Sermon on the Mount
Pt 2
Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. (14) You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
OPENING REMARKS
A. As a Christian, What is your relationship to the world?
I think that is a fair question to ask.
1. If you are a policeman, you would be expected to be a law abiding citizen.
a. Who would want a person to enforce the laws of the land if they did not respect them enough to observe them correctly?
b. I would think the answer would be no one.
2. If you are a business owner, you would be expected to be fair and honest with your customers.
a. Who would you want to do business with someone who would intentionally sell you an inferior product or tell you one price for an item and then when you come to purchase it, find that it is at all all-together price?
b. Again, I would think the answer would be one.
3. So if you are a Christian, then you would be expected to act, talk, and live as a Christian before others.
a. Who would want someone to tell you that they are a Christian and then they get involved in things of immorality or worldliness in which Christianity should not be associated with?
b. I would think that the answer again the answer would be no one.
B. The text today begins with Jesus addressing a particular group of people.
1. In verses 13, 14, | 16 we find the personal pronouns YOU, YOU, and YOUR being used by Jesus.
a. These personal references in the context of this passage of The Sermon on the Mount in verses 1 | 2 refer to Jesus addressing His disciples as He taught them on the mountain side.
b. The significance of this is that even though the multitude was there listening to what Jesus said, His message was for those who were His disciples who would understand that He was talking about them living a Christian life. In these verses the Lord summarizes the function of believers in the world. Reducing the summary to one word: influence. Disciples of Christ influence others!
c. The significance for us today – since we too are His disciples this also applies to us.
TEXT
I. Salt of the Earth Influence
A. Christians should be good salt.
Matthew Henry
Christians, especially ministers are the salt of the earth.
1. One function of salt is to resist decay – as Christians this is through our moral living we will influence others in following our example whether they are Christians or not.
a. Preservative.
1. Salt does not change corruption into incorruption, but it does prevent corruption from spreading.
2. It is used to hold decay and rotting at bay. Before the days of refrigeration, salt was the most commonly used preservative to prevent meat from spoiling (going bad).
b. Seasoning.
Salt is a miracle.
1. It is chemically composed of sodium and chloride. Pour a little hydrochloric acid on your hand and in about one-half of a minute your hand will burn away. Drink some hydrochloric acid to wash down the meat that you have just eaten and in a few minutes you will die in agony.
2. Add sodium to hydrochloride and you will have salt. An excellent seasoning for your food.
NOTE: Similarly, when God pours out His (sodium) grace into the hydrochloride (decayed sinful fleshly nature) of our lives, the result is a miracle. A regenerated person placed in the world for the blessing and preservation of all mankind.
c. Salt is one of the most common, most useful substances on earth, a substance essential to life itself.
1. Whether Jewish, Greek, or Roman would have heard Jesus’ statement concerning salt would have understood that it was a valuable commodity and fully understood what He was saying concerning its use.
THOT: Jesus said, You are the salt of the earth.
--- Source [John Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary, Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1999, p. 92 (adapted) ---
B. Christians should not be salt that has lost it savor.
This does not refer to one losing their salvation, but it does testify to one losing their testimony and influence.
Genesis 19:1-14 – Lot a righteous man before God (2 Pt 2:6-8) – was a joke before men.
… So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city! But t his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.
1. Remedy for unsavory meat. Salt changes the complexity of unsavory meat.
a. Christians influences society, culture, and life.
2. No remedy for unsavory salt. Salt once ruined cannot be reclaimed.
a. Salt is useful when used for its purpose. When salt is ruined with other ingredients – it useful value is no longer applicable to what it was intended for.
C. Salt that is good for nothing.
1. Cast Out by the owner. Salt is rejected as being of no value to the owner.
2. Trampled under foot by men. Valueless salt becomes totally non-effective. Consider Lot when he went to his son-n-laws.
II. Light of the World Influence
As a light that shines in the world we as Christians not only influence others to follow us, but we show them the way out of spiritual darkness.
Matthew Henry
All Christians are light in the Lord (Eph. 5:8 We were once in darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light.), and we must shine as lights (Phil. 2:15 [You are] children of God … shine as lights in the world.).
A. As lights in the world, Christians should be bright beacons to be seen and watched by those in the darkness to find their way towards the light.
1. Bright.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
… if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord … For it is … God who commanded light to shine our of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.
John 1:6-8
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believer. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
2. Seen.
John 8:12
Jesus said, I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.
3. Watched.
Word of God as a light
The light was not hid but shinning openly to show the way to travel through the darkness.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
B. As lights of the world, Christians are intended to illuminate and give light to others (v. 15).
Therefore they shall be set up as lights, not put under a basket but put up on a candlestick to be seen by all.
The Gospel Light is to be shared
The gospel is not to be hid from the world. As light shines in all places of darkness, so too, should the light of the gospel shine forth in every nook and cranny of this dark world.
John 1:9
[Jesus] is that True light which gives light to every man who comes into the world.
NOTE: Lighthouses are set up high so that the ships at sea can see their lights shinning so that they will not run come to close to the dangerous shore and be destroyed. So too, is the light that shines in Christians to be seen by men so that they will not end up being destroyed. Christians are to share the light of God with all
1 John 1:5-7a
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is not darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.
2. Shine as light, that others may see. Be like a city sitting on a hill not hid but openly seen.
Psalm 36:9
For with you is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.
When we look at God the fountain of life we see His light. He is not hid. Where are we looking today? Are we looking toward the dark valley where light is not shining or are we looking up towards the hill where the light is shinning brightly uninhibited?
Are you in darkness looking for a way out, then look to the source of light. He is shinning ever so brightly.
John 3:19
This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.
CONCLUSION
The commonality between these two examples of salt and light is that they exert their influence silently.
Matthew 6:2
When you do a [any] deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do … I say to you, they have their reward.
Woodrow Wilson told the story of being in a barbershop one time. I was sitting in a barber chair when I became aware that a powerful personality had entered the room. A man had come quietly … to have his hair cut and sat in the chair next to me. Every word the man uttered … showed a personal interest in the man who was serving him. And before I got through with what was being done to me I was aware I had attended an evangelistic service, because Mr. D. L. Moody was in that chair. I purposely lingered in the room after he had left and noted the singular affect that his visit had brought upon the barber shop. They talked in undertones. They did not know his name, but they knew something had elevated their thoughts and I felt that I left that place as I should have left a place of worship.
--- Quoted [John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-7, Chicago: Moody Press, 1985, p. 236] ---
What kind of influence do you make as the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World?
INVITIATION
LOST
You are in darkness.
But there is hope for you.
Do you see a light shining in the distance?
If so go toward that light for as you draw closer to it you will begin to see a figure that looks like a cross in the distance. The closer you draw towards this cross you will notice that it has a man upon it. Note though that this is no ordinary man. You see this is the Son of God who went to the cross to be cursed for fallen men in darkness. And just as the bronze serpent of old in the days with Israel was lifted upon a pole so too is this one lifted up for all to see not in darkness but at the beginning of the day for all (you) to find their (your) way to. This man, Jesus Christ, the Savoir of all, whether it be men, women, or children.
. Why don’t you call on His name today?
. Know that God forgives sinners when they repent and turn to the crucified and resurrected Christ.
. Place your faith in Jesus and God will show you mercy.
BELIEVER/CHURCH
Jesus said, You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Take up that identity and serve the Lord.
COME WORSHIP THE LORD
. Our Invitation is open to all –
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
Bruce Allen
Underwood Baptist Church
bea0210@hotmail.com
August 26, 2007
