The Rev. Paul J Cain
Matthew 5:13-20
Salt and Light in Christ
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, 06 February 2011
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Epiphany season is longer than usual this year because Easter is later. Jesus builds on the Beatitudes with the verses of today’s Holy Gospel.
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.
Salt that is no good. Salt that is not salt anymore. Is it chemically possible for NaCl to not be salt? Unfortunately, it is possible for baptized Christians to act, think, speak, believe, and live as if they were not. Christians slip into sin. Some jump into the pool with a cannonball leaving a life of holiness behind. Others take the idea to ridiculousness. Some British atheists are using hairdryers “de-baptize” themselves. If it weren’t so sad it would be funny. Jesus also uses the Epiphany theme of light to illustrate His point.
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.
Light cannot or should not be hidden. We all know a time comes to turn out the lights and go to bed, but then where would we be in the darkest night without a nightlight, a flashlight, or Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, the Light no darkness can overcome?
Christians are lights because of the light of Christ within us. He shines around our edges. We show the way to God by our life and confession.
In a fundamental way, the idea of “A city set on a hill” has been misused on this continent for political purposes since colonial times. Both presidents and Puritans are guilty in part. Some saw the idea of America as one of religious freedom, as an ideal Christian community, a possible theocracy, or merely a defender and exemplar of freedom in general. No. That’s not what this text is saying.
Christians are salt and light. Christ does not say that Christians “should be” salt and light. Jesus does not say that Christians “could be” salt and light. No, Jesus refuses compulsion and that Christians “had better be” salt and light. He says, “You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world.” His words are those of identity. You are! You are these things in Him!
We have another paragraph of Jesus to hear from the Holy Gospel appointed for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, but by this point, we would already have enough to realize that Christianity is about Jesus and not about us. Our focus should remain on who Christ is revealed to be and what He has done for us—what He is preparing to do from the perspective of the timeline in the Gospel according to Matthew. What did Jesus come to do? Again, hear His Words:
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. [1]
Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. That is what He reveals about Himself. He has already revealed that you, His Christians ARE Salt and Light. Light shines in the darkness. Salt brings out the best flavors. Christ makes you more human than you were when mired in sin. And He is Righteousness personified.
Don’t fall for the lie of some who call themselves Christians who say that Jesus relaxed the commandments or that that the law no longer exists. Some advocate modernized so-called Christianities that are only about love, acceptance, and tolerance. If there is no sin, why would we need a Savior from sin as Scripture so clearly says?
Not an iota, not a dot will pass away. In Greek, an iota is the letter “I.” Sometimes there was a tiny subscript iota under a word. If you don’t look closely enough, you might miss it. Other translations call the same symbol a “jot” in English. The “dot” or “tittle” could be understood as the Hebrew letter yod, the smallest letter, or perhaps one of the smaller “dots” that note a vowel or help us tell a “b” from a “v” or an “s” from an “sh” in Hebrew. If the smallest things won’t disappear from Scripture, the big things won’t either. No matter how “strange” the world may consider us for staying Bible-grounded Christians, Bible-founded and Bible-following believers we are given to remain. The following threat is serious:
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.
In closing, I ask you, “Does your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees?” (Pause)
Personally, it may not. That’s what awkward silences teach us. Yet, in Christ Jesus who gives you His righteousness and declares that you are Salt and Light, your righteousness is good enough for the kingdom of heaven, for you have Christ’s own righteousness as a gift, righteousness far greater than scribes, Pharisees, or anyone else in all the earth.
You are salt and light in Christ. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
