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Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Salt

  1. Salt preserves and combats moral combat, which is a constant condition of the fallen world (Romans 8:18-25).
  2. Salt flavors and cures the dullness of life in the world without Christ.
  3. Christians who fail to stop moral corruption in their midst (or are corrupt themselves) will be useless to God and despised by men.

Light

  1. Light shines the knowledge of God on ignorant mankind (Rom. 1:21; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
  2. Man needs the light/knowledge to function even on a basic level, but rejects it to the degree that it exposes their evil deeds (John 3:18-21).
  3. Our light shines through our preaching (Romans 10:9-17).
  4. Though men reject the light of God, they may glorify Him when they see our deeds of mercy and overall superior way of life (Deut. 4:7-8).