Christian influence. It was not to the outside multitude, but to his own disciples, that Jesus addressed these words. To these, more immediately, the whole sermon was preached (see Matthew 5:1 , Matthew 5:2 ). We have to consider Christians— I. AS THE SALT OF THE EARTH . 1 . God ' s instruments for its purification. 2 . They impart relish to life. 3 . They preserve the world from destruction. 4 . In preserving they are preserved. II. AS ... read more
The influence of sanctified characters. The righteousness which Christ commends will exert in the world a most gracious moral influence. It will season, as the salt does; it will illuminate and quicken, as the light does. "Salt seasons things, causing things to taste savoury, which otherwise would be no way pleasant, or wholesome, or good for the body." "Our Lord applies to his disciples the stronger word "light," i.e. essential light, rather than any which signifies merely a light-bearer.... read more
Matthew only. Ye are the light of the world . After speaking of the moral tone that the disciples were to give to the world, in contrast to sin in its corrupting power, Christ refers to them as enlightening, in contrast to sin as darkness and ignorance. Our Lord further naturally exchanges the term "the earth" (which from its strong materialism had suited the figure of the salt) for "the world"—a phrase which must, indeed, as regards the disciples, be limited to this earth, but as regards... read more
The missionary power of Christ's disciples. "Ye are the light of the world. " Christ's disciples are light-bearers rather than light. Christ is, properly speaking, the Light; and Christ's disciples carry that light, in what they are, and what they do, and what they say. I. CHRIST THE LIGHT . It was a dark world indeed when the light rose and streamed forth from Bethlehem (see Matthew 4:16 ; Luke 2:32 ; John 1:4 , John 1:5 ; 2 Corinthians 4:6 ). 1 . Light... read more
The light of the world - The light of the world often denotes the sun, John 11:9. The sun renders objects visible, shows their form, their nature, their beauties, their deformities. The term light is often applied to religious teachers. See Matthew 4:16; Luke 2:32; John 1:4; John 8:12; Isaiah 49:6. It is pre-eminently applied to Jesus in these places, because he is, in the moral world, what the sun is in the natural world. The apostles, Christian ministers, and all Christians, are lights of the... read more
Matthew 5:14-15. Ye are the light of the world The effect of light being to make things manifest, Ephesians 5:13, and to direct us in the way in which we are to walk; the import of this metaphor is, that Christ had appointed his disciples in general, and his apostles and the other ministers of his gospel in particular, to enlighten and reform the world, immersed in ignorance, sin, and misery, by their doctrine and example; and so to direct their feet into the way leading to life and... read more
38. Christ’s people in the world (Matthew 5:13-16)Salt can be used to preserve food from decay and to give food flavour. Christ’s people should have a similar effect upon the world, as they resist the corrupting effects of sin and help make the world a better place to live. But if they do not discipline themselves to develop and maintain this salt-like quality, they will be of no use for God (Matthew 5:13-14).The followers of Jesus are lights for God in a dark world. Like a city on a hill they... read more
light. Greek. phos = light. See App-130 . world. Greek. kosmos. See App-129 . A city. Safed, so placed, was within sight. read more
Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.This is further testimony to the indispensable nature of God's children. The world would be in total darkness without them. Furthermore, there is no reason to suppose that God would allow a wicked world to stand if it were not for the faithful remnant remaining in it and remaining faithful to God. Christ also said, "I am the light of the world." That passage before us is not contradictory. It means that the light Christians give... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:13-16
Sermon on the mount: 2. Influence of Christians: salt and light. Our Lord assured his disciples that very bad treatment in this life might only be the prelude to eternal happiness. He is in the position of a general who is launching his men on an enterprise which will try them to the utmost. So he not only affirms that they will be rewarded, but reminds them how much depends on them. If you faint, what hope is there for the world? He speaks of their relation to the world under two... read more