The Sermon on the Mount

You are the Salt of the Earth; You are the Light of the World; Matthew 5:13-16

 

I.       Salt as an expression of a believer’s relationship to the world, Matthew 5:13

• In context of persecution by the world, Matthew 5:10-12
• As salt provides flavor to food, so too should kingdom citizens provide flavor to those outside the kingdom
• If salt ceases to give flavor, it is completely useless.  Don’t be useless!
• See also Mark 9:50 and Colossians 4:6

II.     Light as an expression of a believer’s relationship to the world, Matthew 5:14-15

• As light provides help to those in darkness, so too should kingdom citizens provide help to those outside the kingdom
• If light is hidden, it is completely useless.  Don’t be useless!
• See also Ephesians 5:14-16 and Philippians 2:14-16

III.    Salt and light as analogies for good works, Matthew 5:16

• Distinction with the warning in Matthew 6:1

o   Warning about good works done for the purpose of impressing others

o   Warning about the specific good works of giving of alms, praying, and fasting

• Good works for the purpose of glorifying our Heavenly Father

Conclusion: Kingdom citizens living with purpose, not wanting to waste their lives, but instead to be useful the way salt and light are useful.  The primary purpose of a citizen of the kingdom is the glory of the Heavenly Father and we bring Him glory when we do good to others in His name.

 

The Sermon on the Mount

You are the Salt of the Earth; You are the Light of the World; Matthew 5:13-16

 

Scripture Reading and Prayer

• Read Matthew 5:13-16 (slides)

 

Exposition Matt. 5:13-16 (Slide 1 – Header Slide)

I.       Salt as an expression of a believer’s relationship to the world, Matthew 5:13

• Read Matthew 5:13 (Slide 2)
• In context of persecution by the world, Matthew 5:10-12
• Salt was such a valuable commodity in ancient times that soldiers would receive part of their compensation in salt which is where the phrase “worth your salt” comes from
• Many ways in which salt was beneficial: flavor to food, preservative, aspect of fertilizer
• Within the context, it appears that Jesus likely has the idea of flavor most of all
• As salt provides flavor to food, so too should kingdom citizens provide flavor to those outside the kingdom
• There was a sort of fool’s salt like there is a fool’s gold. Near the Dead Sea some crystallized structures looked just like table salt but were of a slightly different chemical makeup. Sometimes this fool’s salt was sold in the market place.
• So useless was this fake salt that it was tossed out.
• It was viewed as a flavorless “salt”
• If salt ceases to give flavor, it is completely useless.  Don’t be useless!
• In relationship to the world, believers are to be useful the way salt is useful in daily life
• See also Mark 9:50 and Colossians 4:6
• Here is how Jesus uses this metaphor in Mark 9:50 (Slide 3)
• Here is how Paul uses this metaphor in Colossians 4:6 (Slide 4)

II.     Light as an expression of a believer’s relationship to the world, Matthew 5:14-15

• Light in Scripture:
• Read Matthew 5:14-15 (Slide 5)
• As light provides help to those in darkness, so too should kingdom citizens provide help to those outside the kingdom
• If light is hidden, it is completely useless.  Don’t be useless!
• See also Ephesians 5:14-16 and Philippians 2:14-16
• Again, a couple of places where this is used in Scripture with reference to believers living out their faith in the world
• Read Ephesians 5:7-8 (Slide 6)
• Read Philippians 2:14-15 (Slide 7)

III.    Salt and light as analogies for good works, Matthew 5:16

• Read Matthew 5:16 (Slide 8)
• Distinction with the warning in Matthew 6:1
• Read Matthew 6:1 (Slide 9)

o   Warning about good works done for the purpose of impressing others

o   Warning about the specific good works of giving of alms, praying, and fasting

o   General warning from Scripture about relying on good works for salvation

o   Read Ephesians 2:8-10 (Slide 10)

• Read Matthew 5:16 (Slide 11)
• Good works for the purpose of glorifying our Heavenly Father

1. Conclusion: (Header Slide)

• Conclusion: Kingdom citizens living with purpose, not wanting to waste their lives, but instead to be useful the way salt and light are useful.  The primary purpose of a citizen of the kingdom is the glory of the Heavenly Father and we bring Him glory when we do good to others in His name.