Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-20

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

What Does The Passage Say?

• What is the setting?• Who are the

characters?• What happened

before and after?• What is the genre?

Textual NoteThe “you” in the passages is plural. Thus, in Australian, “youse are the salt of the earth”

MetaphorsWhat are the key metaphors at play here?

SaltWhat are the characteristics of salt?

CityWhat are the characteristics of cities, especially those on hills?

LampsWhat are the characteristics of lamps?

SurpriseDid anything in the passage surprise you?

What Does The Passage Mean?

QuestionWhat is the main theme?

Question

What is/are the primary conflict/s in the passage?

Let Your Light Shine?Does this contradict passages such as “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matt 6:3) ?

The Law• What point/s is/are

being made? • What is the contrast

being drawn?

RighteousnessWhat does Jesus mean by “righteousness” here?

ChristlikenessIf Jesus is the one sent (“my food is to do the will of the one that sent me” Jn 4:34), then righteousness like Jesus’ has got something to do with collaborating with the Missio Dei – the work of God in the world.

What Does The Passage Mean to Me?

CafechurchIf “youse” are (corporately) a city on a hill – what might that mean for Cafechurch?

The glory of God is the human being fully alive.St Irenaeus of Lyons – 2nd Century AD

All About Desire“Desire is a primary way that God leads people to discover who they are and what they are meant to do…. Our deepest desires, those desires that lead us to become who we are, are God’s desires for us. They are ways that God speaks to you directly.”

James Martin The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything Kindle loc 1027

Me Personally• What might it mean

for me personally to be a lamp on a stand, salt of the earth, city on a hill?

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, this day and forever moreAmen

Blessing

The grace of Christ attend you;the love of God surround you;the Holy Spirit keep you;this day and for ever. Amen.