Matthew 5:13-14 (NKJV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
1. In reading the bible you will encounter (salt and light) "Metaphor's", particularly in our passage.
2. A Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
A Metaphor is a figure of speech that directly refers to one thing by mentioning another for rhetorical effect. It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two ideas.
Referring to His disciples but can also be applied to those called by God, saved by His grace.
Salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) a very important mineral in our lives and has two common purpose:
1. As preservative, long used as agent to preserve food from decaying. Salt contains antiseptic properties that kills harmful germs
2 Kings 2:21, Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'"
2. As seasoning, as flavor enhancer, and make food taste good.
- As God's chosen people we are to spread the gospel(good news) and be doers of the word of God by the sanctifying power of the
Holy Spirit, 1. To prevent the decaying/corrupting effect of sins in one's life. 2. To bring hope to a life destined to eternity in hell.
- We are to be the influencer of the gospel and righteousness to the people around us, specially those people that need Jesus Christ.
- A life without seasoning (Jesus Christ) is meaningless, restless and hopeless.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
St. Augustine once said "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."
It's really amazing how bits of salt can change the taste of a bowl of meal, same as true with Christians that can impact their family, society, businesses and the world with their testimony.
And if a salt looses it's saltiness, it will have no use. Same as the believer that doesn't do the word of God, will be of no use for the kingdom of God.
A spoil salt can't even be put on a good land because it might pollute it, but instead thrown on to the street to be trampled by people and animals.
In Ancient time, they will use it on the stair steps to prevent the steps from being slippery.
Dr. Thomson ("The Land and the Book") mentioned: A merchant of Sidon, who imported large quantity of salt from the marshes of Cyprus, enough to supply the entire province for many years. He transferred to the mountains
to avoid government duties. Sixty five houses were rented and filled with salt. The houses have merely earthen floors and salt next to the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. I saw large quantities of it literally
thrown into the road to be trodden under foot of men and beasts.
The light of the world.—In its highest or truest sense the word belongs to Christ, and to Him only, He is the source of light.
John 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Christ had appointed his disciples in general, and his apostles and the other ministers of His gospel, to enlighten and reform the world,
a world in darkness, immersed in ignorance, sin, and misery, by their doctrine and example; and so to direct their feet into the way leading to life and salvation.
Illustration: The sun being our source of light, and the moon reflecting the light from the son to give light our night time
The sun is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we Christian His people are the moon that reflects the light of Jesus to the sinful world.
Both to every true minister of Christ, and to every true Christian: every such a one is not only a burning light, a person burning with love to God, and zeal for his glory, and love to mankind, and zeal for their salvation; but also a shining light, communicating his word to others in deeds and speech.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
1. In reading the bible you will encounter (salt and light) "Metaphor's", particularly in our passage.
2. A Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
A Metaphor is a figure of speech that directly refers to one thing by mentioning another for rhetorical effect. It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two ideas.
Referring to His disciples but can also be applied to those called by God, saved by His grace.
Salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) a very important mineral in our lives and has two common purpose:
1. As preservative, long used as agent to preserve food from decaying. Salt contains antiseptic properties that kills harmful germs
2 Kings 2:21, Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'"
2. As seasoning, as flavor enhancer, and make food taste good.
- As God's chosen people we are to spread the gospel(good news) and be doers of the word of God by the sanctifying power of the
Holy Spirit, 1. To prevent the decaying/corrupting effect of sins in one's life. 2. To bring hope to a life destined to eternity in hell.
- We are to be the influencer of the gospel and righteousness to the people around us, specially those people that need Jesus Christ.
- A life without seasoning (Jesus Christ) is meaningless, restless and hopeless.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
St. Augustine once said "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."
It's really amazing how bits of salt can change the taste of a bowl of meal, same as true with Christians that can impact their family, society, businesses and the world with their testimony.
And if a salt looses it's saltiness, it will have no use. Same as the believer that doesn't do the word of God, will be of no use for the kingdom of God.
A spoil salt can't even be put on a good land because it might pollute it, but instead thrown on to the street to be trampled by people and animals.
In Ancient time, they will use it on the stair steps to prevent the steps from being slippery.
Dr. Thomson ("The Land and the Book") mentioned: A merchant of Sidon, who imported large quantity of salt from the marshes of Cyprus, enough to supply the entire province for many years. He transferred to the mountains
to avoid government duties. Sixty five houses were rented and filled with salt. The houses have merely earthen floors and salt next to the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. I saw large quantities of it literally
thrown into the road to be trodden under foot of men and beasts.
The light of the world.—In its highest or truest sense the word belongs to Christ, and to Him only, He is the source of light.
John 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Christ had appointed his disciples in general, and his apostles and the other ministers of His gospel, to enlighten and reform the world,
a world in darkness, immersed in ignorance, sin, and misery, by their doctrine and example; and so to direct their feet into the way leading to life and salvation.
Illustration: The sun being our source of light, and the moon reflecting the light from the son to give light our night time
The sun is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we Christian His people are the moon that reflects the light of Jesus to the sinful world.
Both to every true minister of Christ, and to every true Christian: every such a one is not only a burning light, a person burning with love to God, and zeal for his glory, and love to mankind, and zeal for their salvation; but also a shining light, communicating his word to others in deeds and speech.
