#1224 Matthew 5 Part 9 Yodh

 

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 say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes 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. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 17-20 ESV

Matthew 5:18-20

For truly - When others teach, they will say, "can I get an amen?" Men must put it at the end because they can err, but Jesus is God, so what He says is perfect, and He puts the Amen (Truly) at the beginning. "This is the truth, listen, pay attention, understand and acknowledge." He doesn't wait for others to confirm it; He speaks with the authority that only He has.

…159Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD; give me life according to Your loving devotion. 160The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever. 161Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word.… Psalm 119: 159-161

Until heaven and earth pass away - This is referring to the end of present history. Remember the "truly", regardless of what others say or may think, He is saying, this is going to come to past, judgement will fall, that is coming, but until then there is nothing wrong with God's law, it is good, the problem is you and I are not.

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.… Revelation 21: 1-2

…3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “ Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,…

…6through which the world of that time perished in the flood. 7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.… 2 Peter 3: 3-8

Not and iota, not a dot - We saw back in Jesus temptation that Christ answered with Scripture, and He spends much time correcting people's, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees, misinterpretation of God's word. He quotes from the OT and fulfills the OT right before their eyes. He is the Word become flesh, dwelling among them. 

Here iota is used for the jot or yod (yodh) which is the tenth and smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet and which looks like an apostrophe ('). There are approximately 66,420 yods in the Old Testament! Jesus believed in the literal inspiration of the Bible, even in what might seem small unimportant details. Nothing in Scripture, even the smallest stroke, is without significance. Not only the words, but even the letters are divinely inspired.

Vincent - Jot is for jod (or yod), the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Tittle is the little bend or point which serves to distinguish certain Hebrew letters of similar appearance. Jewish tradition mentions the letter jod as being irremovable; adding that, if all men in the world were gathered to abolish the least letter in the law, they would not succeed. The guilt of changing those little hooks which distinguish between certain Hebrew letters is declared to be so great that, if such a thing were done, the world would be destroyed. (Matthew 5 Greek Word Studies) - Precept Austin

John MacArthur explains that "No other statement made by our Lord more clearly states His absolute contention that Scripture is verbally inerrant, totally without error in the original form in which God gave it. That is, Scripture is God’s own Word not only down to every single written word, but down to every letter and the smallest part of every letter. (MacArthur, J: Matthew 1-7 Macarthur New Testament Commentary Chicago: Moody Press) - Precept Austin

1Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. 2I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else. 3On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.… Psalm 138: 1-3

Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments - Both the Pharisees and Sadducees will guilty of this. The Pharisees added to the law, things they thought they could do, more rules, outward expressions that made them appear holy. They would strain at gnats and swallow camels. The Sadducees were more interested in the surrounding cultures, and if it was Greek so were they, when in Rome then be a Roman, but they thought low of God's word, as if it was antiquated and needed to change since society and the world seemed to change. God needed to become more like them, adjust, as though He were ever in need of man's opinion. They didn't believe in the resurrection, many thought that stories were just that, fables with a little moral lesson, take it or leave it, it was of little significance to them. Both groups were legalist, one thinking they were good by way of the law and the other thinking they were too good for the law, both missing the point of the law. In being legalists about their invented laws, the Pharisees missed the spirit of it, and invented work arounds for the parts of God's law they didn't like. The Sadducees did the same in siding with the culture, with feelings and emotions, using themselves and what they felt okay with as the bar for righteousness. Neither group recognized God when He was standing in front of them, because He didn't look like them, and He refused to recognize their establishments.  

…25‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 26‘Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Deuteronomy 27: 25-26

…127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold. 128Therefore I admire all Your precepts and hate every FALSE way. 129Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them.… Psalm 119: 127-129

…23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.… Matthew 23: 23-25

Whoever does and teaches them - This person is called "great", and we will find throughout Jesus's teaching, the disciples and the OT prophets, this concept of spirit and truth, of words with actions.

