Matthew 5:13-16
Salt and light – Matthew 5:13-16
By Pastor Lee Hemen
February 24, 2019
What would you consider the absolute necessities of life after food and water? For some it might be their cell phone, big screen TV, clothes or shoes. One of things that help put perspective on what you value in life is to do an extensive list of your top 50 priorities. It can show you in a very real way what you value in life and what you focus on or not.
In Jesus’ day a couple of absolute necessities were two things we often take for granted, salt and light. Salt was used for many things from seasoning, preservative, sterilization of wounds, and as currency. It was considered an absolute staple for everyday life. Light was a means of continuing to work later, see your way, keep warm and keep out the darkness of night and long winters. Jesus understood the dependence and importance folks of his day placed on these two things; let’s discover how he uses salt and light this morning…
READ: Matthew 5:13-16
According to the urban dictionary a person who is “salty” means they are being rude, upset, angry, or bitter all the time. However when fellow sailors use it with one another as in “stay salty” it means to have a salty layer on one’s person because of their constant exposure to the ocean and here we learn that…
I. Believers are to remain salty! (Vv. 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 by men.
1. It is an old adage or phrase we have heard and used for centuries but it was Jesus who first used it in the context he did when he addressed his disciples and the crowd. He tells them, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt was often mined from the ground or produced from an evaporation process from the ocean. The purer the salt the better it was and the more expensive it was. Pure salt was highly prized. While many today are trying to get as much salt out of their diet as they can, most people during Jesus’ day prized it for its preservative and seasoning powers. Jesus reminds his listeners that they are the common folks that make up most of the world. Just as salt was a common necessity so were they as far as God was concerned. He valued them for who they were. But he knew like everyone else of his day knew that “if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” The answer is that it could not. In fact the storage of salt was just as important for traders, businessmen, the Roman army (which used it as pay) and others. Huge salt cellars were often dug out of the side of mountains where moisture could not leech it away; but as good as they tried to store it some of it would leach away and leave behind the minerals that did not evaporate. The salt would become worthless. If they lost their “saltiness”, their godly flavor, they could not automatically be made salty again either. In fact salt was “no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men”! Jesus was referring to the fact that leached out salt where it was mostly dirt or minerals were no longer good for seasoning or as a preservative. In fact, it could be dangerous and so this kind of worthless salt was thrown on the roads where it killed the invasive vegetation and was walked on by man and beast! If God’s people, lost their godliness, they could not be made godly again could they? This is the inference Jesus was making. Most would have agreed with Jesus’ assessment of salt and them. His disciples were to be the salt of the earth, seasoning the world with his gospel message! They were to be careful to not lose their saltiness, the message they would declare could not be allowed to be diluted or spiritually evaporated away! Jesus’ warning was clear, believers are to remain salty!
EXAMPLE: Recently I watched a YouTube video by Destin of Smarter Everyday about making his brain relearn how to ride a backwards bicycle. He related that “truth is truth and knowledge does not equal understanding”. He is correct. We may think we know the truth or that we are knowledgeable because we are educated. Yet Jesus came to show us the truth and still people decide not to believe him. If folks did not believe Jesus they would not believe his disciples either. The truth is people often think they know better but in reality they don’t. Truth is truth no matter what one believes and we may think we know something but in reality not understand the truth at all. Jesus related, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32 NIV)” Here Jesus teaches us that believers are to remain salty!
Being able to illuminate one’s home was often considered an extravagance in Jesus’ day because oil or tallow was expensive. And the lights during this time were not that great but even in the darkest room a little light was a welcome thing. Here we discover that…
II. Believers are to enlighten the world around them! (Vv. 14-16)
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
1. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples “You are the light of the world.” Notice Jesus does not say that all people are the light of the world, only his disciples or followers were. He was referring to the fact that the world at large is a sin-darkened place. Those who are in the world cannot spiritually see without the light of God in their lives and they would be the light of God. And just as “A city on a hill cannot be hidden” they could not hide the fact of who they were once they decided to follow Jesus. It is an offhanded reference to the Holy Spirit residing in someone who would trust him with their lives. Of course this would not be evident or available until after Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12 NIV)” and this is why the Apostle Paul would write, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV)” Jesus’ disciples however could not hide the fact of the Spirit of God living in them! So, just as a city on a hill could not be hidden “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.” They were to share the light of God; his gospel with the world. People are attracted to the love of God that is found in Jesus. His compassion, gentleness, kindness, and ability to cross any social, racial, or economic barrier made him attractive to the crowds. As his disciples we are in a sense to be attractive as well: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Faith in Jesus without kindness, compassion, or gentleness displayed in one’s life is “dead” as James, Jesus’ brother, would later write. Believers are to enlighten the world around them!
EXAMPLE: In Clark County we get our electricity from several different sources: wind, water, solar, and natural gas. With the invention of better lighting it has revolutionized homes and industry. People began to have free time, they could read, play games, study, or do extra work. We can now light our homes at a fraction of the cost compared to when I was a child. In fact we have so much light it can be seen from space! Interestingly the idea of light became synonymous with combating the darkness of sin and here we are told by Jesus that believers are to enlighten the world around them!
