You are the Salt and the Light of the World (Matt. 5:13-20)

You are the Salt and the Light of the World (Matt. 5:13-20)

       
Jesus said to his disciples about the kingdom of heaven that will come toward the people who keep doing their righteousness and good deeds. The life of this world in which we live is the life between the two extremes--between poverty and wealth(5:3), death and life(5:4), arrogance and meekness(5:5), injustice and justice(5:6), mercilessness and mercy(5:7), impurity and purity(5:8), war and peace(5:9), persecution and heavenly reward(5:10-12). Jesus who gave his disciples an eschatological hope of the kingdom of heaven and heavenly reward in Matt. 5:1-12, now mentions their role in this mundane world while they are waiting and expecting for the realization of the heavenly kingdom.

1. You are the Salt of the Earth (v. 13)
In v. 13, Jesus says to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men." "The earth" is the place opposite to heaven. This place is "among the people" and "in the world." Salt is a symbol of endurance and value because of its purifying, seasoning, and preserving qualities. Jesus' disciples should play a role of the salt that prevents the people in this world from becoming corrupted and putrefied. In addition, as the salt that relishes food, they should give the people the joy and peace of life. We, as disciples of Jesus, should let the people know that although they live this corruptible world, they can taste the joy, peace, love, purity, and mercy in Christ.
When we, those who want to be Jesus' disciples, are unable to play the role of the  salt, our saltness in this world will be lost. Then, we will be no better than unbelievers.

2. You are the Light of the World (vv. 14-16)
Jesus in John 8:12 says about himself: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness." In John 1:4ff.(and also 3:19ff.) John introduces "the light"(τὸ φώς), Jesus Christ, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it"(Jn. 1:4-5). The light of Jesus is "the life," "salvation," or "calling to salvation." The light of the disciples, 'a reflected light,' is "witnessing the life(=Jesus), salvation, or Jesus' teaching," or "invitation to salvation."

When the light of Christ had shone upon us, we could see the things that surrounded us clearly, separating from others who still remained in darkness. As we could see the truth indebted to the light of Christ, we should play the role of the (small reflected) light that shines before people so that they may come to the brightness of Christ.

In v. 16, Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." What does it mean by 'your good works?' The good works are not identified as the shining of the light; they are not the light itself, but only what the light does and reflects.

The good works include the virtues stated in the Beatitudes(5:3-12) as well as everything included in 5:17-7;12. The good works are genuine: it is a benefit to the recipient and to the bystanders as well, because the latter becomes witnesses, and thus both are moved to praise God; what Paul (and also Jesus) rejects is the idea that good works are done for the sake of self-praise and self-justification, but he does not reject good works as such, especially if they are done to make people glorify God. The good works are those that may be visible for everyone except the one who does them; thus, those whom Christ approves are not aware of the good works that they have done (see Matt. 25).

3. I Have Come Not to Abolish the Law and the Prophets but to Fulfill Them (vv. 17-20)
As disciples of Jesus we are free from the bondage of the law unlike Israel who     pursued the righteousness which is based on the law and did not succeed in fulfilling that law(Rom. 9:31). But it does not mean that we overthrow the law; on the contrary, we should uphold the law for a different reason(Rom. 3:31). We now uphold the law because this is what God, who proved his love by sending us his Son, wants us to do, and we do this not because we can be justified by this but because we love our Father, God. By doing this, we may dwell in happiness, joy, and peace in Christ.

Jesus says in v. 20, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." What is the superior righteousness that surpasses the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? Our superior righteousness may be obtained when we keep doing our good works that may be being done without our awareness, letting our left hand know what our right hand is doing(Matt 6:3). But, that may not be enough, and most of us who follow Jesus may fall short of it.

4. Epilogue
As the salt of the world, we should keep doing our works of purifying, preserving, and relishing. As the light of the world, we should keep letting our light shine to all men, i.e., witnessing and teaching the gospel of Christ, As doers of good works, we make all our efforts not for our glory but for the glory of God. But, above all, we should have faith in Christ who made us righteous before God.