Salt, Light, Righteousness
Sermon Recap
We are in the 3rd week of a preaching series exploring Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as described in Matthew’s gospel. Last week, we sat with the blessings Jesus pronounced in a collection of sayings now known as the Beatitudes. This week, Pastor Toshi preached from Matthew 5:13-17.
Speaking to his disciples, Jesus tells them they are salt and light. “Salt of the earth” and “light of the world”. It seems an unexpected identity (and responsibility) for the crowd of people Jesus was addressing, people living well away from the important cultural center of Jerusalem. These were common people with “rough hands and shaky faith.”
Yet: Jesus speaks as if this identity is not something to be attained if they work hard at it. It’s not a level of spirituality found after years of study and practice. He tells them they are, right now, salt and light.
In the ancient near east, salt had many uses and was an important commodity. It was a purifier, a preservative. It was a symbol of covenants (see 2 Chronicles 13:5 for instance) and friendships. It was a sign of loyalty and commitment.
By calling his disciples “salt”, Jesus was identifying them as a people bound by covenant to God, a people whose existence demonstrates that God is still working.
“Light” is an interesting word as well, as the Hebrew root “ohr” is linked to the word for “instruction” (Torah) and also the word meaning “to teach or guide” (orah).
“Salt” alone as a metaphor could mean many things (as could light), but we get insight into Jesus’ intentions when we look for other biblical passages where the metaphorical meanings of “salt” and “light” are used together.
The prophet Isaiah uses both of these metaphors. He describes the Lord’s house being raised up on the highest mountain (like the “city on a hill” in Matthew 5:14). And the nations come to this mountain to be taught and receive instruction (Isaiah 2:1-5). Later, the prophet says that Israel is being given as a covenant to the people and light to the nations (42:6).
When the nations are instructed, the result is justice. What was upside down is restored to what God intended for humanity. Weapons of warfare are remade into tools for human flourishing – plows and farming equipment.
This identity belongs now to followers of Jesus. We cannot hide from it, even if sometimes we feel invisible or inadequate.
Jesus goes on to say that He hasn’t come to do away with the law and prophets, but to fulfill them. In this we see Jesus taking upon himself the covenant role of perfect righteousness and perfect loyalty to Yahweh. Jesus takes upon himself the obligations to fulfill the story that began with Israel and now being continued in the church.
By calling his followers salt and light, Jesus is not asking you to examine whether you are fluent in the ways of light or salt. He is reminding you who you belong to. In Toshi’s words, “You are named salt and light not because of what you can bring but because you now belong to the One who fulfills the story.”
Entering Conversation
1. Reflect back on what you heard in this sermon, or on the thoughts that have come afterwards. What stood out to you, either because it was new/interesting, or because you felt like the Spirit directed your attention to it?
2. What might it look like to respond in some way to what you heard? (NB – this is where community can be helpful. Sometimes we don’t know what to do with what we heard, but others can help us identify ways of responding. Feel free to help each other, graciously and gently, listening for what the Spirit may be prompting.)
Practice for the Week
End your time in prayer for each other, inviting the Spirit to continue leading us together in the way of Jesus.