Lesson Forty-Three: You (alone) are Salt and Light
43.1 Jesus spoke tenderly to His followers; encouraging them. He knew that following Him would cost them a lot. Going His way would men sacrifice, loss, and sometimes even death -- but the rewards would be greater!
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
This verse is not include with the other beatitudes because it is not a new thought. It only explains the previous beatitude (blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven). a little bit more.
43.2 In the beatitudes Jesus speaks of a conversion (by grace) that is so deep; the result is not just a changed life, but a different kind of life: A life that has been changed by grace into an age abiding life -- an eternal life. The result is that...
You (alone) are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor (saltiness), how shall it be seasoned (become salt again)? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Pause to think... Jesus did not say, "You should be the salt of the earth." He said His disciples (those who know His grace) are the salt of the earth! Being changed by grace makes us salt, and if we are not salt it is because we have no grace. God's grace in us makes life worth living for everyone around us, and checks the moral corruption in them. This is what the salt (grace in us) does.
How could salt lose its saltiness? Salt is salt, and cannot be otherwise unless it is changed into something else. It is very serious. Salt cannot lose its saltiness -- unless something beyond nature happens. But if salt actually does somehow lose its saltiness, how can it become salty again? The witness is gone and it is good for nothing.
Jesus said, "You alone are the salt of the earth." The earth has no other salt. Our responsibility is great.
43.2 Then He said,
You (alone) are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill (mountain) cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
Once again Jesus did not say, "You ought to be the light", He said, "You are the light." Light dispels darkness. Christ and His grace in us does the same thing to lies.
A city is not just one person, but many. God takes His Church and puts it on a mountaintop for all the world to see. Its light (its witness) needs to be on a mountaintop so that people who are in the darkness can see it, and find safety in it. As the prophet foretold...
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the Lord's house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
Many people shall come and say,
"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us his ways,
And we shall walk in His paths." Isaiah 2:2-3God will do this Himself by His own sovereign working.
43.3 God will not hide such a light.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Mathew 5:1543.4 Christ and His grace in us is the light. That light points people to God.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16This is the witness of a changed life -- a different kind of life -- one that knows (to the core), God's great grace. Then the gentleness, peace, patience, genuine love, hope, mercy, kindness, and godly conversation flowing from a Christian's life points people to God their Savior.
Discussion: How far can light be seen? Jesus said, "You (alone) are the light of the world." What did He mean by that?
Memory Verse: A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.