Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

(v13-16, NIV)

This passage has been suggested to me to use for a presentation. It's sad how easily and quick I was to simply use it without really reading into it or studying it. I recall a few years ago being asked about this passage and what it really means to be salt. It is somewhat hard to understand, though it's probably preached more frequently than other passages. I would consider this passage to be relatively more popular when compared to the rest of scripture.

So, being the salt of the earth is a pretty big statement. He could've picked anything, which makes you wonder, what's so special about salt? Somehow, salt is differentiated from everything else such that he's comparing certain people to salt. How is it different? What's mentioned in this passage is saltiness, which isn't that explicit. However, this saltiness that is referred to is important. If this quality is lost to salt, it isn't really worth much and should be thrown away.

Salt is used for its taste, and that salty flavor is what differentiates it from everything else. How does that relate to followers of Jesus Christ? In what way are followers of Jesus salty? Well, I've heard it said with reference to this passage that nothing is really quite like salt. In the same way, nothing is really quite like followers of Jesus Christ; they are unique. That which differentiates you from those who do not follow Jesus must not be that which you lose. If you lose that, it would be the same as salt which loses its saltiness.

It's interesting that immediately following the salt is made mention of light. If we are to be like salt, then it makes sense to shine as lights to others. That which makes followers of Jesus different from others should be that which is shared with the world. We have the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, why should we hide it from others? Light is not made to be put under a bowl and hidden. Why should we hide the good news? Instead, we should be light of the world and shine this light before the world.