Keeps and teaches - Spurgeon comments on this phrase noting that "It is vain to teach the commandments without first doing them. The doing must always precede the teaching. If a man’s example cannot be safely followed, it will be unsafe to trust his words." - Precept Austin

8Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.… Romans 13: 8-10

17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. 18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.… Philippians 3: 17-19

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 10Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.… Philippians 4: 8-10

Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees - Theirs was outward and assumed. Theirs was based upon their own contrived methods, upon heritage, relation, going to the temple with their feet but leaving their hearts at home. Theirs was based upon finding their Mississippi, that person that was less worthy in their mind. It was founded upon titles, upon greetings from other esteemed members of their circle, "well he called me honest, called me good, told others I was a man of integrity", they lived off of what they gave others to reflect back to them. In the corporate world we call them weather vanes, snap shots, men who wet their finger and stick it up in the air to find out what they believe today. They read books on what to wear, what to say and how to pose, but God wasn't looking there, that wasn't His measure, He had His own book, and His own intentions when He spoke. Listen, you don't have righteousness of your own, remember, blessed are the poor in spirit, they were spiritually bankrupt and mourned over their sin. You need a righteousness that comes from outside of you.

…42Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former. 43Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. 44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”… Luke 11: 42-44

…9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.… Psalm 51: 9-11

…26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. 28Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.… Ezekiel 36: 26-28

30What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,… Romans 9: 30-32

…8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,… Philippians 3: 8-10

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#1223 Matthew 5 Part 8 But To Fulfill

 

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 say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes 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. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 17-20

Matthew 5: 17

What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3: 17-24

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets - The law was never intended to save, yet many of the Scribes and Pharisees felt that they were justified by or through the law. Scribes came from both the conservative group (Pharisees) and the liberal group (Sadducees). The term Scribe was also used to describe people who were in civil types of jobs like notaries. We will discuss them more later, but Jesus will be accused by such, claiming that He was in transgression of the law. The law here is the books of Moses, the ten commandments (moral), the ceremonial laws which regarded the temple laws (sacrificial), festivals and dietary laws. There was also what Christians refer to as the judicial law, which is in essence an extension, application of the moral law. So Christ's address of this is important because men still get this wrong today, and in Paul's day they often twisted his doctrines of justification by faith in order to teach antinomianism, which means against the law. The Prophets are the other books of the OT and when we say the law and the Prophets, we are referring to all of Holy Scripture. Prophets like Isaiah and Micah foretold the coming of Messiah. All of the prophets were reformers, in that they preached repentance, calling the people back to the law, to hold up the word of God and see that they fell short, turn from their sin and ask forgiveness. There were probably as many of them back then as there are people now who would like to put the law aside based upon the direction of the culture, but Jesus answers all that. He didn't come to abolish but to fulfill, the problem was not with the law, but with us, our cultures, and it all stems from a fallen nature and corrupt heart. 

1) Moral Law - as in the 10 Commandments (only the keeping of the Sabbath is not commanded in the NT)

2) Ceremonial Law - as seen in the shadows and types in the Tabernacle, the Jewish sacrificial system, the Feast days

3) Civil Law - the judicial laws that governed the nation of Israel in the OT - e.g., the cities of refuge, stoning for certain offenses, etc Precept Austin

Charles Simeon - To have just sentiments on religion is a matter of incalculable importance. Whilst we are mistaken respecting any fundamental truths, we not only lose the benefit and comfort of those truths, but are in danger of rejecting them when proposed to our consideration, and enlisting ourselves amongst the avowed enemies of the Gospel. The Jews were almost universally expecting a temporal Messiah. Hence, when our blessed Lord appeared in such mean circumstances, and inculcated doctrines so opposite to their carnal expectations, the people thought either that he was an impostor who deceived them, or that he was come to subvert and destroy all that had been delivered to them by their forefathers. Our blessed Lord anticipated and obviated their objections: “Think not,” says he, “that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Read the entire sermon - Matthew 5:17-18 The Law and the Prophets Confirmed by Christ) 

…15Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 16He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.… 2 Peter 3: 15-17

…30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law. Romans 3: 30-31

To fulfill them - He fulfills the moral law by keeping it, by being what we were not, and He later sums it up when asked the question what is the greatest law: He answers "to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and to love thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus lives this out by seeking to do the will of the Father, to fulfill all righteousness, and by caring for the sick, the poor, and offering Himself up as the only perfect and infinitely righteous sacrifice for sin. 

