Salt and Light

Jason Martin

Jesus in the Gospels / Matthew 5:13–16

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

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.

This seems simple enough. Go be salt and light - but what does that mean Biblically?

Why salt and light?

What does Scripture say about salt?

Salt is mentioned around 40 times in Scripture

It was a very valuable commodity because of how many uses it had

What does salt do in the Bible?

1. The covenant of salt (Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 13:5)

Leviticus 2:13 ESV

13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

a. Grain offerings were one of the 3 “most holy” offerings

b. The other 2 are Purification (sin) offerings & Guilt (trespass) offerings

2. Seasoning - especially for offerings (Exodus 30:35, Colossians 4:6)

Exodus 30:35 ESV

35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.

Colossians 4:6 ESV

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

a. Conversation that is seasoned with salt is gracious, wise, fitting, and beneficial.

3. Judgment (Deuteronomy 29:23, Genesis 19:26, Zephaniah 2:9, Mark 9:49)

Deuteronomy 29:23 ESV

23 the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger and wrath—

a. A warning of judgment if Israel goes after other gods

Genesis 19:26 ESV

26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Zephaniah 2:9 ESV

9 Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”

Mark 9:49–50 ESV

49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

a. Saltiness is also an internal action leading to an external action

b. Salt affects what it comes into contact with

c. When Israel lost their saltiness, they were trampled underfoot by the Gentiles

What does Scripture say about light?

Light is mentioned well over 200 times in Scripture.

The first recorded words of God in Scripture were “LET THERE BE LIGHT”

1. God Himself provides light (Psalm 27:1, 1 John 1:5, Exodus 13:21, Psalm 104:1-2, Psalm 119:105, 130, )

Psalm 27:1 LSB

1 Yahweh is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strong defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

1 John 1:5 ESV

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.

Exodus 13:21 LSB

21 And Yahweh was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to guide them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might go by day and by night.

Psalm 104:1–2 LSB

1 Bless Yahweh, O my soul! O Yahweh my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 Wrapping Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out the heavens like a tent curtain.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:130 ESV

130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

2. God’s people are told to reflect God’s light to the Gentile nations (Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:6)

Isaiah 49:6 ESV

6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 42:6 LSB

6 “I am Yahweh, I have called You in righteousness; I will also take hold of You by the hand and guard You, And I will give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,

Philippians 2:14–15 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

3. The Messiah would be the Light (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 5:16, John 8:12, John 9:5)

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Matthew 4:16 ESV

16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 9:5 ESV

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Who is Jesus talking to?

The people that Jesus just described in the beatitudes are the salt and light. (Matthew 5:3-12)

Matthew 5:11–16 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 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.

1. If we are Christians;

a. Our character is exampled in the beatitudes

b. We’re not told to try to be salt and light, we are told that we ARE salt and light

c. Salt affects what it comes into contact with - who are your neighbors?

d. Light can’t serve it’s purpose while hidden

e. A citizen of God’s Kingdom should have a visible and beneficial affect on the world.

f. We are to preserve God’s good creation and steward it well

g. We are to be a beacon that points other to Christ

Group discussion:

How can we be salt and light?

Exported from Logos Bible Study, 12:57 PM October 7, 2026.