Matthew shows that Jesus is the *Messiah. Salt was used as a figure of speech in the ancient world of sparkling conversation, speech dotted with witty or clever remarks. Here are a few questions we might want to … Story goes he ran out of salt and realize that was an expression of love and got her back. Woodrow Wilson told the story of being in a barbershop one time. (listen to full message here). He was the special person that the *Jews had been waiting for. Matthew records that Jesus healed the *Roman officer’s servant (8:5-13). A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as myself to have his hair cut and sat in the chair next to me. He sees true holiness nowhere else; He recognizes His own moral image in no other. WHEN our Lord reminds His people that they are "the salt of the earth," He describes the gracious state of all real believers. The world, in contrast to what many "enlightened" members teach, is not evolving but devolving. Our propensity for sin is great; so we must constantly be anchored in the cross of Christ and His gospel. Surely this indicates that Abraham had confessed his sin and God had restored him (cf Ps 66:18, 19). Sooner or later the light of the truth must shine. Enter the citizens of the Kingdom of heaven who are the decay retardants and preservatives of a disintegrating world. 25:11; Ezr. What is our Lord saying? Christians whose lives exhibit the qualities of the 'blessed' will have a preserving impact upon a society that, if left to itself, will rot and deteriorate. Jesus’ teaching on salt and light is likely very familiar to you as preacher, as well as to your listeners. Your detractors and oppressors vaunt themselves over you, take every advantage of your quiet, unresisting gentleness, and misinterpret your self-restraint. But too much salt can be distasteful. “Salt” creates thirst when it comes to eating. A performance criticism commentary of Matthew 5:13-20 produced by GoTell Communication. Roman soldiers were paid in salt; and if a soldier was derelict in his duty, he was not paid because he wasn’t worth his salt. Though written half a century ago, Machen spoke like a prophet to our present day that values the showy, glitzy statistics of how many nickels and noses we have in our churches, but gives precious little attention to holiness in character and walk. Let's think for a moment about the context. Then at last a Chinese Christian girl spoke out and shared an experience none of the others had shared. He says that meat is a dead body and part of a dead body, and will, if left to itself, go bad; but salt preserves it and keeps it fresh, and is therefore like a new soul inserted into a dead body. In it, readers can find most of the significant themes relevant to the remainder of Matthew’s story about Jesus. Instead of attracting men by its heavenly beauty, it would certainly repel them. Its influence is very real nonetheless. But the essential point remains whatever the picture, and it is a point which the New Testament makes and remakes again and again--uselessness invites disaster. He told me about how his life had become bland and insipid, and then he was confronted again with the necessity of a vital life for Jesus Christ and committed his life to him. There’s a sense in which this is a quiet witness, the power of the influence of a godly, righteous, virtuous life in your family, in your neighborhood, at your job, your school. (Biblical Studies Press. That should create the thirst in others. 29:23; Jos. What’s the danger? Christians are the salt of the earth. We may easily lose our savour. Jesus’ teaching on salt and light is likely very familiar to you as preacher, as well as to your listeners. Become tasteless (3471) (moraino from morós = foolish) can refer to physical sloth or dullness, but the main reference is to intellectual life. It’s commendable to be kind and generous in providing for others. We retard moral degeneration if we’re acting as salt. Read his fascinating brief biography - Henry Alford and Phil Johnson's related comments/p>. (Matthew 5:13: Problem of Tasteless Christianity), Barclay writes that "The individual Christian must be the conscience of his fellows; and the church the conscience of the nation. That oppressed wife will have the pleasure of leading her penitent husband to the cross. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Is your witness making unbelievers thirsty? Several years ago, a fire destroyed a building that contained tons of ice. Columnist William Raspberry says that when the church fails to offer spiritual help, it is “playing away from its strength.” It’s like a 7-foot basketball player who attempts long jumpshots, or when he’s near the basket keeps bringing the ball down to chest level before shooting. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. I love the story of the stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. 2 Peter 3:7-13 indicates that heaven and earth were to be destroyed by fire. 14 You are the light of the world. However, Jesus extends the metaphor into the supernatural, and here we must say that the answer is yes! It retards corruption. And from that moment the whole tone of that office was altered. Covenants were made with salt. The Lord brought this question up when he asked, "How can it be made salty again?" Salt purifies and cleanses. It’s time to thaw out the frozen assets in our lives.By Joanie Yoder  (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. We can never affect the world for Jesus by becoming like the world. Expositors says: “Every one must be salted somehow, either with the unquenchable fire of Gehenna or with the severe fire of self-discipline. Phil Newton tells an encouraging story about the "after taste" left by "salty" missionaries relating that "Pastor Paul Ndungu from Kenya, told us of a missionary couple that served for fifteen years among a particular people group in Kenya without seeing any outward response. I say to … The interpretation is not absolutely certain but it could refer to God's judgment which is like fire, and everyone suggest will be applied chasten believers while they are on earth, test the worth of the "works" of believers at the Judgment seat and to punish unbelievers. "Do you want to go back to your mother's apron-strings? 