1. The Life of Christ – Lesson 7
May 9, 2018
Matthew Chapters 5-7
Luke 6:20-49
The Life of Christ – Lesson 7
The Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth … the light of the world.

2. You are the salt of the earth …
Characteristics of salt:
Preservation – Genesis 18:22ff
Flavor – palatability. 2 Corinthians 2:14- 16; Job 6:6
Symbols of faithfulness and fidelity in a covenant relationship. 2 Chronicles 13:5 (Covenant of salt); Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; Ezra 4:14
Valuable -
salt is emblematic of loyalty and friendship (see above). A person who has once joined in a "salt covenant" with God and then breaks it is fit only to be cast out (compare Mt 5:13; Mk 9:50).
COVENANT OF SALT [ISBE]
COVENANT OF SALT - solt (berith melach; halas, classical Greek hals): As salt was regarded as a necessary ingredient of the daily food, and so of all sacrifices offered to Yahweh (Lev 2:13), it became an easy step to the very close connection between salt and covenant-making. When men ate together they became friends. Compare the Arabic expression, "There is salt between us"; "He has eaten of my salt," which means partaking of hospitality which cemented friendship; compare "eat the salt of the palace" (Ezr 4:14). Covenants were generally confirmed by sacrificial meals and salt was always present. Since, too, salt is a preservative, it would easily become symbolic of an enduring covenant. So offerings to Yahweh were to be by a statute forever, "a covenant of salt for ever before Yahweh" (Nu 18:19). David received his kingdom forever from Yahweh by a "covenant of salt" (2 Ch 13:5). In the light of these conceptions the remark of our Lord becomes the more significant: "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another" (Mk 9:50).
COVENANT OF SALT
An Old Testament expression for a covenant, or agreement, that was supposed to be honored forever (Num 18:19). Salt apparently was used as a figure of speech for binding agreements because it was a basic part of the Hebrew diet and it was also used as a food preservative in the ancient world.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Morgan describes its influence as “aseptic, that is, preventing the spread of corruption
The aspect of salt becoming tasteless represents therefore the breaking of a covenant.

3. You are the salt of the earth …
If found tasteless or unsalty …
“Thrown out …” “To throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.” (Thayer)
“Trampled under foot …” To reject with disdain. (Strong) See Hebrews 10:29
“Useless … for the soil or for the manure pile …”

4. The light of the world
Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Mark 4:21-22, “And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22 "For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.”

5. The light of the world
Luke 8:16-18, “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

6. The light of the world
Luke 11:33-36, “No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”

7. Lights in this world
John 1:4-9 – Jesus is the light of the world. John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; Psalms 27:1
John 3:19-21 – the relationship of light in the world.

8. Lights in this world How does it begin? Psalms 18:28 –
Miraculous? Depends on our relationship with the word of God. Who is the “you”?
Psalms 119:105, God’s word is to be the light to our path.
Psalms 119:130 – the “unfolding” of God’s word is our lamp.
Proverbs 6:23, “… the teaching is light …”
Our role – Isaiah 42:6-7

9. Lights in this world
Walking as children of light … Ephesians 5:1-13; Philippians 2:15
Proverbs 4:18 – the path of the righteous is light.
John 17:14-16 – in the world (shining) but not of the world.

10. Lights in the world
Philippians 2:14-16, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

11. Lights in the world Consistent obedience. Verse 12
Diligent effort. Verse 12
Reverence and respect. Verse 12
Useful to the Master. Verse 13
Consistently proper attitude. Verse 14
Above reproach. Verse 15
Never quitting. Verse 16

12. Light of the world Purpose of our light.
So that others can see the glory of God in our lives. Verse 16; Philippians 1:9-11; Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14; John 12:27-28
To let others know – those burdened in this life – that there’s hope beyond this world. Dispel darkness. Romans 8:22-25; John 12:35-36

13. Light of the world Purpose of our light.
Show there is a different way to live. Philippians 2:15. A guide to the blind. Romans 2:19.Prevent stumbling. John 11:9-10. Evoke change/repentance; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:7-13
Make a difference and positively Impact the lives of others – Isaiah 58:8-10