Click here for more messages from the book of Matthew.
Click here for more messages from The Sermon on the Mount series.
Click here to return to the Sermons page.

Matthew 5:13-16 (Salt and Light)

INTRODUCTION: We are studying the Sermon on the Mount, and today we come to the part where Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It’s a familiar section, we know the words, but we don’t always understand what Jesus meant by these terms. (Read Matthew 5:13-16 and pray.)

So, you are the salt of the earth, and you are the light of the world. What in the world did Jesus mean by this? The basic theme of this section is this. The Christian is meant to be different from the world. When we looked at the Beatitudes, we saw that the Beatitudes were all about Christian character, whereas this section on salt and light are all about Christian influence. And here’s the deal. You cannot influence the world if you are the same as the world. You cannot change something unless you are different. As Christians we are to be people of influence, and so we must be different from the world.

There’s a reason God doesn’t take you to heaven as soon as you accept Christ. You have a job to do. Your Christian job description has two parts: salt and light. And where do you fulfill your job? Right here on earth. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who exhibit the characteristics of the Beatitudes, but we are still to live out our lives on earth, here in this world.

And so in moving from the Beatitudes to the salt and light passage, Jesus turns from blessing to responsibility, from character to influence. There’s a reason character comes first, before influence. The greatest influence you have comes from who you are. Whether as a parent to your children or as a teacher to your students, or as a boss to your employees, who you are will have a far greater influence on others than anything else in your life.

Jesus calls you to be salt and light in the world, and in so doing he calls you to make a difference. You are to be an obvious Christian, and your Christian character should have a redeeming influence in the world.

I. The salt of the earth (13)

   A. Jesus’ declaration: “You are the salt of the earth.”

So let’s talk about the salt of the earth first. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13a) Jesus is talking to Christians here, and notice Jesus says that this is what you are. He doesn’t say this is what you should be, he doesn’t say this is what you will be, he doesn’t say this is what you can be if you want to – he says this is what you are. You are the salt of the earth.

And if you are the salt of the earth, then it follows that no one else is. If the church does not fulfill its function as salt, there is no backup plan. There are no salt substitutes. Look around at each other. We are it!

Jesus declares to the church, “You are the salt of the earth, and no one else.” Notice the contrast in his statement between salt and the earth. The salt is set apart from the earth. If it was the same as the earth, it wouldn’t have an influence on the earth. Once again, as Christians we are called to be different from the world around us.

   B. The meaning of the analogy:

Of course Jesus could have used any number of illustrations to tell us that Christians are different from the world. So why did he use salt here? What is the meaning of the analogy?

      1) This world is in moral decay.

The primary use of salt for the people in Jesus’ day was to stop decay. So when Jesus says you are the salt of the earth, he is not only making a statement about you as a Christian but also about the world around you. This world is in moral decay, and it desperately needs Christians to keep it from going bad.

God restrains evil in society through a number of means – through government, through family structures, through the restraining influence of the law, through the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit. But he says to Christians, you are the salt of the earth. The world is in moral decay, and it is the special responsibility of Christians to keep the world from going bad.

      2) Christians act as salt in the world:

So how do Christians act as salt in the world? There were at least eleven different uses for salt in the ancient world, but we will look at three main uses this morning that I believe Jesus intended in this analogy.

         – salt cleanses: we live pure lives in the world

First of all, salt cleanses, so as Christians we act as salt by living pure lives in the world. Salt is an anti-septic which cleans wounds and fights infection. Salt in a wound does not go unnoticed. When you live a pure life in the world, you will not go unnoticed either. You will stand out from others as an obvious Christian.

Another thing about salt in a wound. It hurts. Even though it is cleansing, it is unpleasant. When you live a pure life in the world as a Christian, the world is not comfortable with your witness. It stings their conscience. That’s why Jesus says you can expect persecution. In the Beatitudes Jesus said you would be persecuted. Now he tells you why. Salt cleanses, and we act as salt when we live pure lives in the world.

         – salt preserves: we stand up for what is right

Secondly, salt preserves, so as Christians we act as salt in the world when we stand up for what is right. Salt is a preservative that delays corruption and decay. Salt is built right into the rocks and the soil around us, and it filters the water running through them. This world would not survive long without salt.