He fulfills the ceremonial law in becoming that sacrifice. Every bull, goat and dove ever slain upon the altar of the Tabernacle pointed to Christ. And remember, at His death, this was fulfilled, for the veil in the temple was rent in two. He accomplished the ceremonial law and since the destruction of the temple in 70 A. D. these ceremonies can no longer be practiced. The temple represented Christ.

…3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.… Romans 8: 3-5

In regard to the moral aspect of the Law, the Holman NT Commentary writes that…

Two pivotal passages (Jeremiah 31:31, 32, 33, 34; Ezekiel 36:26, 27) explain how, under the New Covenant, the same law (the very character of God) is not to be an external standard, but its values are to become an intrinsic part of newly recreated people. In a way, Jesus was teaching something that was not yet completely possible for people to follow. It is good to say, "People should move from external obedience to an obedience motivated by the law written upon the heart." But this is an impossibility until the heart is transformed and the very person of God himself, along with his righteous character as expressed in the law, comes to abide in one's heart. What Jesus taught would become a reality in the lives of God's people after his death sealed the new covenant and made possible the promised internal transformation. (Weber, Stuart, Max E. Anders, Ed: Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew)

John Newton the converted slave trader wrote that "Ignorance of the nature and design of the law is at the bottom of most of our religious mistakes." - Precept Austin

…14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him. 16As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.… Matthew 3: 14-16

…4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”… Galatians 4: 4-6

…16Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.… Colossians 2: 16-18

3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

but a body have you prepared for me;

6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings

you have taken no pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,

as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,  Hebrews 10: 3-12

Ay, but that is not all. The law has to be fulfilled in us personally in a spiritual and gospel sense.

“Well,” say you, “but how can that be?”

I reply in the words of our apostle:

“What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,” Christ has done and is doing by the Holy Spirit, “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” (see notes Romans 8:3; 8:4)

Regeneration (discussion) is a work by which the law is fulfilled; for when a man is born again there is placed in him a new nature, which loves the law of God and is perfectly conformed thereto. The new nature which God implants in every believer at the time he is born again is incapable of sin: it cannot sin, for it is born of God. That new nature is the offspring of the eternal Father, and the Spirit of God dwells in it, and with it, and strengthens it. It is light, it is purity, it is according to the Scripture the

“living and incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth for ever.” (see note 1 Peter 1:23)

If incorruptible, it is sinless, for sin is corruption, and corrupts everything that it touches. The apostle Paul, when describing his inward conflicts, showed that he himself, his real and best self, did keep the law, for he says,

“So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God.” Ro 7:25 (note)

He consented to the law that it was good, which showed that he was on the side of the law, and though sin that dwelt in his members led him into transgression, yet his new nature did not allow it, but hated and loathed it, and cried out against it as one in bondage. The newborn soul delights in the law of the Lord, and there is within it a quenchless life which aspires after absolute perfection, and will never rest till it pays to God perfect obedience and comes to be like God himself.

This which is begun in regeneration is continued and grows till it ultimately arrives at absolute perfection. That will be seen in the world to come; and oh, what a fulfillment of the law will be there! The law will admit no man to heaven till he is perfectly conformed to it, but every believer shall be in that perfect condition. Our nature shall be refined from all its dross and be as pure gold. It will be our delight in heaven to be holy. There will be nothing about us then to kick against a single commandment. We shall there know in our own hearts the glory and excellency of’ the divine will, and our will shall run in the same channel. We shall not imagine that the precepts are rigorous; they will be our own will as truly as they are God’s will. Nothing which God has commanded, however much of self-denial it requires now, will require any self-denial from us then. Holiness will be our element, our delight. Our nature will be entirely conformed to the nature and mind of God as to holiness and goodness, and then the law will be fulfilled in us, and we shall stand before God, having washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and at the same time being ourselves without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Then shall the law of the Lord have eternal honor from our immortal being. Oh. how we shall rejoice in it! We delight in it after the inward man now, but then we shall delight in it as to our risen bodies which shall be charmed to be instruments of righteousness unto God for ever and ever. No appetite of those risen bodies, no want and no necessity of them shall then lead the soul astray, but our whole body, soul, and spirit shall be perfectly conformed unto the Divine mind. Let us long and pant for this. We shall never attain it except by believing in Jesus. Perfect holiness will never be reached by the works of the law, for works cannot change the nature, but by faith in Jesus, and the blessed work of his Holy Spirit, we shall have it, and then I believe it will be among our songs of glory that heaven and earth pass away, but the word of God and the law of God shall stand fast for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen. (For his full exposition read The Perpetuity of the Law) - C. H. Spurgeon

