The Words of a King: Part 3 - Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

13 “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.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 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.

Jesus uses two metaphors: light and salt to describe the purposes of believers on earth. The characteristics of light are relatively easy to understand. In addition, the commentary He gave regarding light illuminates His meaning, because light and darkness are common themes in scripture and God’s Kingdom, but the commentary on the salt only referenced it losing its flavor and because of that losing its earthly purpose. I’m not trying to overdo this but does salt actually have flavor? So what is the meaning of the word for taste/savor in reference to salt?

μωραίνω mōrainō; from 3474; to become insipid; figuratively, to make (passively a simpleton): — become fool, make foolish, lose savour.

Insipidus

insipid- dilute, tasteless, bland weak, unappetizing, unpalatable, wishy washy.

Mark 9:49-50

49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

This verse is used to conclude a teaching where His disciples are being corrected after engaging in selfishness and jealousy. We know that Jesus said that the world will know that we are His disciples by the love that we have for one another (JN 13:35). Jealousy and selfish ambition are the opposite traits of Jesus’ nature. If He is the true light and the true salt and His glory has been given to us in order that we carry His hope to the world, if we don’t reflect Him, we don’t preserve God’s truth on earth.

He said, “everyone will be salted with fire” fire in some sense fire will touch everyone. [fiery trial 1 Peter 4:12; trial of your faith 1 Peter 1:7]. God’s covenant purposes for humanity will endure. He will see His work to completion. Salt and fire is the talk of refining and enduring. What remains will be purified. People who refuse the will of God will be salted by fire their own way and the people of God will be salted by fire another way, so that what is Christ will remain…be preserved and endure.

Salt as a preservative represents God’s enduring purposes.

The Old Testament sacrifices were seasoned with salt (Lev. 2:13; Ezek. 43:24; Num. 18:19 Aaron’s priesthood; [2 Chr. 13:5 David’s throne] ). Disciples, living sacrifices…the purpose of our presence is to be a reflection and reminder of Him. (cf. Rom. 12:1)

Genesis 18:19

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Galatians 3:16

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

1. Preservation

During ancient times, salt was used to cure or preserve meat. I do believe that one of the intended purposes of God’s people both Israel in a) OT (Deuteronomy nations 4:5-9; children 6:1-9; themselves 8:1-3) and the b) church since Pentecost has been to preserve His presence, His character and His plan in a lost and dying world. When God’s people follow Him and live for Him, they are the flavor of God and a constant reminder of His existence and reality. In this way, they preserve the things of God.

2. Distinction

This actually brings me to another aspect of salt, while it doesn’t really have its own flavor, it’s addition to food causes a distinction between the various flavors that are in the pot. Adding salt will help your tastebuds identify garlic and cumin, cilantro and onion. God’s people existing on earth according to His will (based on the instruction of His word) will distinguish between lies and truth who is the one true God, and it will distinguish between true believers and false believers. Listen, we are nearing the end and Satan is only going to become more angry, knowing his time is short. It’s already happening, but let’s understand that God’s plan for the church is distinction and Satan’s plan for true believers is extinction. Understand what I am saying… Satan will not just tolerate false Christianity, he will endorse and bless it, but he will do his best to destroy the real thing, and his first order of action is destroying you. His desire is to tear apart the church one lively stone at a time (1 Peter 2:5).

3. Defection

The last thing that I want to say about salt is that the Greek word μωραίνω mōrainō is used in…Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

God’s intended purpose for humanity as a reflection of His glory and image became— moraino. Through the fall that reflected image became perverted and left to itself, the image that was created inwardly began to pervert the image outwardly as it began to create the image outwardly after its own likeness… Romans 1:23

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Light

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 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.

A city on a hill

A light in a house

Travel through Israel was dangerous in ancient times. The topography alone made the task difficult rocky hills and valleys made for a slow and grueling journey. In addition, there were oftentimes bandits hidden within the rocky crags along the way. Travel at night would be even more difficult, and a city on a hill would be a welcome site, a beacon in the night, signaling a couple things:

1. You are nearing your destination—celestial city

2. And most importantly, you’re headed in the right direction

In addition, a light’s purpose is not to be obscured. You do not light a candle and hide its illumination, which would be unfruitful. Light in a house that would otherwise be dark allows the people that are in there to see what they are doing, to see where they are going, to see what needs to be accomplished, without light, the work that must be done cannot be completed.

Christians are the light of the world, and it requires light to find lost things: Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 15:8-10 ESV

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Matt 5:16 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.

