Matthew 5:13-16
- Popular Bible Verse Series
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. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. 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. -Matthew 5:13-16
In September, my wife and I joined a Holy Land tour. One day, our guide pointed to hills near the Sea of Galilee, noting that somewhere among them Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–12). I’ve long considered writing about the Sermon on the Mount for the Popular Bible Verse Series, and visiting this site deepened that desire. However, I’ve chosen to focus on Matthew 5:13–16, the “Salt and Light” passage, another well-loved New Testament text.
Salt and Light: Christian Responsibilities
What are the social responsibilities of Christians? Jesus’ metaphors of salt and light in Matthew 5:13–16 provide answers. The light represents doing good: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (v. 16). Good works, like a lamp on a stand, glorify God by benefiting others.
The salt metaphor emphasizes restraining evil. While Jesus doesn’t explicitly mention evil, His audience understood salt’s role in preservation. In ancient times, without refrigeration, salt preserved food, especially meat and fish, from decay. During our tour, our guide read these verses by the Sea of Galilee, explaining the region’s fishing industry in Jesus’ day. Fish, if not salted promptly, would spoil. Jesus’ listeners knew salt’s preservative power, so when He called Christians “the salt of the earth,” He was urging them to preserve society’s moral standards and uphold biblical values—not just for themselves or their community, but for the world.
Early Christians as Salt
In the first century, Christians moving from Jerusalem to Rome encountered rampant immorality, including abortion, infant abandonment, and infanticide, which were socially accepted. Early Christians condemned these as murder, especially given Christ’s high regard for children (Matthew 19:14). They not only spoke out but acted, rescuing abandoned children and adopting them. Over centuries, Christians influenced societies and urged rulers to enact laws banning such practices. By the Middle Ages, Christian-dominated Europe became one of the most pro-life regions, reflecting believers’ commitment to being the salt of the earth.
Salt in Today’s World
Today, Christians face similar challenges. In America, some laws permit abortion up to birth, and rare cases involve neglecting infants born alive during abortion procedures. Certain political groups advocate for unrestricted abortion access, even seeking to reverse pro-life legislation like the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Bible-believing Christians must oppose such policies, not only through uncontroversial acts like feeding the poor but by actively confronting evils like abortion.
Christians should support pregnancy crisis centers, promote adoption, and engage in politics to back pro-life candidates and laws. God has given us a democratic system, the right to vote, and the opportunity to influence laws that restrain evil, such as abortion or harmful medical procedures for minors. Failing to vote or supporting policies that enable these practices risks neglecting our call to be the salt of the earth. As Paul writes in Romans 13:4, governing authorities are God’s servants to punish evildoers, and our participation in choosing leaders aligns with this purpose.
Conclusion
Christians are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, doing good and restraining evil through words, actions, and civic engagement. By living out Jesus’ commands, we preserve biblical values in society and glorify our Father in heaven.
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