A really excellent sermon on Matthew 5:17 by John Macarthur:

Christ and The Law Part 1

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#1222 Matthew 5 Part 7 Lit

 

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5: 13-16

Matthew 5: 14-16

8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5: 8-14

You are the light of the world - So in verse 13, about the salt, we saw that the world was in decay. It is not heading toward some evolutionary epoch where men evolve into peacefulness, love and euphoria, no, it is a downward spiral, which men cover with hopes tied to technology. For all our knowledge, and it has increased rapidly with the industrial age, with tech, and our ability to see further into the finite, gathering more information about the world inside of time and space, yet here, Christ is saying the world is in darkness. He starts with another proclamation, "you are the light of the world". So what is light here?

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1: 5-10

In Ephesians 5:9, copied above, we see that the fruit consistent with being light, or walking in the light as in 1 John, is in "all goodness, righteousness and truth". Jesus declared that He was "the way, the truth and the life." He brings light into the world, the light of the gospel, and those that follow Him, His disciples, He is the lamp that lights their lamps. Light is an amazing thing, for darkness flees before it. He has also given us light through His word, this brings the truth about God, about creation, about sin and judgment; it illuminates the things that we would be in the dark about.

…10Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” 11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” 12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”… John 8: 10-12

You are the light of the world - Great privilege carries with it great responsibility! "Jesus gives the Christian both a great compliment and a great responsibility when He says that we are the light of the world, because He claimed that title for Himself as He walked this earth (John 8:12 and John 9:5)." (Guzik)

A city set high on a hill cannot be hidden - He said you are a light, and now He is saying where you are as someone who claims to be a believer. You are in full view, anyone close enough to the hill, your area of influence, can see you. Now this should be a cause for pause and consideration. Let's think about this, the people who walk in the light are the one's with the truth of God, and the Bible makes it clear that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. So the first problem, and this is a big reason why they did public baptism, because you are going to publicly pronounce and associate yourself with Christ and His gospel, the same gospel that took Him to the cross and got all His disciples persecuted. Do you really want to associate with that? 

32Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. 34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.… Matthew 10: 32-34

The second problem, not everyone who says they walk in the light truly does. There are plenty of wolves in sheep's clothing, and it was one of my big complaints about the church as a kid, and it is a huge problem, a much grander problem in countries with more religious freedom and liberty. Many people have no fear of claiming to know God in such places, but if you look closely, they deny Him in their lives, not because they mess up, but because they are unrepentant and truly in love with the world. There are many who like titles and a certain amount of morality, so they were made deacons and elders, but they led people astray, and when I saw them as the bar then I wasn't seeing the truth, I wasn't convicted, I was left in the dark. 

… 15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’… Matthew 23: 15-16

…13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.… 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15

…21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’… Matthew 7: 21-23

Put it under a basket - Third problem, you can't hide your lamp under a basket and still do your job. It is lit so that it will be on display, and you will be associated with other believers because God commands us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but He also demands that we use discernment. Remember, many, especially where there is religious freedom or popularity, will claim to be Christian, hoping for the byproducts of the faith, some fish and bread, some socializing and maybe some good business connections with like minded people who vote like me and enjoy the same sports as I do. We're not called to be members of a secret society, our light is going to shine and hopefully give us away as true followers of Christ, aliens. We are members of the body of Christ, so do you want to be associated with people that deem that a small thing? And what does it do to the light when they preach another gospel? Remember, the light is associated with truth.