The plan of God is that He would send His light to earth in the form of His Son

John 1:1-9 ESV

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Through the cross:

Colossians 1:12-14

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Through the cross, peace is made between man and God, God’s Spirit comes to live in man, and now, the light that has come into the world (Jesus) through faith, has come into man. And now true believer’s have become the light of the world, and as they allow the true works of God to flow through them, The Father is glorified, just as He was glorified in the Son

I give them the glory

John 17:1-5

The High Priestly Prayer

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:22-23

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

I wanted to come back to John and use the KJV because the word sons is used instead of children. The point that is being made is that God sent His glory from heaven to earth in His Son. His son, who is the express image of His glory, which directly correlates with light.

Jesus is the light that  came into darkness, and through salvation, the glory and light of God is transferred into us, the “sons” of God, and we become the physical vessel in the earthly realm that releases the glory of God in earth, which allows those that are lost to see their lostness and allows the light to shine into their darkness, so that they can be found and heaven can rejoice.

“Hell lost another one and I am free, I am free!”

The Words of a King

Matthew 5:1-2

The Sermon on the Mount

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

In Adam, man was forced away from God. Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us is the presence of God coming to us to bring us near.

It is also interesting to note that Moses went up the mountain to hear the voice God for the people who would not come near, but in Jesus the voice of God welcomes the people to hear the King and learn His kingdom.

Matthew 7:28-29

The Authority of Jesus

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

The Beatitudes

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

1. Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Poor- to crouch, to cringe, to be a pauper, beggarly

It doesn’t say poor in finances or poor in health or poor in society. But it explicitly says poor in spirit. Poor is the opposite of pride. He isn’t talking about how you face the world or how you face religion, but He is talking about how your spirit approaches God. How your spirit approaches His Spirit and how you approach His word.

Independence vs dependence. We learn from Jesus!

John 12:49-50

49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Philippians 2:6-8

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Peter 5:5-7

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 18:1-4

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

A person who is poor in spirit understands that without God moving on his heart, he would still be lost in darkness. He understands that he is clay in the hands of the potter and that he is a child and God is His Father and that his Father is to be respected and honored. He understands that his Father’s word is to be respected and honored. He is poor in spirit towards his Father and this affects the way he handles human relationships also.

2. Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Mourn- to grieve mourning over someone or their death.

If you do a word search every time this word is used in the New Testament, it speaks of mourning over death or tragedy. The word mourn is connected with death. The wages of sin is death. Let me tell you something saints. You may not like to be reminded about this, but I have to tell you that God is mourning. He mourns and weeps over the lost. He mourns that mankind is dying in sin, and He mourns that His people don’t take it seriously.

Jesus showed signs of mourning over the results of sin when He wept at Lazarus’ funeral.

I firmly believe that if we allow His word to speak to us and enter into His presence to the place where we touch His heart or His heart touches ours, then we, like Isaiah, will mourn over our own selves. We will mourn over when we hurt His heart and like He always is so ready to do, he will touch our lips, He will touch our hearts with the coal from the altar and then He will say are you ready to go for me now? Now, that you mourn for what I mourn for. Now, that you’re no longer consumed with your own will for your own life, but now, you’re more concerned about my will than your will. Let me send that heart into this broken world. Look at them their dying in their sin. Can’t you pray, can’t you fast, can’t you speak to them for me. I’m mourning over here. My heart is breaking over my creation. Where is someone that will mourn with me?

Those of you that have entered into intercession know what I’m talking about. When you start with a  heavy heart, and then you cry out in His presence and being led by His Spirit, you mourn with Him for what His heart mourns for and after the tears and after the cries, you get up on your feet again, and the comfort of His presence has flooded your soul.

And that’s just the beginning because if you mourn with Him now, you will surely be comforted then!

3. Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Strong’s_ In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time.

The opposite again would be the proud who take matters into their own hands and resolve their issues. To the American mind this is what sounds right— I have rights. I have a course of action to remedy this situation. I will take charge. Let me say that there is a time and place for everything, but in situations like these the problem is that the undiscerning heart doesn’t see that God is allowing the trial or situation for good purposes spiritually in the life of the believer. Instead, they view that they’ve been wronged and want it to be made right. They cannot see where God has been wronged and wants to make things right.

Greek origin, praus, which is translated as “strength under control.” In ancient Greece, war horses were trained to be meek — strong and powerful yet under control and willing to submit

John 18:4-8

4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

Matthew 26:53

-- Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

4. Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Proverbs 16:26 NASB

A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.

Humans are hungry and thirsty for what satisfies themselves. Jesus was hungry for something different:

John 4:32

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

John 4:34-35

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

If we are honest with one another… do we really think that’s what most Christians are doing. It’s actually a great question for a Pastor to ask himself. Is that what you’re doing pastor, are you seeking after God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness?

