Gospel of Matthew Matthew 5:13-16

The King’s Sermon – Disciples as Salt and Light

In this part of the sermon Christ used two memorable analogies: believers are like salt and light. Both are valuable. In New Testament times, salt was a medium of exchange. We’ve heard the expression: “He’s not worth his salt,” which means he’s not worth what he is paid. The word “salary” comes from the Latin word, sal (salt). Believers are valuable to God, but our godly influence is also valuable to the world. Jesus did something for His people (He died for us at Calvary), so He could do something to us (He saved us and made us new), so He could do something through us (He blesses others through our lives).

Using the images of salt and light, Jesus urged His disciples be salty and bright. Disciples are to have a godly impact in this world. Three things are true of salt and light: both are valuable; both have a positive influence; and both work silently, yet powerfully. A little salt and a little light go a long way. It is estimated that the average person will influence 10,000 other people in his lifetime. William James offered this wisdom: “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”

Disciples are the salt of the earth (vs. 13)

1. Salt seasons It enhances and brings out flavor in food. Job 6:6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? Believers must not have a flat, tasteless testimony. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that he might have entered the ministry if certain ministers he knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.

2. Salt cleanses and purifies Salt is used as an antiseptic to kill germs and promote health. Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. This refers to an ancient practice of rubbing newborn babies with salt. The prophet Elisha once took a jar of salt and poured it into a contaminated spring and purified the water (2 Kg. 2:19-21).

3. Salt heals Salt has medicinal properties. One of the best home remedies for sore throat is gargling with warm salt water. Salty ocean water aids in healing wounds and sores.

4. Salt irritates Salt in the eyes or an open wound causes burning and pain. Christians often irritate unsaved people because of our walk with Christ and commitment to obey His Word. Our values and lifestyle make them feel a bit uncomfortable. We should try not to be offensive, but living for Christ will bring us into conflict with unbelievers. We must not be concerned about being politically correct, but rather we must strive to honor Christ and please Him in all things.

5. Salt penetrates Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth,” not the salt of the church. Salt is not useful if it stays in the bag or the salt shaker. Salt must make contact to have impact. Jesus prayed that His disciples would remain “in the world, but not of the world” (Jn. 17:14-15). We are to be separated from the world, but not insulated or isolated from it (1 Cor. 5:9-11).

6. Salt preserves It prevents decay and corruption. Salt does not change decay and corruption, but it prevents further corruption. At the rapture of the church, the salt of the earth will be taken out, and then the world will become filthy and rotten to the core. Christians must not be conformed to this world, but we must be transformed so that we can impact others for Christ (Rom. 12:1-2). Jesus warned that if the salt has lost it savor (saltiness), it is good for nothing. Think of how far Europe and America have gone down the moral slide. What’s wrong? Christians have lost their savor (saltiness) and we are not as salty as we should be.

Disciples are the light of the world (vs. 14-16)

1. Light overcomes darkness – A single candle can overcome a whole room filled with darkness. Imagine what several candles can do. There is no family too hopeless. There is no situation too bad that light cannot overcome the darkness. Suppose you enter a dark room. How is it possible to get the darkness out? Can you talk to the darkness and tell it to leave? No. Can you hope the darkness will go out? No, hope is not a strategy. Can you run around the room, wave your arms and scare the darkness out? No. But you can turn on the light and it will overpower the darkness.

2. Light exposes dirt – Just as salt irritates the eyes, so light reveals dirt wherever it shines. Jesus referred to Himself and His message in John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Believers are like the bright sunlight that reveals dust and dirt (Eph. 5:8-11). The brighter the light, the more dirt will be revealed.

3. Light provides guidance – Think of the many ways we use lights to guide us. We have headlights on cars. We have streetlights. We have nightlights and flashlights in our homes. Pilots navigate their planes by runway lights, and ships use lighthouses. How can people walk in spiritual light unless we show them the way? We have the privilege to guide them to Jesus, the light of the world. We have the privilege to point them to God’s Word and help them to understand it. When Philip talked with the Ethiopian man (Acts 8:30), he asked him: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man humbly replied (Acts 8:31): “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Philip helped this man understand the truth about Christ. We too, have that same privilege of guiding others to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15).

One grain of salt can’t do much by itself, but many grains working together can make a huge difference. One ray of light can have some impact, but many rays can illuminate a large area. When our light shines it brings glory to God and good to others (Mt. 5:16). A. W. Tozer reminded us that every disciple’s light makes a real and lasting difference: “If my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle by its flame.”

Resources for further study:

William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary: Matthew John MacArthur, ed., MacArthur Study Bible John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7 C. H. Spurgeon, Matthew: The Gospel of the Kingdom Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary Gospel of Matthew Matthew 5:13-16

The King’s Sermon – Disciples as Salt and Light

Disciples are______(vs. 13)

1. Salt______It enhances and brings out flavor in food. Job 6:6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? Believers must not have a flat, tasteless testimony.

2. Salt______Salt is used as an antiseptic to kill germs and promote health. Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. This refers to an ancient practice of rubbing newborn babies with salt. The prophet Elisha once took a jar of salt and poured it into a contaminated spring and purified the water (2 Kg. 2:19-21).

3. Salt______Salt has medicinal properties. One of the best home remedies for sore throat is gargling with warm salt water. Salty ocean water aids in healing wounds and sores.

4. Salt______Salt in the eyes or an open wound causes burning and pain. Christians often irritate unsaved people because of our walk with Christ and commitment to obey His Word. Our values and lifestyle make them feel a bit uncomfortable. We should try not to be offensive, but living for Christ will bring us into conflict with unbelievers. We must not be concerned about being politically correct, but rather we must strive to honor Christ and please Him in all things.

5. Salt______Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth,” not the salt of the church. Salt is not useful if it stays in the bag or the salt shaker. Salt must make contact to have impact. Jesus prayed that His disciples would remain “in the world, but not of the world” (Jn. 17:14-15). We are to be separated from the world, but not insulated or isolated from it (1 Cor. 5:9-11).

6. Salt______It prevents decay and corruption. Salt does not change decay and corruption, but it prevents further corruption. At the rapture of the church, the salt of the earth will be taken out, and then the world will become filthy and rotten to the core. Christians must not be conformed to this world, but we must be transformed so that we can impact others for Christ (Rom. 12:1-2). Jesus warned that if the salt has lost it savor (saltiness), it is good for nothing.

Disciples are______(vs. 14-16)

1. Light______A single candle can overcome a whole room filled with darkness. Imagine what several candles can do. There is no family too hopeless. There is no situation too bad that light cannot overcome the darkness.

2. Light______Just as salt irritates the eyes, so light reveals dirt wherever it shines. Jesus referred to Himself and His message in John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Believers are like the bright sunlight that reveals dust and dirt (Eph. 5:8-11).

3. Light______How can people walk in spiritual light unless we show them the way? We have the privilege to guide them to Jesus, the light of the world. We have the privilege to point them to God’s Word and help them to understand it. When Philip talked with the Ethiopian man (Acts 8:30), he asked him: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man humbly replied (Acts 8:31): “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Philip helped this man understand the truth about Christ. We too, have that same privilege of guiding others to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15).

When our light shines it brings glory to God and good to others (Mt. 5:16). A. W. Tozer reminded us that every disciple’s light makes a real and lasting difference: “If my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle by its flame.”

Resources for further study: