As His sermon progresses, the Lord turns His audience from the principles of the Beatitudes to two powerful illustrations of the impact His followers ought to have. These verses contain very well-known phrases, but on closer inspection they present a profound challenge to all Christians as we represent the Lord Jesus in this world.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet” (Matthew 5:13 ESV).
The phrase “salt of the earth” has become part of the English language and has come to refer to people who are decent, morally upright and honest. There is no doubt that those traits should characterise followers of Christ. However, does that get to the heart of what the Lord intended to convey by using this picture?
Salt has been used throughout history and across cultures for its unique properties. When used in cooking, salt permeates food with its distinctive flavour. It can enhance and elevate other flavours and make the blandest food more palatable. Followers of the Lord Jesus are to be like “seasoning” in the world. Indeed, Paul used the same language when he was describing how Christians ought to speak: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6 ESV).
Before the days of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve meat and fish. Yes, it flavoured the food, but it also prevented it from going rotten. It is the Lord’s desire that His people should have a “preservative” effect in a sinful world. H. A. Ironside put it this way: “Salt preserves from corruption. The disciples of our Lord are left in this world to witness against its iniquity and set an example of righteousness.”[1] It is not the calling of the church to “cleanse” a corrupted world, but rather to be an influence for purity wherever the Lord has placed us.
Another aspect of this illustration is the ability salt has to draw impurities from wounds. The presence of believers in this deeply wounded world should have a restorative effect. However, salt applied to a cut will sting. The witness of believers to righteousness will not always be welcome in a corrupt society. This must never be because of unkindness or self-righteousness on our part, but because of the purity of the Lord shining through us.
If salt loses its distinct flavour and unique properties then it is of no further use.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV).
In the second of the seven “I am” statements in John’s Gospel, the Lord said: “I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12). Here, He applies that same description to His disciples. He desires that we should shine brightly for Him in the context of a dark, sinful world. This was the calling that was given to the nation of Israel: “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6 NIV).
Though this calling has a future fulfilment for Israel, this role of shining in the darkness is now the privilege and responsibility of followers of the Lord Jesus. Light illuminates, bringing knowledge and understanding. Light can warn, like a lighthouse guiding ships from hidden dangers. Light can also expose. In the same way that salt can sting, when light shines it exposes darkness. The Lord Himself said: “people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19 ESV).
Every believer, without exception, is a light. The question is; how brightly are we shining for Him? It would be absurd to light a lamp and place it somewhere where its light was of no effect. This presents a sobering challenge for followers of Christ as we consider how effectively we are reflecting His light in a dark world. The result of truly shining for Christ is that God, rather than man, is glorified.
We are called to be salt and light. On the surface it seems that these two illustrations do not have much in common. However, both salt and light completely alter whatever they are added to. J. C. Ryle expressed it like this: “Surely, if words mean anything, we are meant to learn from these two figures that there must be something marked, distinct and peculiar about our character.”[2] We have the incredible honour of being representatives of the King of kings in a world that rejected Him. What a calling!
[1] Ironside, H. A. Expository Notes on the Gospel of Matthew, Loizeaux Brothers, 1948 (p.48).
[2] Ryle, J.C. Expository Thoughts on Matthew, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1856 (p.29).