SALT, LIGHT, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Matthew 5:13-20.
I). SALT AND LIGHT.
Matthew 5:13-16.
The metaphors of salt and light follow immediately after Jesus’ profile of the blessed Christian. The meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) because meekness is not weakness, but quite the contrary. The peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) are surely not merely sitting at home in their closets contemplating God?
Even the threat of persecution (Matthew 5:10-11) should never drive the church so far underground that we are no longer communicating the gospel through our life and attitudes towards those around us: rather we are to be set on a hill (Matthew 5:14). We are not of this world, but we have a role to play until such time as the Lord sees fit to take us out of here (John 17:15-16). We are to shun evil, but we were never meant to be so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly use, as the saying goes.
Salt (Matthew 5:13) is a particularly useful commodity. Trade is built upon it; wars have been fought over it; taxes upon it have been resisted. Films have even been made about it. Its uses range from being a condiment to being a preservative. At one time no house could do without it.
Pure salt is not necessarily capable of decay, but it loses its savour when mixed with that which is not salt. Other white powders exist on the coasts of the Dead Sea, which may be mistaken for salt. And if the mixture becomes wet, it is the real salt which is dissolved.
If we allow an admixture of non-Christian principles to permeate our lives, then our effective saltiness is lost. The residue of that which has lost its saltiness makes for a good footpath, but little else. The Christian who compromises his testimony loses the respect even of those who used to persecute him.
Light (Matthew 5:14) is also an essential commodity. If you have ever been travelling through the countryside to a town or city, and seen the distant lights of your destination seeming to draw ever closer, then that is the picture which we have here. If the city is built on a hill, then you will not miss it, though you might quite fail to find a small village nestling in a hidden valley.
Likewise in our homes (Matthew 5:15), we tend to have a source of illumination in every room. We do not keep our reading lamps under a rhubarb bucket in the porch (if we have such a thing). Electric lamps are most likely to be on the ceiling, where their light can disseminate throughout the room.
There have been secret Christians - like Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea, in Jesus’ own time - but by and by they must reveal themselves and nail their colours clearly to the mast (John 19:38-42). Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12; John 9:5), but we have also been commissioned to bear His light to the nations (Acts 13:47). This is done through evangelism, but also through living the life of Christ before men (Matthew 5:16).
Jesus warns us against making a show of our piety before men, in order to be seen of them (Matthew 6:1). This is in order to redress a propensity for theatrical display which gratifies itself with the applause of men. Jesus encourages us to do our works of piety for the glory of God, without drawing attention to ourselves.
However, that is no contradiction of what Jesus says here about letting our light shine before men (Matthew 5:16). In the later passage we are being told not to solicit the praise of men in our “secret” devotions, which are mainly between ourselves and God (Matthew 6:4; Matthew 6:6; Matthew 6:18). In Matthew 5:14-16, as in 1 Peter 2:12, we are being encouraged out of the closet into the public arena so that men might “see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
II). THE KEY TO RIGHTEOUS LIVING.
Matthew 5:17-20.
1. Jesus’ statement is emphatic: - “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matthew 5:17).
The righteousness of God is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the end of the law, the one to whom the law points and who fulfils the law within Himself (cf. Romans 10:4).
By saying this, He is not abrogating the Old Testament: for it was to these writings that he turned in His recent wilderness struggles with the devil (Matthew 4:4-10).
2. He continues: - “Till heaven and earth pass away,” not one iota, not one dot “shall pass from the law, till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
What we have already learned about God in the Old Testament still stands, but comes to greater clarity in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The types and prophecies reach their fulfilment in Him. Thus He says (in case we missed it), “I am come” (Matthew 5:17)!
He was ‘born under the law’ (Galatians 4:4), perfectly kept the law (Hebrews 4:15), and thereby ‘fulfilled all righteousness’ (Matthew 3:15).
3. Jesus’ attitude to the law is summed up in His instruction to His disciples (Matthew 5:19). We are saved by grace, yes - but we are not free to disobey what God commands. Yet there are those, even in the church, who do just that - and teach others so.
4. Indeed, the disciples are warned that their righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). This too is emphatic. Mere outward conformity will never suffice (1 Samuel 15:22).
Elsewhere, Jesus instructs His followers to obey the scribes and Pharisees, for they sit in Moses’ seat - but do not do as they do (Matthew 23:2-3)! The law still has status in the Christian life - not indeed as a means of salvation, for that it never could be. The difference for us is that we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27) - and thereby the law is now ‘written upon our hearts’ (Jeremiah 31:33).
Christian morality is more than keeping a set of rules and regulations. The Christian character is shaped by our relationship with Jesus, our continual supping with Him in word and sacrament, prayer and devotion (Matthew 5:6). Having been made righteous with the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), we are thus empowered to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16) - and to show forth His righteousness in ours.
