You are the Light of the World

Sunday, 06/22/2008

Matthew 5:13-20

Key verse 5:14a

“You are the light of the world.”

Read verse 13.  What kinds of things is salt good for?  What does it mean to be the salt of the earth?  What will happen if we lose our saltiness?  

Salt is an essential nutrient for life and health.  It has many uses. Salt is useful as a preservative, for cleaning and deodorizing and for adding flavor to bland or tasteless foods.

It means that we preserve the earth; purify and add flavor to the earth.  In Jesus’ view saltiness is probably mostly equated with holiness.

If we lose our saltiness, Jesus warns that we cannot be made salty again.  It’s like a man or woman losing their virginity and then wanting to become a virgin again.  

Read verse 14-16.  Why is light necessary?  How can we be the light of the world (16)?

Light is necessary first of all for life.  Without light nothing can live or grow.  Light is also necessary for direction, as well as for beauty.  

One, we must come to Jesus for his light.  Two, we must not hide what Jesus has done for us, but show it to the world.  Three, we can must shine the light of Jesus, not only through our words, but primarily through the good that we do.  

Read verses 17-18.  The Law and the Prophets refer to all the words of the Old Testament.   What does it mean that Jesus came, not to abolish, but to fulfill them?

Practically, Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets through his death and resurrection.  In doing so Jesus provided the ultimate answer the problem of sin and death.

Read verses 19-20.  What part should we take in fulfilling the words of God?  Why did Jesus say that our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law?

Our part in fulfilling the words of God is accomplished through our faith and obedience to God’s words.  It is to practice and teach God’s words.  In doing so, we do our part to usher in the kingdom of God.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law rejected Jesus.  Without Jesus there is no true righteousness, or practice or teaching.  Since Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s words, trying to practice or teach God’s words without Jesus is totally empty; like eating a hamburger without the patty.