What Does it Mean to be Salt and Light?

What does it mean to be salt and light?

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told this short parable that relates to the way believers are to live their lives. He calls His followers to be two things - salt and light. But what exactly does that mean? What does it mean to be salt and light and how was that relevant to what He was teaching during the Sermon on the Mount?

First, let’s examine what it means to be salt:

In our present day, the term “salty” usually refers to someone who is annoyed, upset, or playfully angry. However, we need to look back to the time of Jesus to understand what it truly means.

Jesus was speaking to a Middle Eastern crowd in the first century. During this time, salt had two distinct purposes. First, salt was used as a currency and its intent was to preserve meat and fish which would spoil in the hot, desert climate. Second, salt was used (as it is now) as a flavour enhancer. Jesus was using the analogy of salt in His teaching because it was something His audience was very familiar with. They knew what salt was used for.

When Jesus says “you are the salt of the earth,” He is saying that believers are to preserve the world from evil. They are to preserve the truth and to preserve His teachings. As salt is used for preserving meat and fish, followers of Christ are called to help preserve humanity from falling into darkness and sin. They are called to be fishers of men and preserve those they are leading to Jesus.

Jesus is also saying that believers are to enhance the flavour of life in this world and enhance those around them. This is done by living out Jesus’ teachings and being guided through the Holy Spirit. Just as salt benefits the food it preserves and enhances, so too are followers of Christ to benefit those they come in contact with, showing others the love of Christ and pointing them towards Jesus.

We are to be salt. Yet, what happens when salt loses its saltiness? It loses its purpose. It loses its intent. It loses its influence. Therefore, it is important for followers of Christ not to lose their “saltiness”.

Next, Jesus says “you are the light of the world.” As He said this atop the hill He was standing on, He was overlooking a city that was being lit up with lights - again making an analogy and metaphor relevant to His audience.

John 8:12 says “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'”

As followers of Jesus, we are to be the light of the world. We are to shine our light for all to see. We are to be imitators of Christ. We are to live our lives in a way that lets His light shine within us, for He is the true light of the world. We are to be light givers and life givers to others. We must not walk in darkness nor fear the dark. Just as you turn on a light switch at home, we are to be that light switch in the world. The light overpowers the darkness.

We are to imitate Jesus, that when we hear His words and put them into practice, others will be drawn to Him and His love. We are to love others and allow them to see the work of Christ within us, that they may glorify God through our actions.

Our lives are to be an example and testimony of Jesus and the work He is doing in us. We are to preserve the truth and preserve and enhance others, for if we choose not to, our saltiness will be of no value. In the same way, we are to make that visible to others, not hidden. For if it is hidden, what good will that do for others?

If we live in turmoil and without peace, our salt is lost. If we live in isolation and fear, our light does not shine.

As we look to apply this parable to our own lives, may we let our lives be a reflection and testimony for others to see the goodness and love of Christ in us. May we help lead others to Jesus through our love and actions, that they may glorify God through them. May we be courageous and let our light shine in the darkness of the world.

May we choose to listen to Jesus and be the salt and light of the earth. Amen.

 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Mark 9:50

 

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