Introduction: The Core of the Sermon on the Mount

 

We are continuing to study the Sermon on the Mount. Some see it as Jesus’ most well-known sermon. It is often quoted, even by those who do not follow Christ. These sayings resonate through history, but at the time, listeners may not have understood the lasting influence these words would have on future generations. Jesus was introducing a new way of thinking and living for His followers. Matthew offers what many scholars believe is a condensed version of Christ's teachings about how His disciples should live and how to prevent grieving the Holy Spirit. Many Bible teachers think Jesus delivered the eight Beatitudes (the "beautiful attitudes") and then expanded on them, illustrating their meaning with real-life examples. In other words, the rest of the Sermon on the Mount shows how the Holy Spirit functions at the core of the believer's life. Our view is that Matthew did not follow a strict chronological order when he recorded how Jesus applied the Beatitudes.

 

Responding to Persecution: Why Believers Can’t Hide

 

When Christ's disciples live according to the guidance of the Spirit of God, they will face those who operate under a different spirit and hold attitudes opposed to God. In our previous study, which focused mainly on the Beatitudes, Jesus spoke of the persecution believers will face when they manifest these beautiful attitudes in their lives (Matthew 5:11-12). But how should we respond to such persecution? Should we withdraw, hide from the world system, lick our wounds, and never confront the darkness again? No, as followers of Christ, we are the conscience of the world we live in. If Christ’s followers allow this world to impose its values on us, the world will be molded by an evil agenda; but if godly men and women stand up for truth, others will also be inspired to oppose the darkness. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). When we live our lives according to these beautiful attitudes, we point others to Jesus and shine the Light of life for all to see. Concerning our response to persecution, Jesus shared two metaphors for how we should handle those who persecute us.

 

Matthew 5:13-16 Meaning: The Metaphors of Salt and Light

 

¹³“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. ¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In 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 5:13-16).

 

Let’s first discuss salt. When Jesus was on Earth, salt was considered a valuable commodity. During Caesar's time, Rome paid their soldiers with salt, and in ancient China, salt was second only to gold in value. Even today, people say they are “worth their weight in salt." Why was salt so prized? We will explore three reasons Jesus might have had in mind when He used the metaphor of believers being like salt.

 

3 Reasons Jesus Called His Disciples 'The Salt of the Earth'

 

1) Salt symbolized purity. The Romans believed salt was one of the purest things on earth because it comes from the whitest and purest elements, the sea and the sun. They said: “There is nothing more useful than sun and salt.” Jesus could have been indicating that the believer should serve as an example of purity to those around him, meaning purity of speech and purity of life.

 

2) Salt was used as a preservative. Before the advent of freezers and refrigerators, salt was the only method to slow down spoilage. It took two or three days to transport fish from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem, so the fish or meat was salted to keep it fresh during the journey. Similarly, believers in Christ, by living lives of holiness and setting an example, can slow the moral decay of the society in which they live. However, just as salt needs several grains to be effective, a community requires several people acting as salt to influence and slow the decline of its culture.

 

3) Salt adds flavor to food. Some foods are so bland that they can be made tastier with a bit of salt. I often eat two eggs for breakfast, but I find eggs flavorless without any salt (and a bit of pepper). Nearly any cooking recipe you find will almost always include salt. Before I dedicated my life to Christ, life felt meaningless to me. I found it challenging to handle the daily grind as a commercial fisherman, working sixteen hours a day, six days a week, but when Christ entered my life, I suddenly began to see life as purposeful, meaningful, and even exciting. I found a purpose and a sense of worth in dedicating my life to spreading the Gospel of Christ. I was no longer living for worldly things, but for what lies beyond this life. The Lord brings flavor to our lives. The first time I encountered a group of people who loved Jesus and lived their salty lives in front of me, I wanted what they had. Salt causes thirst, and what they had, I needed. I had to drink deeply of the Lord Jesus. All around us are thirsty people; they just don’t know what will satisfy their thirst. If we don’t tell them, they’ll stay thirsty.

 

When we hear sermons on this passage of Scripture, they're often separated from the preceding context in which Jesus discussed persecution. The Lord emphasized that if we adhere to the Beatitudes, we will face persecution for the values we uphold. If we give in under pressure and compromise our commitment, we lose our influence over others around us. There are always people nearby who secretly wonder if walking with Christ is worthwhile. You never know who might be inwardly searching for the truth. You are the reflection of Christ to the world. If someone seeks light, peace, and hope in this world, will they see it in you? Will they be drawn to Jesus through you? I once heard someone say they never heard the Gospel when they were young, and that if any Christians were around at the time, none of them “blew their cover!” Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones once said, “The glory of the Gospel is that when the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though they may hate it at first.”

