Sermon on the Mount, Salt and Light

Sermon on the Mount
Lesson #2
Salt and Light Matthew 5:13-20

Intro: The Chris Gross Scholarship Fund
Following the tragic bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995, Chris Gross, a 26 year-old single adult from Santa Clara, California, decided to make a difference in the situation. He was concerned about the children who had lost one or both of their parents in the blast. He wondered who would fund their education in the coming years. A financial analyst by vocation, Chris decided to set up a college scholarship fund for the children and pledged to give an amount equal to one years salary. Chris's company matched his donation. Then Chris challenged other people and companies to contribute to the scholarship fund. The fund has grown considerably, and Chris has truly made a difference in a tragic situation.

Imagine the scene. Jesus surrounded by His disciples with the crowd looking over their shoulders. Jesus had already shocked His hearers with the Beatitudes. Then He delivered another shock. He looked at His small group of followers and said that they were the hope of the world. The words He used were the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Remember that Jesus was talking to four fishermen, a tax collector, and other everyday people. Yet Jesus said that they would be the preserving quality in a corrupt world and would shed the light of salvation and truth into a dark world. No one was probably more surprised that Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, and the others.
Modern disciples are equally shocked by this audacious statement, especially when we realize that in our own corrupting world, Jesus declares us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Many despair that no one can make much of a difference in our world. Certainly we don't expect to make much of a difference ourselves.
Jesus delivered another shock in vs. 20. Jesus said that people are not really His disciples unless their righteousness surpasses that of the pharisees and the teachers of the law. These religious leaders were the people of Jesus' day who seemed to most seriously God's demand for righteous living. If anyone was truly righteous, surely they were; yet Jesus said that true righteousness exceedes that of the these righteous and devout people.
This would be like saying to us that we could not be Jesus' disciples unless our righteousness surpasses that of preachers and Bible teachers. We might well ask, as the disciples did on another occasion, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25)

Matthew 5:13-16
What happens when you get salt in a wound?
When is it proper for Christians to act as irritants? (when taking a stand against sin)
In order for salt to work it must come in contact with an object. Likewise we as Christians need to be in contact with non-christians in order to be effective and make a difference.
Salt is an inexpensive product in America. Most people can afford to buy it. However Christians may pay a high price for acting as “salt”. We cannot afford to loose our saltiness! Jesus does not ask us to become what we are not. He calls us to be what we already are.

A little history:
Salt was much more valuable in Jesus' day than it is today. In ancient Greece, slaves could be bought with salt. Roman soldiers sometimes were paid with salt. The Latin word for “salt” is salarina, from which we get our word salary. The old saying, “A man is not worth his salt” originally meant that a man has not earned his wages.

Uses of salt:
1. Acts as a preservative
2. Flavors our food
3. Irritates an open wound
Uses of light:
1. Expels the darkness
2. Reveals that which is hidden
3. Radiates warmth
4. Burns when focused sharply

Look at vs. 16
How do we reflect light?
Story of dear in headlights at night/ reflectors on mailbox.
We are to reflect the light of the world in our lives. Our good works are for God's glory not ours.
In what ways do Christians hide their light?
Matthew 5:17-19
Old Testament laws had been added to and misapplied by the Jewish religious leaders for so long that they were confusing to many people. Jesus wanted people to learn a new and better way of understanding and obeying God's originial laws.

I. Ceremonial Law
Leviticus 1:1-4
Leviticus 2:1-2
Explain why and how Christ became the fulfillment of the law.
(the Sacrifice without blemish)

II. Civil Law
Deuteronomy 24:6-15
Explain how Jesus fulfilled the meaning of this law in His life and teachings. (Ex. Deut. 24:8-9 - the law for leprosy; Jesus healed some lepers, Luke 17:11-14)

III. Moral Law
Exodus 20:1-17
Match the New Testament verses with one of the 10 Commandments.
Matthew 4:10
Matthew 5:22
Matthew 5:28
Matthew 5:34
Matthew 5:40
Matthew 10:37
Matthew 12:36
Mark 2:27-28
Luke 12:15
Luke 16:13




Matthew 5:20
What was characteristic of the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law? (They followed the letter of the Law, but their hearts were unchanged.)
What kind of righteousness does Jesus demand? (a righteousness based on love and obedience to God)
How is the surpassing righteousness obtained? (A relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.)

I am like salt when I __________________________.
I am a becon of light when I ____________________.
WITH GOD'S HELP I WILL BE SALT AND LIGHT!
_____________________ _____________
(name) (date)

(The content of this bible study was taken from various sources. If you want a list email me and I would be glad to send it to you.)