Thirsty

Revelation 22:17

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Have you ever realized that you may be on the verge of dehydration. In other words, you didn’t drink as much as you should’ve. You’ve been in the heat, and now all of the sudden your weak, and you’re not quite desperate yet, but you realize that you need to get hydrated quickly. What is on your mind at that point— Gatorade? Water?

When your thirsty like that or famished with hunger, it’s all you can think about at that moment. What do we think about most moments of the day? Don’t answer that too quickly. Take your time and be spiritually sober about it. Now, be honest within yourself, what are you hungering for? What are you thirsting for?

Anything else that gets in the way of God’s plan is vanity. There was a specific year I made more money than I had ever made, and I was planning to beat it the next year. I thank God that He intervened. It wasn’t enough. It was never going to be enough. He said, “A reporter asked old man Rockefeller a question, ‘When will it be enough?’ Rockerfeller’s response was, ‘I just need a little bit more!’”

In one of Jesus’ messages, The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches are the thorns that choked the seed of the Kingdom.

5. Matthew 5:7

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 9:10-13

10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This passage is speaking to people with a religious spirit. Sick people know that they need help physically. There are people who know they need help spiritually and they seek it from God and mean business with God. There are others who don’t see where they need help; instead, they are the helper. Many times people will offer mercy when it’s convenient, but when a situation affects them spiritually or financially, something happens in their hearts: the opposite of mercy: vengeance, retaliation. The problem with the Pharisees in this story is that they cannot see. That is always the problem with religion, it’s a spirit that blinds. It partners with the flesh and pride of self that thinks highly of itself, and like, in the physical the phylacteries blinded their eyes, spiritually, the religious show mercy to whom they will and vengeance to whom they will, and the whole while justify their actions by making decisions on what they believe is right for them because in their mind they are right with God, but the essence of God’s word hasn’t penetrated, because the religious heart is prideful and calloused but doesn’t know it.

When mercy is lacking, then religious formalities are meaningless (cf. Hosea 6:6)

6. Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Pure- purified by fire in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit

Psalms 24:3-4

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Matthew 22:37

-- Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

1 Peter 3:4

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

James 1:26-27

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

7. Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

We have to make peace with God before we can ever make peace with man.

Romans 5:1

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

With regards to making peace with man, we have to take into account what He said before: blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are the merciful and blessed are the pure in heart. A prideful heart will not lower self in order to make peace.!

Jesus lowered Himself and became man (Hebrews 2:16) imagine what this did to these fallen angels, imagine what happened in Haman’s heart when Ahasuerus honored Mordecai and now imagine what has to happen in the heart of a person that is prideful and they will never lower themselves to make peace like Jesus did for them. Until that pride is broken, they will sit there with a thousand scenarios playing in their mind on why they are justified in their actions instead of lowering themselves to the word of God, and let’s be clear here that’s what we’re talking about. We’re talking about lowering ourselves under His authority and under His word not the other person!

“Yeah, but, it feels like that. It feels like I’m admitting that I’m wrong when it’s obvious that they’re wrong too and that they were even more wrong then me.”

Exactly, so make a choice, either yield to God’s word and allow your flesh and pride to be broken or cling to your own will. The rod of the Lord, what a beautiful instrument. At one moment, it looks insignificant and weak in the midst of a horrible circumstance and then you do with it what He says and the Sea is opened and you walk in new found freedom! But the way opened for you because you did it His way instead of your own.

8. Matthew 5:10 KJV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Galatians 4:28-31

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

To persecute means to pursue with hostility.

There is no purpose of love in this. It’s birthed in flesh and enacted in flesh. Certainly, it is likely that when a believer believes they are acting in the Spirit, they don’t think it’s flesh, but if it’s dissected according to the word, persecution is hostile towards God and the things of God.

The flesh will always persecute the Spirit. They are contrary to each other. The flesh serves its own purpose; whereas, the Spirit serves the purposes of God. People who lack understanding of the heart of God’s word, lack understanding of the tendencies of their own hearts, and don’t even realize the difference in that moment between their flesh and the Spirit and peace vs persecution. It is imperative that you and I understand the difference. Then, when persecution comes, we won’t be so surprised. We won’t be so offended. We will realize the attack, and be empowered to be a peacemaker in God’s eyes. As long as we are concerned about our own reputation and ready to take our own defense, it will be hard to be a real peace maker and suffer persecution in a godly way.

One last thing, make sure that when the persecution does come that you allow God to examine your own heart and learn what He wants you to learn. There is always something for you included in every trial— you have not arrived my friend.

I heard someone say the other day and it was good. There is a big difference between being a peacemaker and a peace keeper.

Matthew 5:11

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.