In the same way as Christians we are to be a preserving influence in society. We are to fight against moral corruption. We are to stand up for what is right. We are to make a difference. Once again, this means being an obvious Christian. How do you stop the world from going bad if you go along with it? You can’t. Salt preserves, and we act as salt in the world when we stand up for what is right.

         – salt flavors: we attract people to Christ

And then thirdly, salt flavors, so as Christians we act as salt in the world when we attract people to Christ by our lives. Salt basically makes things taste better. It adds flavor and spice. So as Christians we are not just to have an influence in the world, but a positive influence. Christians should be active in the world and exercise a positive Christian influence in all levels of society – at work, at home, at school, in our communities, in politics, in culture and the arts.

Ask yourself. Am I a good neighbor? Do I treat people well at work? Do I exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life? Am I full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Do I attract people to Christ by my life?

Without compromising the gospel message, we are to do everything we can to make the gospel attractive to the world around us. Yes, the salt will still sting in the wound, but we need to make sure it is the truth that stings and not our manner. Salt flavors, and we act as salt when we attract people to Christ by our lives.

   C. Warning – when the salt loses its saltiness (compromise):

Jesus continues in this verse with a warning. 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 by men.” (Matthew 5:13b) If salt loses its saltiness, it loses its purpose. The whole purpose of salt is to act as salt. The whole purpose of the church is to act like the church.

Jesus is talking about compromise here. He is not talking about losing your salvation, but about losing your influence. When the church makes moral compromises to fit in with the world, it is no longer acting as salt in the world. The world doesn’t need the church to be more like the world. The world needs the church to be more like Jesus. When the church acts like everyone else, when it loses its saltiness, it loses its reputation and it loses its mission.

   1) The church loses its reputation (can’t be made salty again)

First of all, when the church loses its saltiness, it loses its reputation. That’s what Jesus means when he says, “How can it be made salty again?” When the church loses its reputation, it is so hard to get it back again. How many people are already convinced that the church is full of hypocrites and has nothing positive to offer the world? Make sure you are doing everything you can to hold up a good reputation for Christ and his bride in this world.

   2) The church loses its mission (no longer good for anything)

And secondly, when the church loses its saltiness, it loses its mission. That’s what Jesus means when he says, “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Christians have a mission to bring the gospel of Christ to all the world. But when you lose your saltiness, you lose your mission, and when you lose your mission, you lose the unique purpose that God has for you. When the church loses its mission, it is no longer good for anything.

Our mission is to be in the world but not of the world. Salt does no good when it stays in the saltshaker, so you need to get out of the saltshaker and into the world. We are the salt of the earth, so we need to be scattered throughout society – cleansing, preserving, adding flavor as Christians in the world. And we need to stay salty. Because when the church loses its saltiness, it loses its reputation and its mission in the world.

II. The light of the world (14-16)

   A. Jesus’ declaration: “You are the light of the world.”

So that’s the first part of being an obvious Christian. You are the salt of the earth. The next part is this. “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

Once again, notice that Jesus declares that this is something you already are. If you are a Christian, you don’t have a choice in the matter. You are the light of the world. There is no other spiritual light in this world except for Christians. If you are a Christian, then you are light in this world, and you are to shine for Jesus.

Now Jesus also said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) We saw in chapter four that Matthew compared Jesus’ ministry to the dawning of a great light. (Matthew 4:16) Jesus is the true light of the world, but as followers of Christ, we reflect his light. Jesus is like the sun, and we are the moon. The moon has no light of its own, but it reflects the light of the sun. In the same way we reflect Jesus’ light to others.

Jesus said, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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.” (Matthew 5:14-15) You can’t hide a city on a hill, especially at night when all the lights are on. You don’t put a lamp under a bowl. It defeats the purpose. You are the light of the world, and there is no other. This is part of your job description as a Christian.

   B. The meaning of the analogy

      1) This world is in darkness.

So let’s talk about the meaning of the analogy. If the meaning of the salt analogy is that this world is in moral decay, the meaning of the light analogy is that this world is in darkness. This world is in the darkness of sin, deception, ignorance and rebellion.