 

Can you think of someone who stood out as a Christ follower by being unique in their faith? Is there someone in your life who made you think about Christianity? Or is there someone who has inspired you to live differently? How did they do it?

 

Occasionally, I organize and lead tours of Israel, and each time I go, I always take people to one of the hotels at the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River Valley. Many enjoy the relaxing and healthful experience of floating in the Dead Sea. The mud there is famous for clearing up skin issues. They apply the mud to themselves before showering and taking advantage of the spa and massage services offered by most hotels in the area. The night before we leave for the Dead Sea, I must warn people not to shave because of the high salt levels in the water in which they will be floating. If they ignore my advice, their time floating in the Dead Sea can be painful, despite the water's healing properties.

 

Salt can be painful to an open wound, and naturally, no one enjoys pain. While the discomfort is often unwelcome, the salt and minerals in Dead Sea water can promote skin healing. After bathing in it, one often feels cleansed and revitalized. Just as salty water benefits the body through cleansing, our Christian values provide an antiseptic cleansing power to the world. The light and salt we carry can bring healing to a decaying society. However, there is often resistance and persecution because of the values that believers in Christ uphold. When those without Christ see Christians compromising their beliefs and values, it not only undermines a positive witness for Christ but can also have the opposite effect, encouraging them to live ungodly lives within the world system. Here's a good question to ask yourself: “Is the world doing me more harm than I am doing it good?”

 

If non-believers in Christ see no difference in our Christian lives, it doesn't challenge their worldview and provides them with no hope. As a result, the “saltiness” of our values is abandoned and ignored (v. 13). The Church, like a lifeboat, should keep the water outside the boat. However, when the sea floods into the lifeboat, our culture faces problems.

 

The Light of the World: Reflecting Christ in the Darkness

 

Christ then used the metaphor of light to describe the believer. As He looked around the hillside at His disciples, He told them they were the light of the world (v. 14). In the days when the New Testament was written, a household lamp consisted of an earthenware container of oil with a wick half in the oil and partly showing out of a small hole at one end. Unfortunately, there were no matches in those days, which made it difficult to relight a lamp when it went out. As a result, most people kept the lamp burning but shortened the wick so it didn't use up all the oil.

 

The householder usually places the lamp high up in the room on a tall stand, but the lampstand could be knocked over, and oil on the floor, along with a lit wick, could be dangerous. Therefore, they sometimes covered the lit lamp with a basket for safety. When they needed bright light, they removed the lamp from under the basket, added more oil, and pulled the wick out further to illuminate the room (Matthew 25:7-8).

 

By calling His people lights in the world, the Lord taught that instead of hiding our testimony of Christ, dimming our light, or concealing ourselves, we are to shine brightly in dark times and dispel the darkness. One of my favorite spots in Israel is standing on the edge of the Sea of Galilee at night. From there, you can see the lights of various towns and cities reflected above Galilee. Jesus said that we should shine in the darkness like a city on a hill (v. 14). Perhaps He was referring to the same breathtaking view from the Sea of Galilee. The light that believers emit is not their own; God does not expect us to be the solution to humanity's issues. Instead, our light is reflected light — the Light of the World is Jesus (John 9:5). When people look at us, they should see Christ.

 

Let’s look at the early apostles as our example. After God healed the lame man through Peter and John at the Gate Beautiful in Jerusalem, the apostles faced persecution from Israel's religious leaders for doing this good deed. The disciples responded by pointing to the Lord Jesus as the Healer. They said:

 

Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well (Acts 4:8-10).

 

Think of the boldness of the Spirit-empowered apostles. Something about their response surprised the rulers and elders. How did the elders react to someone disregarding their authority? The elders of Israel sent Peter and John outside and discussed them among themselves. They acknowledged that something different was happening in their midst, and they recognized the unmistakable signs that the disciples had been with Jesus. The Lord was the One glorified as the Healer.

 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). 

