In verse 10 Jesus said the blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. It appears in this verse His remarks are directed to both the disciples and the multitude. In verse 11 it seems Jesus’ remarks are to His disciples. Persecution is the usual experience of the followers of Jesus, but it is a special portion of His messengers. This is confirmed in verse 12 where Jesus said, “For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The disciples are in the same position as the prophets of old. The prophets were God’s spokesmen, His ambassadors. The disciples, after their training period, will be Jesus’ spokesmen, His ambassadors. Additional evidence is found in verses 13 and 14 where Jesus said, “You” are the salt and light of the world. Verse 15 is additional evidence it is the disciples Jesus is addressing. A lamp on a lamp stand refers to an official office, and giving “light to all that are in the house” plainly refers to one man ministering to the many. This passage has been taken out of its context and applied to the body of believers. While it is true the body of believers is to be like salt and a candle in this instance it is the duty of Jesus’ ambassadors He is addressing.
In Matthew 4:19 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to be fishers of men. He also calls James and John to follow Him. From these verses it appears these fishermen would be the inner circle of Jesus’ ministry. In Matthew 5:13-14 Jesus tells those He has called to be fishers of men what He expects from them. It is only in recent generations, when the spirit of socialism invaded the organized church has this passage been applied to Christians. First, they are to be the “salt of the earth.” The Old Testament prophets were the salt of Canaan, but the apostles are to be the salt of the whole earth because they will be the first to go into the world preaching the gospel. They will train others to be the salt of the earth.
When we first consider what Jesus told His ambassadors it would appear to be discouraging. What could such a small group do in so large an area as the entire earth? They could do nothing. Here is an example for the church and its ministers to follow. If they were to use force of arms and the power of the sword they will fail, Christianity would be still born. It would be nothing more than another world religion. Working silently, as one handful of salt spreads its savor far and wide they will turn the world upside down.
The doctrine of the gospel is as salt and its penetrating power. The apostles and those called to be the Lord’s spokesmen and spokeswomen today, are to preach and teach the Word of God in such a way as to express the quality of salt. When salt is applied to a wound it stings. It is annoying. It gets a person’s attention. When salt is applied to meat it adds flavor to the meat, it preserves meat from the process of putrefaction by drawing out superfluous moisture. It is a necessity of life. It is a necessary element of the blood that is the life of our bodies. It is God’s great antiseptic in the battle against decay. How fitting it is when Jesus refers to His ambassadors as the salt of the earth. His ambassadors are warned it is salt and not sugar coated candy they are to use in their preaching.
Christians, especially ministers are to be like good salt, pure, small, and broken into many grains, but very useful and necessary. What they do is to be seasoned with the Word of God, the salt of grace. They must not only be good salt they must do well not to serve any secular interest of their own. They are to be a blessing to the world. Mankind in their ignorance and wickedness has had a lot of unsavory stuff and are about to putrefy, but Jesus sends forth His ambassadors to season them with knowledge and grace and render them acceptable to God.
If we are void of spiritual life we are like salt that is tasteless. We are unprofitable. With out grace we are like a man without reason. We know the evil and wicked are the worst of all creatures, but a salt less Christian is the most evil and wicked of all creatures. The salt less minister is worst of the salt less. He is doomed to ruin and rejection. He shall be cast out of the kingdom of heaven, expelled from the church and the communion of the faithful to which he is a blot and burden. He shall be trodden underfoot.
The ambassadors of Jesus are the salt of the earth and they are like a lamp on a city on a hill which cannot be hidden. The world sat in darkness when Jesus sent His ambassadors into the world to be a lamp. Like a beacon that warns the captains of the ships where the dangerous water is. The ambassadors of Jesus must warn those who are lost in the darkness of this world where the dangers are and where they can find a safe harbor. There are those who will admire the work of the ambassadors. Some will commend them for what they do. Some will try to imitate them. Others will envy, hate, censure, and persecute them.
The ambassadors of Jesus must walk discreetly in this world because the eyes of the world are upon them. They must avoid every thing that looks evil. They must be careful what they look at and what they read and say. The first ambassadors of Jesus were obscure men before Jesus called them but the character He put on them dignified them and as preachers of the gospel they made an impression on the world even though they were warned not to do what they were doing and Satan has tried to wipe off the pages of history. The ambassadors of Jesus were sent into the world to give light to others. They were not to hide the light in any way. They were not to confine their mission to the cities of Galilee by remaining in Galilee or the lost sheep of the house of Israel by remaining in Jerusalem.
The knowledge the ambassadors have received from Jesus must be communicated for the good of others. They must not put it under a bushel but spread it through the earth. The talent that has been given to them must not be buried in a napkin but used to bring others into the kingdom of heaven. They are not to shut themselves up in privacy and obscurity under pretence of contemplation, modesty, or self-preservation, but as they have received the gift of ministry they must minister to the lost. They must be burning and shinning lights. They must give to others instruction, direction, quicken and comfort. Their light must shine by doing good works that men may see them and see the hand of the Lord in them. The good works the ambassadors of Jesus do is to edify others and not bring glory to the ambassadors. The ambassadors of Jesus must study to make their calling profitable. That those who see the good works of the ambassadors will be convinced that religion is more than a bare name but made a profession of it and abide under the power of it.
Our light must shine in a way that those who see our good works will not glorify us, which was what the scribes and Pharisees did and the religionist of today are doing, and spoils their good works, but glorify our Father which is in heaven. We are to let the ungodly and unrighteous see our good works so they can see the power of God that works in us. Our good works are intended to cause a stirring in the heart of the ungodly and unrighteous and they respond to the stirring and fall to the ground and confess their sins and spiritual poverty.
