1Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the gentle,
for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
21“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ 28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
31“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ 32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
33“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ 34but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. 37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Are you Salt? Are you Light?
Matthew 5
Are You Salt? Are You Light?
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.15 Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Do you have any effect on those around you? Do you help them grow? Do you bring a good savor to the world around you? Are your thoughts, words, and deeds pleasing to the Father? Jesus is intent on teaching us how we are to interact with the world and with others. He analogizes the believer’s interaction with the world around him/her with salt and light. A few years ago, I took a deep dive into the history of salt. It was surprising to me how much of human history was determined by the location of salt deposits and mines on Earth. Without salt, the human body cannot survive. Old world cities like Salzburg, Austria, and Salisbury, England, were named after the salt deposits that were found where they are located. Cities in the New World, like Salina, Kansas, and Saline, Michigan, were named thus for the same reason. Wars have been fought over salt. Without an intake of salt, a person will die.
Without light, humans cannot live because the food that we need to sustain ourselves (plant or animal) cannot be grown without light. Light is energy, and energy brings life. Jesus chose these metaphors for a reason. We are to be the light in a world filled with darkness. We even use the word “darkness” in our vocabulary to describe things that are evil and disconnected from all that is good. I have heard it said that darkness doesn’t exist, but is, in fact, just an absence of light. Jesus tells us that we are to be the light of the world! Likewise, Christ followers are to be an active element in a world that has lost its way. We are to be as salt in and to the world around us. Salt has many biological functions and purposes, but perhaps the one that should grab our attention the most is that we are to be the “flavor” and the “seasoning” in the world.
It is not because we’re so wonderful and flavorful in and of ourselves, but because we are God’s workers here in His Kingdom on earth, and He dwells within us. We are to reflect His love, concern, care, and truth to the world around us. We are to be Holy Spirit-inspired agents of change. We each have a ministry of reconciliation, showing the world around us the pathway back to a one-on-one relationship with the God who made us and who loves us. This is done by openly shining light into the darkness surrounding us. It is being open about the gospel to those with whom we come into contact. Jesus tells us essentially that He didn’t put His light within us to have us cover it up. Instead, He tells us to let our light so shine before men (publicly) that those who witness this light will realize it is something supernatural. It is of God. And it should direct others to glorify God, who is in heaven. Have you lost your flavor? Are you covering up His light that is within you? If so, repent, and ask Him to set you on fire so that the world around you might watch you burn! Ask Him to fill you so that you might be once again salt and seasoning to a thirsty and hungry world.