The Flavoring of the World

Salt and Light

Monday, March 28, 2011

3:32 PM

 
 

Matthew 5:13-16 (New International Version, ©2011)

Salt and Light

    13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

   14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

 
 

Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%205:13-16&version=NIV>

 
 

 
 

What are your first impressions of this passage?

 
 

• Jesus then compares us to salt - discuss the ways that salt was used, and still is used.
  

   
   

• Salt was a symbol of a few things in the ancient world - above all it was thought to be useful - how could this apply to the Christian?
  

   
   

• Salt was a symbol of purity - all sacrifices in the temple were offered with salt - discuss the world's need for purity, and how we offer that.
  

   
   

• Salt was a preservative - it was used to keep meat from going bad - how does this apply to the Christian in society?
  

   
   

• Salt was flavoring - a valuable one - a salt and pepper shaker were once symbols of affluence - salt was desired - is this the case with the Christian?
  

   
   

• How can the Christian, or the church be these to the world?
  

   
   

• Can salt lose its saltiness - is it then salt (imagine food without salt)? How would this happen to a Christian?
  

   
   

• What function does light have? How does the Christian perform this function in the world - what are we to illuminate - what darkness do we overcome?
  

   
   

• The bushel that Jesus refers to was a clay pot that the lamp was covered with when someone left their house for safety sake - do we cover our lamp when we leave the house of God (Sunday at about 11:30)?
  

   
   

• How can the sight of a city on a hill be a welcome thing?
  

   
   

• The light that we've been given, is it ours to keep? What is its purpose?
  

   
   

• What is our light to direct people to?