Today we will be talking about salt and light. These two things have great significance in the Bible and are used with great meaning here, by Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount. Read today’s text in Matt 5:13-16.
Let’s start with salt. In the ancient world, salt was very important. It was used to flavor food, preserve food, and as a catalyst for fires (though I’m not sure how that works). But there was also an ancient cultural practice known as making a ‘covenant of salt’. This required one person to eat the salt of another person. Normally, the person of greater authority, or power, would provide the salt, either on the meat, in the bread, or some similar manner. Salt was used because it was considered to be so vitally important. It was believed to be the substance in the blood that kept man going. Eating someone’s salt was similar to the idea of becoming blood brothers. The two people involved in the covenant were loyal to each other for life.
In Numbers 25:10-13, God makes a covenant of everlasting priesthood with the descendants of Aaron, Moses’ brother. But in Numbers 18:19, God had promised to feed Aaron’s descendants through their work presenting sacrifices and offerings to the Lord. This was considered to be a covenant of salt, and the priests kept a pile of salt near the altar so that all the offerings made to God could be seasoned with the salt of the covenant (Lev 2:13). Salting the sacrifices symbolized that God’s covenant was eternal. God also made a salt covenant with the house of David. The LORD God of Israel made David and his sons rulers over Israel forever through a covenant of salt (2 Chronicles 13:5).
In today’s text, we see Jesus talking about salt in His Sermon on the Mount. He tells His followers (disciples) that they are the salt of the earth. He was saying that Christians can bring Christian flavor to the world, preserve God’s teachings, and ignite fires. God can use His people greatly. No covenant of salt was mentioned here, but we do have, as believers, an eternal relationship of loyalty with our Lord. Jesus warned His followers about losing their saltiness. He was telling them not to lose their loyalty to God’s ways, to their Lord. He cannot use us for His purposes if we are not following His ways and He taught this frequently (Mark 9:49-50, Luke 14:34-35). God is concerned with our Christian walk and how we live our lives and He tells us here, clearly, that He can discipline, or dispense with, disciples who no longer choose to walk in His ways. Salt was only good for about 15 years use, but God can use us as long as we are willing to be loyal to His ways. While we cannot lose our salvation, many Christians have been called home because of their falling away from their Christian walk. Jesus gives us a warning here. We must resolve to stay on the path.
How do we stay on that path? We are given a clue in Col 4:2-6. These verses tell us that prayer is our power tool. Through prayer, we can count on Him to ‘salt’ our words when we reach out to others for Him. Your work for Christ, and the way you live, must be subjected to much prayer to make it effective.
Next in His sermon, Jesus begins to talk about light. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Light. Jesus said it of Himself (John 8:12). Jesus, the Messiah, was predicted to come as the Light of the World by the prophets (Is 9:1-7). John’s Gospel tells of His coming (John 1:4-9). Jesus came, as the Messiah, to bring salvation to man (Psalm 27:1).
When the Light brings salvation in our lives, He also brings change. Those who have given their lives over to Jesus experience great change in their lives (1 John 1:5-7, 2:7-11, 2:15-17). The Light exposes the darkness (evil or sin) and Jesus’ disciples are charged to become light in this world, living to help expose the darkness as He did (Eph 5:8-13, 2 Cor 4:1-6).
In His sermon, Jesus encouraged His followers not to hide their light, also something He taught frequently (Mark 4:21-23, Luke 8:16). God wants His truth to shine out to all men. He does not want any to perish (2 Pet 3:9). It was Jesus’ desire that men see our good deeds and are thus brought to glorify God by that influence.
John 17 records a prayer of Jesus to His father. Read John 17:20-26. Jesus is praying for His disciples and for those they lead to know the Lord. This prayer includes all of us who know the Lord. He wants us to be His witnesses… that we will spread His message and His love. Is your life a witness to what He has done for you and a testimony to His love? We must walk with Jesus and reflect His light to the world. As Jesus’ disciples, we are meant to live a life which salts the earth and reflects God’s love. Our lives are meant to shine the Light of God, pointing others to Him.
Responding to God: Worship God for His promises and His love. Thank Him that our relationship with Him is eternal. Ask for guidance in living your life in a way which reflects His love for others. Bathe your Christian walk and testimony in prayer and ask for right and perfect words when speaking about Him to others. Pray that you will never lose your saltiness.
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