{"id":54676,"date":"2024-01-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=54676"},"modified":"2024-01-09T11:33:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T19:33:33","slug":"salt-and-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/salt-and-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Salt and Light"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jesus used vivid and memorable images to describe his followers. In his most famous sermon, he calls his followers the \u201csalt of the earth\u201d<\/strong> and the \u201clight of the world\u201d<\/strong> (Matt. 5:13, 14<\/a>). In the Believer\u2019s Bible Commentary<\/a>, William MacDonald unpacks how those who original heard Jesus\u2019 teaching understood these metaphors. Keep reading to see how he explains Jesus’ descriptions of his followers in his one-volume commentary on the Bible, the Believer\u2019s Bible Commentary<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believers Are Salt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.\u201d <\/p>Matthew 5:13<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Jesus likened His disciples to salt.<\/strong> They were to the world what salt is in everyday life: salt seasons food; it hinders the spread of corruption; salt creates thirst; it brings out the flavor. So His followers add piquancy to human society, serve as a preservative, and make others long for the righteousness described in the preceding verses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If salt loses its flavor,<\/strong> how can its saltiness be restored? There is no way to restore the true, natural taste. Once it has lost its flavor, salt is good for nothing.<\/strong> It is discarded on a footpath. Albert Barnes\u2019s comment on this passage is illuminating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The salt used in this country is a chemical compound\u2014and if the saltiness<\/strong> were lost, or it were to lose its savor,<\/strong> there would be nothing remaining. In eastern countries, however, the salt used was impure, mingled with vegetable and earthly substances; so that it might lose the whole of its saltiness, and a considerable quantity [of salt without flavor] remain. This was good for nothing except to place in paths, or walks, as we use gravel.<\/p>Barnes’ New Testament Notes<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The disciple has one great function\u2014to be the salt of the earth<\/strong> by living out the terms of discipleship listed in the Beatitudes and throughout the rest of the Sermon. If he fails to exhibit this spiritual reality, men will tread his testimony under their feet. The world has only contempt for an undedicated believer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believers Are Light<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.\u201d <\/p>Matthew 5:14\u201316<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Jesus also calls Christians the light of the world.<\/strong> He spoke of Himself as \u201cthe light of the world\u201d (John 8:12<\/a>; 12:35, 36<\/a>, 46<\/a>). The relationship between these two statements is that Jesus is the source of light; Christians are the reflection of His light. Their function is to shine for Him just as the moon reflects the glory of the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Christian is like a city that is set on a hill:<\/strong> t is elevated above its surroundings and it shines in the midst of darkness. Those whose lives exhibit the traits of Christ\u2019s teaching cannot be hidden.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket.<\/strong> Instead, they put it on a lampstand<\/strong> so that it will give light to all who are in the house.<\/strong> He did not intend that we hoard the light of His teaching for ourselves, but that we share it with others. We should let<\/strong> our light so shine<\/strong> that as people see<\/strong> our good works,<\/strong> they will glorify<\/strong> our Father in heaven.<\/strong> The emphasis is on the ministry of Christian character. The winsomeness of lives in which they display Christ speaks louder than the persuasion of words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get More Insights Like These with the Believer\u2019s Bible Commentary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Believer\u2019s Bible Commentary<\/a> is a one-volume commentary that works perfectly in the Olive Tree Bible App. This commentary by William MacDonald features comments on every verse of the Bible. Visit our store today and add this resource to your Olive Tree Library!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
BELIEVER’S BIBLE COMMENTARY<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jesus used vivid and memorable images to describe his followers. In his most famous sermon, he calls his followers the \u201csalt of the earth\u201d and the \u201clight of the world\u201d (Matt. 5:13, 14). In the Believer\u2019s Bible Commentary, William MacDonald unpacks how those who original heard Jesus\u2019 teaching understood these metaphors. Keep reading to see<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":54680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_cf_multicollab_revision_bundle":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7849],"tags":[6055],"class_list":{"0":"post-54676","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-commentaries","8":"tag-believers-bible-commentary"},"yoast_head":"\nSalt and Light - Olive Tree Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/staging-blog.olivetree.com\/salt-and-light\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Salt and Light\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Jesus used vivid and memorable images to describe his followers. 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