Throughout the Holy Scriptures in the book of Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus emphasized that believers should be the Salt and Light of the World, and be a witness to all those who do evil.
All those believers in God become an open book, a mirror in which the world puts its eyes, that is why Jesus teaches us to illuminate and heal in the dark.
Be the Salt and Light of the World
Being the salt and light of the world is not an easy thing, that is why Jesus teaches in his word how those who decide to follow God’s commands should walk.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt fades, with what will it be salted? it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trodden down by men.
You are the world’s light; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do you light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on the 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 which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16).
From these words, several applications can be mentioned that currently come to reveal the divine purpose to which all those children of God are called.
Be the Salt of the Earth
When Jesus speaks of salt in the Jewish context, this element was used at that time for the realization of some kind of burnt offering to God, as it was done with David.
“Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom to David over Israel forever, to him and to his sons under a covenant of salt?” (2nd Chronicles 13:5)
Maintain the Purity of the Salt
When it is said that salt is an element of purity, it is also necessary to contextualize that it is that element that is used to preserve food when it was about to be damaged.
That is why Jesus makes a simile between man and salt, implying that the man or woman who is full of God is the entity that comes to purify what is dead in another person, and in himself.
This means that the followers of Jesus must be pure as salt, full of those nutrients that come to maintain those lives and life itself with that flavour of holiness.
In this sense, it is achieved through prayer, reading the Bible and everything that brings him closer to God, fulfilling his mandates and precepts.
Do not lose the Divine essence
Jesus not only emphasizes being the salt of the earth but also refers to what happens when they deviate from God’s purpose, losing the divine essence, just like what happens to salt.
But if the salt fades, with what will it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men” (Matthew 5:13).
This means that when salt is mixed with other elements, it can lose its saline function and is no longer useful for anything.
In the same way, it happens when a man fills himself with things that divert him from the purpose of God and allows sin to rule his life, for which he is discarded, just as it happens with salt.
That is why Jesus warns not to happen to him like salt when it loses its flavour, and the Bible is very clear in mentioning in several verses that care must be taken not to have relationships with sin and the world.
- “Oh, adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world declares himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4)
- “For everything that is in the world, that is, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, does not come from the Father, but from the world ” (1 John 2:16)
Be the Light of the World
Regarding the Light, Jesus indicates through this metaphor that the followers of God must be that light that illuminates the darkness in which the people of Israel were submerged at that time.
However, those words still take ground, given what is lived in the world that is bent on sin brought by the darkness that governs the system.
Contextualizing it can be said that Jesus took the text of Isaiah and adapted it to the context, creating an easy understanding of the importance of that saving light.
Being Chosen of God
That is why, when Jesus said that they should be the light of the world, he was referring to being the chosen by God, those who are called to prevail over darkness.
It is to raise the collapsed walls product of bad works and sin, it is a call to all the children of God, who must restore a world full of evil.
“He says: It is too little for me that you be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the remnant of Israel; I also gave you to be a light to the nations, so that you may be my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:7).
light up in the dark
In this way, this entire fragment is linked to the custom of the time, because when it says that it is:
“a city set on a hill cannot be hidden”
This alludes that they are destined to be a reference wherever they are since they are open books for the world.
When Jesus refers to placing the light on the lampstand, it is because at that time the oil lamps were small, and they did not illuminate, that is why they were placed in high places to illuminate the whole place.
“Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthew 5:15).
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Being an Example for Others
Jesus ends with a call to all believers to be that light of the world, through that distinctive testimony of everyone who follows God.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
That is saying that through the way people act they will be glorifying God.
In addition to being an example in his way of speaking, in the treatment of his fellow man showing the kingdom of heaven, and becoming that son of light that God calls all believers.
children of light
“Once, you were darkness; but now they are light in the Lord. Therefore, live as children of light (because the fruit of the Spirit is manifested in all goodness, justice and truth) and prove what is pleasing to the Lord.
Have nothing to do with the fruitless works of darkness; on the contrary, denounce them” (Ephesians 5:8-1)
Being the Salt and Light of the World is indicating that the believer is the bearer of the glory of God in his life, he is an ambassador on earth of the kingdom of heaven.
That is why, through his living testimony, he will help the world to be purified and illuminated by the divine essence that covers it, teaching it the truth of God’s way.
Therefore, every day the believer must avoid mixing with things that do not please God.
It is to persevere in the holy calling that God has placed in those who have been chosen from their mother’s womb to proclaim the good news of salvation to the world.