…10I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?… 1 Corinthians 5: 10-12

…7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!… Galatians 1: 7-9

So they may see your good works - We are known by our fruit, and I have heard many in the modern church deny this, clinging to an antinomianism that makes such unsound doctrines as that of the carnal Christian or as someone I know put it, "I am a good Corinthian Christian", seeing them as an excuse for a life marked by lust, greed, unforgiveness and perpetual immaturity, even seeing it as okay to lead others astray. It is not possible, nor would I ever suggest that one can work unto faith or salvation, but when one has received such faith that comes from God, it will grow and produce good works. These aren't selfie moments, not there to make you look good, to make your name great, for you didn't save yourself, you were not born righteous, you had to be born again and that came from above, from outside of you. These good works come from a changed heart, a love of God, a love for His people, and a love for the lost. They are demonstrations, witnesses to the power of God to save, to redeem, to regenerate.  

…14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world 16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.… Philippians 2: 14-16

…6In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.… Titus 2: 6-8

…8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.… Ephesians 2: 8-10

Give glory to your Father in heaven - He is Creator, He gave His Son, He lived the life that was required by the law, He died the death that was required by holy, supreme justice, and He loved the unlovable. He gave us of His Spirit, tilled the ground of my hard heart and planted the seed of faith. "To God be the glory, great things He hath done, so loved He the world that He gave us His Son." Let Him be lifted up, carry the light of truth to those dwelling in darkness, that they may see and praise Him Who sent us. Are you a light and where is your hill?

…2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, 3to console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.… Isaiah 61: 2-4

…7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples. 9As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.… John 15: 7-9

…10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.…

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.… 1 Peter 2: 10-15

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#1221 Matthew 5 Part 6 Salt Life

 

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5: 13-16 ESV

Matthew 5: 13

…3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should. 5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.…

6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.… Colossians 4: 3-8

…11No grain offering that you present to the LORD may be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire to the LORD. 12You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. 13And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering; you are to add salt to each of your offerings.… Leviticus 2: 11-13

You are the salt of the earth - This is written as a declaration, not something to attempt, but to be, and those who have believed in Christ, who have been regenerated unto life, granted repentance, they now embody the beatitudes we read before this. This is part of the same sermon, "so now, having considered all these things from verses 1-12, what kind of people ought ye to be?" Remember, the beatitudes were all in opposition to this present age. They declared people blessed who knew they were spiritually bankrupt, dying and in the dark. So let's consider a few things about salt:

1. It is a flavor enhancer. You know immediately when it's lacking.
2. It is a preservative.
3. It makes you thirsty. Our lives should make others thirst for what we have. It reminds you of the beatitude, blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness.

But if salt has lost it's taste - I had a very concise plan for these 4 verses, but then I listened to a J Mac sermon on the way in today, so now I am scared and overwhelmed. His sermon only covered verse 13, but let me share a little story that I think will shed light on at least two of the ideas about salt in this passage. I remember my Great Grandmother very well, and she was certainly not without her faults, but I have worked with plenty of different people over the years, and I know few grown men that could match her week. She was in her 80's and 90's when I spent the most time with her, but I remember being at her house and you would wake up to the smell of fresh biscuits, coffee she made in a pot, red eye gravy, some bacon, sometimes fish, but always either sweet ham, tenderloin, sausage and country cured ham, oh and grits, don't forget the grits. She would have already been to her garden, talked to some of her tenants, and the washer would be finishing up a load. She got up and started working before light, and wouldn't really rest much until dark. She made everything from scratch, but one thing I can't remember her doing was pointing out what she did, how much she contributed, and at 80 years old. She still owned and maintained orange groves in her 80s, and if you compared her to all the rest of us, we would have come up short even collectively. Her work wasn't glamorous, mostly thankless, hard, back breaking, but it stood out so much to me that I could recall it when I didn't remember other things during that time. Another thing tied to this was how she ate, and she ate like a teenage boy but had no fat on her body. She salted everything, even her watermelon, and I remember the first time I asked about the country cured ham. I thought it must be good, it has the word country in it, like country living and country cooking, gravy, fresh preserves and buttermilk biscuits. She handed me a piece and I took a big old bite of it, and in an instant my mouth turned into a desert, it burned, and there was no mistaking that this seemed more like a block of salt then a hunk of meat. She was smiling as she chewed a piece, and so I asked, "why is it so salty?" It seemed like someone had made a mistake and not screwed the top on the salt shaker. She explained to me that refrigeration and freezers weren't something they had when she was a girl. They used a spring, a smoker, canning and lots of salt to preserve things. You see, entropy is at work on everything, every living thing is dying, but when you kill something, then the processes speed up, decay sets in, flies are waiting to put their eggs on spoiled meat, so that their maggots can eat the rotting flesh. When there is no more life in the body then the processes of cell replacement, your immune system, breathing and blood transferring nutrients from what you ate, those things all come to an end, and now everything is going sceptic and foul. So, they would use salt to retard the process of decay, to slow it down. When Jesus is giving this sermon He is seeing a world dead in it's trespasses and sins, a world that is rotting and in the dark. So salt has a definite taste, and we know when something is lacking salt, that is like a life that has no good, impactful influence, it's like saying I am a Christian, but without any evidence, not reflecting the beatitudes, fruitless. 

