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Matthew 5:13-20—“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. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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.

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. ¹⁸ For 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. ¹⁹ Therefore 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. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

People talk. People talk differently. Some people talk more than others, and some less. Some people talk and cannot help but be funny, and some can’t be funny no matter how hard they try. Some people talk so vividly that they paint pictures in your brain, and some talk blandly. Some people talk timidly and shyly, and some people talk with authority. When someone talks with authority, you tend to listen. But people can talk with authority even though they have absolutely no idea what they are speaking about.

I’ll admit that I have found myself talking as though I had authority about something. But I learn that the person to whom I am speaking actually is an expert. In those instances, I have learned that foot fits in my mouth very well.

In today’s Gospel text, Jesus is preaching what is known as “The Sermon on the Mount” and we will be considering the first chapter of this sermon (Mt. 5) over the next three weeks.

Before we get into the sermon, I want you to consider for a moment how the crowds of disciples respond to Jesus’ sermon. Matthew records (Mt. 7:28-29), “When Jesus completed these words, the crowds were being astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them with the conviction that He had authority, and not as their scribes taught” (trans. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs). Jesus speaks with authority because Jesus knows what He is talking about. Jesus could speak with authority on any subject. But in this particular portion of the sermon, Jesus is speaking about His disciples. Jesus is speaking about you, believer.

When Jesus says something about you, it is important to listen. So what is Jesus saying about you, believer? Well, to understand our text today, we need to go back a few verses to the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount – to the Beatitudes.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus gives you blessings. Listen to what He says.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, Jesus says that people who have nothing to offer God and can never get their act together, these people are blessed. They are so blessed they are saved – the reign of heaven is theirs. All the gifts of the King – forgiveness, life, identity, community – all belong to people who have nothing to give God.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Jesus says that people who are sad because they see that the earth is rotting and dark, they are blessed. They are blessed because, one day, God will take all their sadness and mourning away.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” People who are powerless are blessed because they will get to live forever in God’s new heaven and new earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” People who know things are not right in the world are blessed. They are blessed because God will one day make it right.

Do you hear this? Well, keep listening. Jesus goes on.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Merciful people are blessed because they will get God’s mercy on the last day. God will cover their sins.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” People who have their hearts set on God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and on no other false god will be blessed. They will see God face to face.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” People who make peace will be called God’s sons and daughters because God gives them peace.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus says that when this world hassles you and persecutes you, you are blessed. Then to make sure you know that all these blessings are for you, Jesus adds, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you.” You are blessed because God’s eternal, kingly gifts belong to you.

Do you hear this? Jesus is talking to you. Jesus is talking about you. Believe Him. He speaks with authority. God does not lie. When God speaks, He only speaks the truth. Jesus, the Son of God, speaks about how things really are. In fact, God’s Word creates reality.

So now, we come to v. 13-14 and Jesus is still speaking with authority. He says, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Notice, this is not a command. This is not an exhortation. This is not a scenario you are to make happen. Jesus simply says what is. Believe Him. Jesus is not yanking your chain. He is not trying to make a fool out of you. Jesus is simply saying what is. He says, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.”

The earth is in bad shape, it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. The earth needs salt. Jesus says that you, believer, are that salt. The world is a dark place. This world needs light. Jesus says you, believer, are that light.

Even though Jesus speaks with authority you can, of course, chose to not believe Jesus. You can chose to deny the truth. But then things become pretty absurd. Jesus addresses this. He postulates, “What would happen if salt lost its taste? Well, then it is good for nothing but to be cast out and be trampled by people.” That does not sound good.

Jesus says, “You cannot hide a city on a hill.” Being residents of the Red River Valley, you may not know what hills are. They are places where the ground actually rises up kind of like the dike, but even bigger. If you built a city on one of those, it would be pretty hard to hide, right?

Jesus goes on, “How silly would it be to light a lamp in a dark house and then put a bucket over it?” Well, that would be dangerous. It would be foolish and dumb.

So, don’t be absurd. Believe Jesus when He says, “You are the salt of the earth.” Don’t be foolish and dumb. Believe Jesus when He says, “You are the light of the world.”

Jesus says you are salt and light in order to make a difference in the world. Jesus says that your good works are like light in the darkness of this world. Those good works give the world light to see what God is like. When people, believers or unbelievers, see your good works, they will give God the glory.

Jesus doesn’t give you any parameters of what good works to do. Jesus doesn’t give you any specific works to do, so the door is wide open. You don’t have to look far to find places to do good works. Maybe it will be in your own home, maybe it will be in your job, maybe it will be for a friend, maybe it will be for a total stranger – you can find good works to do all around you no matter where you are.

Jesus does give a command here. Our translation renders Jesus’ words in v. 16, “Let your light shine.” That translation makes the word ‘let’ or ‘allow’ the command. It puts the command on you. But do not think that it is somehow up to you to somehow allow your light to shine. No, Jesus’ command here is not to you – the Greek is very clear. The command is “shine,” literally “Shine the light of you.” It is a good thing that Jesus speaks His command to your light because you already know that light obeys the voice of God. When God created the world He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Gen. 1:3). Here Jesus, the Son of God, commands the light within you to shine, and it does.

So, even though you are part of this dark world and even though you are part of the problem, Jesus’ words still have authority. Even though your sin casts darkness all around you. Jesus is the true light who comes to the darkness of this sin-filled world (Jn. 1:4-5). Even though you love the darkness rather than the light because your deeds are evil (Jn. 3:19), Jesus says that you, believer, are the light of the world.

It is pretty easy to despair when you hear Jesus command your light to shine. It is easy to hunger and thirst for your light to shine because so often you see that it does not. It is easy to mourn and weep because you cast such long and dark shadows. It is easy to realize that you fail precisely because you are poor in spirit.

But when that happens, remember Jesus’ words. “You are blessed. You are blessed because I give you forgiveness, life, and salvation.” And believe Jesus when He declares, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Amen.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, now and forever. Amen.