Sermon on the Mount: 2nd Blessing

MATTHEW 5:13-16

CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE

If the beatitudes describe the essential character of the followers of Jesus, the salt and light metaphors indicate their influence for good in the world.

Are such people too feeble or too few to truly achieve anything?

Jesus did not share this skepticism. It seems clear that He is teaching that our only retaliation is to be love and truth given for hatred and lies. To define the nature of their influence, Jesus used two domestic metaphors. Every home, no matter how poor, used and still uses both salt and light. These are indispensable household commodities. The need for light is obvious. Salt, on the other hand, has a variety of uses. It is both a condiment and a preservative. So here Jesus is saying that there is the world and then there is you. You are the world’s salt and light.

In each case Jesus makes a case for both the need and a caution to be understood. He adds a rider to each metaphor which is the salt must retain its saltiness and is good for nothing if that is lost. Light is good for nothing if it is concealed.

THE SALT OF THE EARTH

God intends the most powerful of all restraints within sinful society to be His own redeemed and righteous made people. The effectiveness of the salt is conditional for it must retain its saltness to be useable and effective. Strictly speaking salt normally does not lose its flavor but the metaphor is strong and thought provoking.

If Christians become absorbed into the world and contaminated by the impurities of the world, they lose their flavor and become no longer effective in the mission they carry. The influence that Christians carry is dependent on their being separate, distinct, and not identical to those who are not inside the body of Christ.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Jesus would later teach in John 8:12 & 9:5 the He is the light of the world. But by belonging to Him we reflect His light and any light we display is derived from Him only. Since light is a common biblical symbol of truth, a Christian’s shining light must also contain his spoken testimony. An OT teaching found in Isaiah 42 & 49 indicates that God’s servant sent would be a “light unto the nations” and this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus but is further fulfilled in those who are His continuing to shine His light wherever they may go, bearing witness to Him.

Just as with the salt, the light metaphor carries a caution as well. Our light cannot be concealed. We are not to pretend we are anything other than His own followers and we must remain willing to stand apart from the world but to still shine the light we gained from Him toward all who are not His. To properly follow the commands of the beatitudes, we can find no shame in our obedience.

Our lessons in these blessings are serious and have much to teach us about our responsibilities in the world. Our lessons are: 

There is a fundamental difference between Christians and non-Christians, between the church and the world. This theme is basic to the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon is built on the assumption that Christians ARE different, and a call is issued to us to BE different.

We must accept the responsibility which this distinction places upon us. We are not helpless or powerless. We have Jesus Christ as ours and His gospel, ideals, and power so that we may forever let our light shine.

What does it mean in practice to be obedient to these privileges granted within these blessings? We Christians must be more courageous and more outspoken in condemning evil wherever it may be found. After having done so, we must take our stand boldly for what is true and decent wherever we are, in our community, our business, our friendships, and most importantly our church.

The beatitudes set an extremely high standard which is exacting for each of us but in these blessings we are assured that Jesus expects us to strive toward this standard as we follow Him. This will be the best way we can serve the world and we must not forget that Jesus told His disciples on the last night in the upper room that those who wish to be great in His kingdom must be a servant.