…16If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.… James 2: 16-18

It is no longer good for anything - The salt around the area of the Dead Sea is quite interesting, and I will leave some notes from Precept to consider, but remember what happened to Lot's wife? Her husband was like salt in an open wound to the people of that city, for he warned them about God's view on the sins they were committing, and Abraham, Lot's uncle, got God to agree not to destroy the city for the sake of 10 righteous, but they could not be found. So God removed the salt, He took away Lot, his wife and two daughters, but Lot's wife looked back. She looked back and God physically turned her into a pillar of salt, and He purified that whole valley, destroying everything. Lot's wife had more positive impact in her death than in her life. While she lived she was being more and more conformed to the image of the world, a world that is waiting for God's final judgment.

LITTLE does the world think how much they are indebted to those very saints whom they “revile and persecute for righteousness’ sake.” (Mt 5:11) The extirpation of them (which is so much desired by many) would leave the world an entire mass of corruption, without any thing to heal its disorders, or to stop its progress towards utter destruction. Were they removed out of it, the rest would soon become as Sodom and Gomorrah (Is 1:9). The representation given of them in the text fully justifies this idea. They are called “the salt of the earth.” This, of course, must be understood of those only who have the spirit of religion in them: for all others, whatever they may possess, are as vile and worthless as the real Christians are good and excellent.

The words before us will lead us to consider, the worth and excellence of truly spiritual Christians— The use of salt, as intimated in this expression of our Lord, is to keep other things from putrefaction and corruption. This is the office that has been executed by all the saints of old— [View them from the beginning; and they will all be found active in their generation, and zealous in benefiting the world around them. Noah preached to the antediluvians an hundred and twenty years, indefatigably exerting himself to bring them to repentance. Lot, in Sodom, “vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds,” and strove to turn the people from their horrible abominations. All the prophets in successive ages laboured in the same blessed work, using all their efforts to lead their hearers to the knowledge of the only true God, and to an obedience to his holy laws. How the Apostles acted in relation to this, it is needless to observe. They lived for no other end, but to make known the way of life, and to “turn men from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” (Read the entire sermon - Matthew 5:13 Christians the Salt of the Earth) - Charles Simeon from Precept Austin commentary

Pure salt cannot lose its savor ("saltiness"), but the salt commonly used in the ancient world was rock salt, containing various impurities (especially gypsum). As the true salt was leached away, or otherwise removed, the so-called "salt" could indeed lose its savor and become tasteless. When those who profess to be Christians cease to be different from the world, we cease to be useful as retardants of decay. Jesus emphasized that our ability to preserve the world in order that it may see Christ in us depends on our being different. It is dangerously easy for Christians to lose their salty, preserving influence in the world. Remember that many people who never read the Bible are constantly reading us! If our conduct is untrue to our calling, our words will avail very little. Gospel preaching without holy, supernatural living is futile. - Precept Austin

…4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— 6and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.… Hebrews 6: 4-6

…19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.… 2 Peter 2: 19-21

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