43:24; Ezek. Spurgeon - Our Savior was speaking of the influence of his disciples upon the fellows, and he first of all mentioned that secret but powerful influence which he describes under the figure of salt: “Ye are the salt of the earth.” No sooner is a man born unto God than he begins to fellow-men with an influence which is rather felt than seen. In such ovens "in order to retain the heat a thick bed of salt is laid under the tiled floor. J Vernon McGee has a pithy ("peppery") note on Christians as salt writing that "God’s people in any age and under any condition are both salt and light in the world. Matthew 5:13-17 New International Version (NIV) Salt and Light. William Wilberforce died on 29th July, 1833. A thoughtless word of criticism, a questionable remark, an angry word—any of these could tear down in a minute whatever Christian testimony others have tried to build up. 5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, asking for help. BEING IS DOING. No Christian can depart from the standards of strict honesty. Have you ever been… Matthew 5:14-16, light of the world 5:14 You are the light of the world. Light openly, visibly shatters the darkness. Salty believers really do prevent from corruption and decay! How can acts of compassion open doors to witness? They lived for no other end, but to make known the way of life, and to “turn men from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” (Read the entire sermon - Matthew 5:13 Christians the Salt of the Earth), Stuart Weber introduces this section with the following comment…, In Matthew 5:13, 14, 15, 16, before embarking on the body of the sermon, Jesus explained in two word pictures the impact that a truly righteous person will have on his or her world. Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? Salty Salt. ean de to halas moranthe, (3SAPS) en tini alisethesetai? It still looks like salt but it has lost its saltiness. One of those shining examples was a man named William Wilberforce, a small, even somewhat distorted man who took up a career in politics eventually gaining election to the House of Commons in England. The valley of, celebrated for victories 2Samuel 8:13; 2Kings 14:7; 1Chronicles 18:12, Places sown with, to denote perpetual desolation Judges 9:45 - Strategies for sharing faith in Christ, How Can I Share My Faith Without An Argument? One month later, Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act that gave all slaves in the British Empire their freedom. Barna concludes "That's the heart of the problem we're struggling with. As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." One Sunday he went to a nearby church. The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near (Matthew) Working as Citizens of God's Kingdom (Matthew 1-4) Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1-2) Jesus Calls the Disciples (Matthew 3-4) The Kingdom of Heaven at Work in Us (Matthew 5-7) The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) "Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit, for Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:3) (NASB: Lockman). In the ancient world salt was highly valued. All rights reserved), Lord, help us be a shining light —Colossians 3:17. It's amazing what a pinch of salt can do to bring out the flavor of food. You can salt meat, but you cannot salt salt… There are people who believe that you can be children of God to-day, and children of the devil to-morrow; then again children of God the next day and children of the devil again the day after; but, believe me, it is not so. As early as Job's time, men recognized the importance of salt, and attached special significance to it. It is found in that nature which the Holy Spirit has renewed, in that heart which Divine grace has changed, in that soul humbled in the dust before God for sin, and now, in the exercise of faith which He has given, reposing on the atoning work of Jesus, exclaiming—, Other refuge have I none, Everything about us should express the attractiveness as well as the holiness of our Lord. Matthew 5:13-16. Good (2480) (ischuo from is = strength + écho = have) means to be strong in body or in resources and so to be worth something, to have efficacy, to avail, have force and value, Nothing (3762) (oudeis from ou = not + dé = but + heis = one) is literally translated "but absolutely not one", denying absolutely and objectively the possibility that it can be used again. Does anybody want to be a Christian like you? This has been a big mistake. We need old‑fashioned salt, and if we do not start producing more of it in our churches, we shall be good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Sanctify (set them apart from the world) them in the truth; Thy word is truth. (Amplified Bible - Lockman). Zodhiates - (I) Natural salt which purifies, cleanses, and preserves from corruption (Luke 14:34; Sept.: Lev. Were they removed out of it, the rest would soon become as Sodom and Gomorrah (Is 1:9). Salt is somewhat hidden. 5:13 and Mark 9:50 applied spiritually to the disciples of Christ who were to circulate among and purify the corrupted mass of mankind by their heavenly doctrines and holy examples. 6:9; Ezr. (1Cor 2:14-16). “Lost its taste” is literally defiled. One example is found in Matthew 5:13… In Mark 9:50 Jesus tells His disciples who in context had been bickering over which one was the greatest (Mk 9:34, cf their attempt to hinder another believer Mk 9:38)…, "Salt is good (kalos = beautiful, attractive); but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? 14 You are the light of the world. The ‘Sermon on the Mount’ is Jesus’ masterpiece. NLT: "You are the salt of the earth. “You are the light of the world. (William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 5), Characterized as good and useful Mark 9:50, Partaking of another’s a bond of friendship Ezra 4:14 R. T. France, Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. This he had transferred to the mountains, to cheat the government out of some small percentage of duty. How do we know that is what He means? However, we must never give in to Satan's lie that we can be effective only when we have large numbers and a show of strength. If it is possible for your closest contacts to be neutral about Christ then there is something wrong with your Christianity. —Fitzhugh. That doesn’t mean we’re going to be accepted by the world; we understand that. We are in the world, in the sense of salt, the way salt has been used throughout all of human history, to preserve something from corruption. The disciples of Jesus in the present dispensation preserve society from corruption; the "salt" causes excessive irritation which spells persecution for the saint. 5. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. Warren Wiersbe in his preface to "Be Holy", an exposition of Leviticus writes "Whatever else the professing Christian church may be known for today—great crowds, expensive buildings, big budgets, political clout—it’s not distinguished for its holiness. 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