Conclusion:
Believers are to remain salty! Believers are to enlighten the world around them!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
February 24, 2019
What would you consider the absolute necessities of life after food and water? For some it might be their cell phone, big screen TV, clothes or shoes. One of things that help put perspective on what you value in life is to do an extensive list of your top 50 priorities. It can show you in a very real way what you value in life and what you focus on or not.
In Jesus’ day a couple of absolute necessities were two things we often take for granted, salt and light. Salt was used for many things from seasoning, preservative, sterilization of wounds, and as currency. It was considered an absolute staple for everyday life. Light was a means of continuing to work later, see your way, keep warm and keep out the darkness of night and long winters. Jesus understood the dependence and importance folks of his day placed on these two things; let’s discover how he uses salt and light this morning…
READ: Matthew 5:13-16
According to the urban dictionary a person who is “salty” means they are being rude, upset, angry, or bitter all the time. However when fellow sailors use it with one another as in “stay salty” it means to have a salty layer on one’s person because of their constant exposure to the ocean and here we learn that…
I. Believers are to remain salty! (Vv. 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 by men.
1. It is an old adage or phrase we have heard and used for centuries but it was Jesus who first used it in the context he did when he addressed his disciples and the crowd. He tells them, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt was often mined from the ground or produced from an evaporation process from the ocean. The purer the salt the better it was and the more expensive it was. Pure salt was highly prized. While many today are trying to get as much salt out of their diet as they can, most people during Jesus’ day prized it for its preservative and seasoning powers. Jesus reminds his listeners that they are the common folks that make up most of the world. Just as salt was a common necessity so were they as far as God was concerned. He valued them for who they were. But he knew like everyone else of his day knew that “if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” The answer is that it could not. In fact the storage of salt was just as important for traders, businessmen, the Roman army (which used it as pay) and others. Huge salt cellars were often dug out of the side of mountains where moisture could not leech it away; but as good as they tried to store it some of it would leach away and leave behind the minerals that did not evaporate. The salt would become worthless. If they lost their “saltiness”, their godly flavor, they could not automatically be made salty again either. In fact salt was “no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men”! Jesus was referring to the fact that leached out salt where it was mostly dirt or minerals were no longer good for seasoning or as a preservative. In fact, it could be dangerous and so this kind of worthless salt was thrown on the roads where it killed the invasive vegetation and was walked on by man and beast! If God’s people, lost their godliness, they could not be made godly again could they? This is the inference Jesus was making. Most would have agreed with Jesus’ assessment of salt and them. His disciples were to be the salt of the earth, seasoning the world with his gospel message! They were to be careful to not lose their saltiness, the message they would declare could not be allowed to be diluted or spiritually evaporated away! Jesus’ warning was clear, believers are to remain salty!
EXAMPLE: Recently I watched a YouTube video by Destin of Smarter Everyday about making his brain relearn how to ride a backwards bicycle. He related that “truth is truth and knowledge does not equal understanding”. He is correct. We may think we know the truth or that we are knowledgeable because we are educated. Yet Jesus came to show us the truth and still people decide not to believe him. If folks did not believe Jesus they would not believe his disciples either. The truth is people often think they know better but in reality they don’t. Truth is truth no matter what one believes and we may think we know something but in reality not understand the truth at all. Jesus related, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32 NIV)” Here Jesus teaches us that believers are to remain salty!
Being able to illuminate one’s home was often considered an extravagance in Jesus’ day because oil or tallow was expensive. And the lights during this time were not that great but even in the darkest room a little light was a welcome thing. Here we discover that…
II. Believers are to enlighten the world around them! (Vv. 14-16)
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
1. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples “You are the light of the world.” Notice Jesus does not say that all people are the light of the world, only his disciples or followers were. He was referring to the fact that the world at large is a sin-darkened place. Those who are in the world cannot spiritually see without the light of God in their lives and they would be the light of God. And just as “A city on a hill cannot be hidden” they could not hide the fact of who they were once they decided to follow Jesus. It is an offhanded reference to the Holy Spirit residing in someone who would trust him with their lives. Of course this would not be evident or available until after Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12 NIV)” and this is why the Apostle Paul would write, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV)” Jesus’ disciples however could not hide the fact of the Spirit of God living in them! So, just as a city on a hill could not be hidden “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.” They were to share the light of God; his gospel with the world. People are attracted to the love of God that is found in Jesus. His compassion, gentleness, kindness, and ability to cross any social, racial, or economic barrier made him attractive to the crowds. As his disciples we are in a sense to be attractive as well: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Faith in Jesus without kindness, compassion, or gentleness displayed in one’s life is “dead” as James, Jesus’ brother, would later write. Believers are to enlighten the world around them!
EXAMPLE: In Clark County we get our electricity from several different sources: wind, water, solar, and natural gas. With the invention of better lighting it has revolutionized homes and industry. People began to have free time, they could read, play games, study, or do extra work. We can now light our homes at a fraction of the cost compared to when I was a child. In fact we have so much light it can be seen from space! Interestingly the idea of light became synonymous with combating the darkness of sin and here we are told by Jesus that believers are to enlighten the world around them!
Conclusion:
Believers are to remain salty! Believers are to enlighten the world around them!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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