Matthew 5:13-15 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:14

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:15

Neither do men light a candle, etc. The same illustration comes in Luke 8:16 ( Mark 4:21 ), immediately after the parable of the sower, and again in Luke 11:33 , immediately after the reference to the repentance of the men of Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah. All four passages have too much verbal similarity to admit of any of them being absolutely independent. Mark 4:21 has the greatest number of peculiarities. The two passages in Luke agree very closely with each other, but of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:13

Ye are the salt of the earth - Salt renders food pleasant and palatable, and preserves from putrefaction. So Christians, by their lives and instructions, are to keep the world from entire moral corruption. By bringing down the blessing of God in answer to their prayers, and by their influence and example, they save the world from universal vice and crime.Salt have lost its savour - That is, if it has become tasteless, or has lost its preserving properties. The salt used in this country is a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:14

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:15

Neither do men light a candle ... - The word rendered “candle” means any portable light, as a lamp, candle, lantern. Compare Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Luke 12:35. Jesus proceeded here to show them that the very reason why they were enlightened was that others might also see the light, and be benefited by it. When people light a candle, they do not conceal the light, but place it where it may be of use. So it is with religion. It is given that we may benefit others. It is not to be concealed, but... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:13

Matthew 5:13. Ye Not the apostles, not ministers only; but all who possess and manifest the graces spoken of in the preceding verses, and are truly holy and righteous; are the salt of the earth Appointed to be the means of preventing or curing the growth of that corruption which prevails in the world, and of seasoning men’s minds with wisdom and grace. But if the salt have lost its savour Or, be grown insipid, and therefore want seasoning itself, wherewith shall it be salted By what... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:14-15

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:13-16

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:13

ye. Representing the kingdom of Matthew 5:3 with Matthew 4:17 . are = represent. Figure of speech Metaphor. App-6 . salt. Compare Mark 9:50 . Luke 14:34 , Luke 14:35 . if. See App-118 . b, expressing a real contingency; for, if the salt is stored on the bare earth, or is exposed to the air or sun, it does lose its savour and is fit for no place but the streets (see Thomson's Th e Land and the Book, Lond., 1869, p. 381). his = its. of = by. Greek. hupo. of men. Belongs to former... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:14

light. Greek. phos = light. See App-130 . world. Greek. kosmos. See App-129 . A city. Safed, so placed, was within sight. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:13

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:14-15

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:13-16

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:13

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:14

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