 

Believers in Christ reflect the glory of the Lord and speak His message of life. When we live close to the Lord Jesus, those around us will see Christ shining through us. However, this reflected light isn't meant to be kept just among believers, because Jesus didn't say, "You are the light of the church." Instead, He said that we "are the light of the world" (v. 14). As believers, we should be guiding lighthouses that point the way to the safe harbor of Christ. Good works performed by believers in Christ will be visible to those living in the darkness of the world system we inhabit. Accurate reflections of the Light of the World in us will draw others to Christ: “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 5:16). Our salt and light will make others hungry for God's truth and attract them to the Light of the world.

 

Jesus and the Law: Fulfilling the Old Covenant (Matthew 5:17-20)

 

¹⁷“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-20).

 

What are your thoughts on Christ’s words in verse 20? “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In your view, what was Jesus telling them (and us) through this statement?

 

Jesus said that He had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. The endless rules of the Scribes and Pharisees were made to get around God's Law so they could do what they wanted. Their man-made rules, meant to help them obey God's Law, piled up over time, layer by layer, until the spirit of the Law was hidden. The weight of all these laws became burdensome and complicated for anyone to follow. Jesus spoke about the rules of the Scribes and Pharisees, saying, “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger” (Matthew 23:4). Jesus accused these religious leaders of teaching rules that turned men away from God:

 

⁸“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; ⁹in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9).

 

Their teaching did not draw people closer to God. Jesus pointed out that they were paying “lip service” to God, but their hearts were far from Him, and their worship was empty and self-centered. How did the false teaching come about? Because of the idol worship and the sacrificing of innocent children, as in the case of King Ahaz and King Manasseh, who sacrificed their sons in the fire (2 Chronicles 28:3; 2 Chronicles 33:5-7), God banished Israel to the nation of Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:8-11).

 

While in Babylon, the Jewish people started to wonder why God punished them by banishing them from the land He had given them. They concluded that they had broken God's law, and the only solution was to build a fence around it so that, if they accidentally crossed it, they would not break it. They created a system of rules and interpretations that became commentaries known as the Mishnah and Talmud. These rules, they believed, would prevent people from sinning against God.

 

The religious elite did not follow these rules themselves. For example, the Scripture said they were not to work on the Sabbath, so they created many rules to define what counted as work. How far could someone walk before it was considered work if they had to rest on the Sabbath? They decided that a Jew could only walk 2000 cubits (about 1000 yards) from his house. But if they tied a rope across the end of the street, the end of the road was considered his house, and he could go another 1,000 yards beyond that. Still, if he needed to go farther on the Sabbath evening, he could place enough food for two meals along the way, and that food would count as his home, letting him travel another 1,000 yards.

 

Living life became a system of strict rules focused on appearing righteous on the outside, while neglecting the core of love for God and others. Of course, ordinary people couldn't keep such heavy, burdensome rules that didn't reflect God’s heart of love. The rule-makers offered very little mercy to the poor and needy until Jesus arrived. No wonder they reacted the way they did to Jesus when He challenged their teachings and exposed their hypocrisy.

 

What do you think the Lord meant by saying that He came not to abolish, repeal, or do away with the Law but to fulfill it?

 

Understanding Legalism vs. True Righteousness

 

Observing religious rules has become a common practice among many churches in the West. We see it so often that we hardly notice it. As a young Christian, after the Sunday evening service at my local church, I was on my way to a youth meeting and thought it would be good to bring along candy and chips for the gathering, so I stopped at the only place open on a Sunday night in a small town, the off-license. (A British off-license is similar to a liquor store in the USA and also sells all kinds of snacks.)

 

As I came out of the shop with sweets and snacks, an older lady from my church approached me. She scolded me harshly, saying it was Sunday and questioning why I was visiting such a place on the Sabbath as a Christian. This happened very early in my Christian journey and left me feeling very confused. I remember shrinking away under a cloud of guilt. The rules imposed by some religious folks can be burdensome and graceless. Legalism and rule-keeping are often described as "redemption by human effort.” The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were the legalists of Christ's time.

 

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ²“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach, therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. ⁴"They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. ⁵"But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments (Matthew 23:1-5, emphasis added).

 

After living in Israel for a year and a half, one quick realization is the passion of religious Jews for everyone to keep the Law. The Orthodox Jews of Jerusalem believe that if they can get all Jews in the land to keep one holy Sabbath day as a nation, then the Messiah will come. There is no Scripture supporting this belief; it’s simply a desire to be righteous by maintaining the fence around the Law. In some parts of Jerusalem, your car might be stoned if you drive on the Sabbath. This can be very frustrating and confusing for tourists staying in a hotel on the Sabbath, because if you enter the wrong elevator, it may stop at every floor between your room and the lobby or restaurant, since pressing the button is considered work on the Sabbath.

