Salt and Light

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus deems His followers as the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". The original Jewish readers would understand exactly why Matthew recorded the words of Jesus.

Salt was a preservative and would keep foods from spoiling. It was also used to counteract mold and things that caused disease. After the salt was used, it was thrown into the walkways of society, where it was nothing other than cheap ground cover. A Jew in the first century would understand Jesus to say, "Preserve that which is good. Because you're a preservative, don't lose your affect on that around you. Don't become insipid and worthless. Remember your purpose!"

Light was beneficial in the Ancient Near East. The bowl on a lampstand didn't produce much light. But place several lampstands together in strategic places and watch them affect an entire room, a city, a nation, the world. When a Jew heard his life described as light, it was understood light chases away darkness. Light illuminates that which is dark. It brings about transparency. Light is what was intended. After all, light was created first (Gen. 1:3).

It's important for us to understand what Jesus was saying. The metaphors of salt and light are chosen by God himself. We must constantly evaluate: God calls me salt. God tells me I'm light. Am I living up to what I am? Am I preserving that which is good? Am I illumnating that which is darkness?