13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
These words at the end of this passage are definitively charged. Our righteousness must surpass that of the religious leaders of the day? Our presence in the kingdom of heaven depends on it according to Christ. This is quite the tall order! Now certainly, Jesus had cast charges against the Pharisees and teachers of the law in other areas, but these charges are directed at those who would follow Jesus directly and only reference the other two groups as a negative example.
First, we are to hold on to the saltiness that we received when we first came to know Jesus. We must not let the things of the world dilute our ability to season and preserve that which is bound up in the in-breaking of the kingdom of heaven here on earth. If we become too diluted by the world around us, we will no longer be effect agents of Christ.
The second part of the verse seems to be calling us to again push away the things of this world that would dampen the power of Christ working in us and through us. Whatever bushels the world would put over our lights, we are to escape them so that our light may be continuously seen. We are to utilize our saltiness to season the world around us in the name of Jesus and we are to allow our light to shine to the world around us so that Christ might be glorified.
It is only after these analogies that Jesus suggests that this is not in opposition of the law or the teachings of the prophets, but rather a means of Christ (and by extension, I am inferring, his disciples) of fulfilling them. Remember how Israel lost its saltiness through disobedience? Recall how God's people dampened their own lights and the light and power of God working in them and through them by chasing after their own desires instead of living into the will that God had for them? How many prophets did God send attempting to get light and salt re-activated in the Old Testament.
Matthew bears witness to the model that Jesus has provided for his disciples and the truth that he lived out throughout his life and ministry. What becomes important now is not what our worship or our rituals or personal piety looks like, but rather the way we permit Christ to work in us and through us. Is Christ central in our lives?
So what exists in your world that dilutes your saltiness or dampens your light? Where have you allowed the commands of Christ to be minimized or ignored in your life?
I am reminded of the words of one of the communion liturgies that are used here as I take this inventory myself: Holy God, we admit that we have not always been an obedient church. We have failed to feed the hungry and to clothe the needy...forgive us...free us for joyful obedience...how very appropriate seeing as we are coming up on the celebration of Holy Communion this weekend.
I pray that the fullness of God's forgiveness is experienced by us all and that we may leave our places of worship this weekend renewed and freed for the calling that God has placed on each of our lives.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
These words at the end of this passage are definitively charged. Our righteousness must surpass that of the religious leaders of the day? Our presence in the kingdom of heaven depends on it according to Christ. This is quite the tall order! Now certainly, Jesus had cast charges against the Pharisees and teachers of the law in other areas, but these charges are directed at those who would follow Jesus directly and only reference the other two groups as a negative example.
First, we are to hold on to the saltiness that we received when we first came to know Jesus. We must not let the things of the world dilute our ability to season and preserve that which is bound up in the in-breaking of the kingdom of heaven here on earth. If we become too diluted by the world around us, we will no longer be effect agents of Christ.
The second part of the verse seems to be calling us to again push away the things of this world that would dampen the power of Christ working in us and through us. Whatever bushels the world would put over our lights, we are to escape them so that our light may be continuously seen. We are to utilize our saltiness to season the world around us in the name of Jesus and we are to allow our light to shine to the world around us so that Christ might be glorified.
It is only after these analogies that Jesus suggests that this is not in opposition of the law or the teachings of the prophets, but rather a means of Christ (and by extension, I am inferring, his disciples) of fulfilling them. Remember how Israel lost its saltiness through disobedience? Recall how God's people dampened their own lights and the light and power of God working in them and through them by chasing after their own desires instead of living into the will that God had for them? How many prophets did God send attempting to get light and salt re-activated in the Old Testament.
Matthew bears witness to the model that Jesus has provided for his disciples and the truth that he lived out throughout his life and ministry. What becomes important now is not what our worship or our rituals or personal piety looks like, but rather the way we permit Christ to work in us and through us. Is Christ central in our lives?
So what exists in your world that dilutes your saltiness or dampens your light? Where have you allowed the commands of Christ to be minimized or ignored in your life?
I am reminded of the words of one of the communion liturgies that are used here as I take this inventory myself: Holy God, we admit that we have not always been an obedient church. We have failed to feed the hungry and to clothe the needy...forgive us...free us for joyful obedience...how very appropriate seeing as we are coming up on the celebration of Holy Communion this weekend.
I pray that the fullness of God's forgiveness is experienced by us all and that we may leave our places of worship this weekend renewed and freed for the calling that God has placed on each of our lives.
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