 

For example, Jesus was accused of breaking the law by healing on the Sabbath, but these laws were not directly from God; they were additional rules added to the Law. Jesus did not violate God's Law, for He came to fulfill it: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

 

Why was the Law given? This question is essential for our understanding because God gave the law to reveal His righteous moral standard. Puritan Richard Sibbes wrote in the seventeenth century about the role of conscience, saying it is the soul reflecting on itself. Conscience is central to what makes humans different. Unlike animals, people can think about their actions and make moral judgments. That is the core function of conscience. The problem with our conscience is that it can be educated, ignored, and dismissed. The law clarifies the conscience and provides an objective boundary. To transgress is to cross the line into sin.

 

The law explains what sin is. Before the Gospel reached the South and Central American jungles, the Mayans and Incas sacrificed their innocent babies and children because they ignored their conscience's guidance. Paul wrote that, without the law, we would not know what sin is (Romans 7:7). When God gave man His law, a person was without an excuse before a holy God and accountable for his actions (Romans 3:19). None of us can fully keep the law. We all fall short of moral perfection (sin) and recognize ourselves as the depraved individuals who need a Savior from sin. Thank God that we have a Savior to rescue us from the guilt and punishment of our sins; otherwise, we would have no hope.

 

For those gathered on the northern slopes of the Sea of Galilee, some wondered if this new preacher, the Lord Jesus, was against the Law of God. The Lord upheld the Law and fully fulfilled all the sacrificial system prescribed by the Law, for He is the spiritual High Priest. He entered the Holy of Holies with His blood, thus fulfilling the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:11-15) and many other shadow laws of the Old Testament. He is also the One the prophets said God would send to establish a New Covenant, the One spoken of by the prophet Moses: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.

 

Jesus was neither above the Law, nor in conflict with it. He brought Scripture to completion! His words and actions took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophets.

 

Salt that has lost its flavor is not useful for seasoning or preservation. It becomes worthless. True salt cannot lose its saltiness, as sodium chloride is a very stable compound. The salt used during Jesus' time was probably sourced from the Dead Sea and contained impurities. Over time, it could lose its saltiness and become useless. For the believer, this would be similar to losing one's original purpose. If you feel you have “lost your salt,” the only solution is to return to Jesus and abide in Him. Through God's Word, prayer, and opening our lives to Him, we can choose to live out the Beatitudes, even if imperfectly. My prayer is that, both collectively and individually, we will be people who cause others to thirst for God just by being around us.

 

Practical Application: Being Salt and Light This Week

 

Salt is a preservative. Ask yourself: "If I were removed from my workplace, my neighborhood, or my small group, would the 'moral decay' increase?" Identify one conversation this week where you usually stay silent when people are gossiping or being cynical. Use your "salt" to gently change the flavor of that conversation toward something helpful or true.

 

Jesus mentions putting a light under a basket. Often, our "basket" is fear of man or embarrassment. Think of one person who doesn't know you are a Christian. This week, don't "preach" at them, but simply stop "hiding." Mention a way God answered a prayer or something you learned at church in a natural way. See if they are "thirsty" for more.

 

Jesus warned that the Pharisees had high "outward" righteousness but cold hearts. Identify one religious habit you do out of pure obligation (like a "rule"). This week, try to do the same act out of love for someone. If you go to church, don't just "show up"—go with the specific goal of encouraging one lonely person.

 

Salt stings an open wound. Sometimes, when people react angrily to your faith, it’s not because you are being mean—it’s because the "salt" of your lifestyle is hitting the "wound" of their conscience. If you face pushback for your values, don't retract. Instead, pray for that person. Their "sting" might be the beginning of their healing.

 

Here's a prayer you can pray with a sincere heart:

 

Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ, your only begotten Son, came to earth to be the Savior of the world, and that by His death on the cross, He paid the price for the sin of everyone who believes in Him. Thank You for the gift of salvation, and that by placing my trust in Christ, I am forgiven of my sins. Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son to die on Calvary's cross in my place. Lord, I turn away from all my prideful sins and everything that dishonors Your name. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will help me grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus until the day I enter Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

 

Keith Thomas
www.groupbiblestudy.com
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