         – It doesn’t know the way to God (Acts 26:17-18)

First of all, it doesn’t know the way to God. We read God’s words to Paul in Acts 26: “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.” (Acts 26:17-18) It’s the same way today. This world is in darkness, and it doesn’t know the way to God. But we do! Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We know the way, and we need to share it with others.

         – It doesn’t know God’s ways (Psalm 119:105)

The world not only doesn’t know the way to God. It also doesn’t know God’s ways. When it comes to matters such as marriage, family, life and wealth, this world is in complete darkness and confusion. Psalm 119:105 says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God’s Word shines a light on our dark paths and shows us the right way to go, the right way to live. But the world doesn’t know or follow God’s Word. This world is in darkness. It doesn’t know the way to God. It doesn’t know God’s ways.

      2) Christians act as light in the world:

Therefore, as Christians we are to act as light. And there are three ways we especially fulfill this role as light in the world.

         – light shines: we stand out as followers of Jesus

First of all, light shines. Therefore, we are to stand out as followers of Jesus. We cannot help the world if we are not different from the world. Think about the city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Jesus has set us on a hill for everyone to see. We are to be public spectacles for Jesus. There should be something different about your manner, different about your countenance, different about your life that makes you stand out as a follower of Jesus. I like the Newsboys song that says: “Shine, make them wonder what you got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking bored. Shine, let it shine before all men, let them see good works, and then, let them glorify the Lord.” Light shines; therefore we are to stand out as followers of Jesus.

         – light illuminates: we point people to God and his ways

Secondly, light illuminates. We are to point people to God and his ways. Jesus is the true light, and we are to point people to him. We should be bold in our witness for Christ, and our lives should back it up. Do people see Jesus Christ in your life? Because if they cannot see Christ in Christians, they will certainly not find him in the world.

         – light reveals: we show others how God wants us to live

And then finally, light reveals. We are to show others how God wants us to live. I like how G. Campbell Morgan puts it. We are “to show men what would result if all the world were obedient to the whisper of the Throne of the Most High.”

   C. Encouragement – when your light shines brightly (witness):

The salt passage ended with a warning about the salt losing its saltiness. But the light section ends with an encouragement about what happens when your light shines brightly. Look at verse 16: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

“Let your light shine before men.” This is only the second command in the Sermon on the Mount so far. (The first one was to rejoice when persecuted.) And what will happen when your light shines brightly? Two things:

      1) People will see your good deeds

First of all, people will see your good deeds. The word translated “good” in this verse means “attractive or pleasing” rather than good in the moral sense. Of course our deeds should be moral as well, but the emphasis here is on works that help other people, that present the Christian life as attractive and pleasing to others. When you let your light shine, people will see your good deeds. The testimony of your life should match the testimony of your lips.

There is a great book by Dr. James Kennedy called: What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? And he goes through history and shows what a positive difference the church has made in the world in so many areas: in science, culture, the arts, politics, education, medicine, sharing the gospel and helping the poor. The world is indeed a better place because of Christians living out their faith as salt and light in the world.

Once again, you are to be an obvious Christian. People should see by your good deeds that you are a follower of Christ.

      2) People will praise your Father in heaven

Why do you let your light shine? First of all, so people will see your good deeds, and then secondly, so people will praise your Father in heaven. This is the first time in the Gospel of Matthew that God is called our Father. Good works don’t make you a Christian, but they show that you are a Christian. When God’s light shines through you, people will see him in you. When people recognize you as God’s children, they will praise God as your Father. When you fulfill your calling as light in the world, you bring glory to God.

Ultimately, you do good works not that they might see you but that they might see him. We will learn more about this in Matthew 6 when we talk about being a secret Christian.

CONCLUSION: You are the salt of the earth, and you are the light of the world. That is your role in this world. But you only fulfill your role if your salt remains salty and you let your light shine.

Are you an obvious Christian? Are you exercising a Christian influence in the world around you? That is what God has called you to do. This world needs your Christian witness. So go and be salty, and let your light shine.

© Ray Fowler

You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this message provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and that you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For any web postings, please link to the sermon directly at this website.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copies:
By Ray Fowler. © Ray Fowler. Website: https://www.rayfowler.org

Click here for more messages from the book of Matthew.
Click here for more messages from The Sermon on the Mount series.
Click here to return to the Sermons page.