Matthew 5:13–20

Associate Professor of Religion and Director of Ministerial Formation, Samford University

High-Impact Believers
Matthew 5:13–20

Preserve Influence (13)
Most likely, Jesus had multiple truths in mind when He told His disciples that they were the salt of the earth, because salt served a variety of functions in the ancient world. It was used as a condiment, a preservative, an antiseptic, a fertilizer and in Judaism, was associated with covenant sacrifices. That salt was a favored condiment is reflected in Job’s question: “Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?” (Job 6:6). In this sense, disciples of Jesus are the tang that brings out the quality in the world. As a preservative, salt served the function fulfilled by refrigeration today. Jesus may have been highlighting the disciples as salt that fights off spiritual decay. Salt was used also to treat open wounds. This antiseptic effect might be magnifying how disciples help fight off the infection of sin in the world.

Salt was also used widely as a fertilizer. It killed weeds and, in proper amounts, improved the soil. As salt, disciples of Jesus are to improve the soil so it will be more receptive to the seed of God’s word (see Matt. 13:3–9, 18–23). Finally salt was associated with covenant sacrifices. Leviticus 2:13 reads: “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings” (see also Num. 18:19). The saying about salt immediately follows the beatitude for those who are persecuted and reviled, and it may continue this idea of suffering and sacrifice. By sacrificing themselves for the world, Christ’s followers help save the world.

Project Light (14–16)
Apart from Christ, we are darkness; He is the true light (Matt. 4:16). But that Light declared His people to be the light of the world. Jesus taught that His followers ought to shine and would shine. He did not say that a city set on a hill should not be hidden; rather it could not be hidden. He did not say that believers should not light a lamp, then put it under a bushel; they do not do so. The believer lights a lamp so that he or she may place it on a stand, giving light to all “in the house.” Apart from Christ, we are unlighted lamps. But He lights His lamps that they will radiate His light to all people.

As the new community of disciples, Christ’s church has taken on the mission of being “a light to the nations” (Isa. 42:6; 49:6). In Philippians 2:15, Christians are described as “lights in the world.” They are the new community of Zion set on a hill (Isa. 2:2–3; 42:6–7; 49:6) that will draw people to God. Jesus intends for them to radiate that truth. “Let your light shine” in the English translation is the only way to render the third-person imperative in the Greek. But this translation seems to imply that we merely allow our light to shine. In Greek, however, it is a command. Jesus is saying, “You are the light, so shine.”

Promote Righteousness (17–20)
While affirming the continuing relevance and authority of the Old Testament laws, Jesus introduced a new level of understanding of them. Jesus Himself is the fulfillment of the revelation of God; as scholars say, He is the definitive self-disclosure of God in the world. He did not come to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfill them — that is, to make their meaning full. Throughout the sermon, we discover what it means for Jesus to “fill full” the meaning of Scripture. As the completion of the law, He expected from His followers a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus fulfilled the very meaning of righteousness, shifting the focus from the righteousness of the law to the need for righteousness with God through personal relationship. Paul said, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4). The apostle did not say that Christ is the end of the law as is often misquoted, as the law still serves to show us our sin and our need for the Savior (Rom. 7). The law, then, serves as a pointer, a reminder of our need for the righteousness of God. Christ answers this need, as He is the end of the law for righteousness. He is the “end” to which the law pointed.