Salt & Light

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), Jesus reveals to those present and to future readers about the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The sermon is the first of five of Jesus' discourses in Matthew.  He begin with the well-known beatitudes before offering His expert interpretation of the OT in lieu of His life's fulfillment of the Law and Prophecy.  But before He gets into the individual amplifications of the laws, He says, in obviously figurative language, that believers are the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16).

This can be a challenging teaching and must have been difficult for the disciples and crowd that was present, but it has to do with two basic but simultaneous things: how believers relate to the world, and how believers express the Lord in their lives.  For the former, we are salt.  In the latter, we are light.  Although this language may be difficult, after some examination the meaning may become more clear.

Salt, in the ancient world, was a useful substance.  It's primary purpose was as a seasoning and preservative.  Because of these known uses, it is reasonable to say that believers are to season and preserve the earth.  In a direct sense, this means that believers serve the function of caring and stewarding God's creation.  Salt can also have negative connotations, if it is used without reason, in the case of overconsumption, it can cause sickness.  Or as a weapon, in the case of Hannibal salting fields, salt can be dangerous.

However difficult the figurative use of salt may be, light seems to make clearer sense.  Light is a direct tie into the Lord, for the Lord is the Lord of light and of life.  Scripture is unified and thorough in describing the Lord as a God of illumination.  In effect, believers are the light of world, meaning that we are the physical presence of the Lord on this worldly plain.  This is of remarkable significance for believers both in identity and in application.

Jesus ends this particular section with an exhortative statement: "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).  This statement is a clear indication of the manner that believers are to relate to the world and to the purpose of acts of worship in the world.  Believers are to live out the love of God in action and in service so as to point unbelievers to the Lord by their very lives.  Let us the press forward to live as salt and light to the world!