The Sermon on the Mount, Part 2

Matthew 5: 13-20

First Affirmative Statement:

v. 13 “You are the salt of the earth.”

Earth: material plane/worldSalt: influence of children of the Kingdom of God.

}Salt was an essential staple of the ancient world

How can salt cease to be salty?

1. It can be chemically altered

2. It can become so diluted so as to seemingly have no effect

WHEN THIS OCCURS SALT IS VALUELESS AND USELESS AND IS GOOD FOR NOTHING BUT TO BE THROWN OUT.

Second Affirmative Statement:

v. 14 “You are the light of the world.”

1.Light by its nature cannot be overcome by darkness.2.“a city built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

*built} building up of a soul or building up the work of the Church

*hill} lofty of higher nature of this kingdom work3. Jesus then encourages us to let our light shine before others that they will follow it themselves and glorify God.

Implications:

1.Don’t let the memory of what was or the fear of what may be dominant and enslave you.2.Let our primary narrative be one of hope.3.The only way to live in the face of uncertainty and potential pain is to live fully.4.As we seek to live fully, we commit ourselves to making the very most of whatever life brings us.5.3 Wesleyan Rules:

*do no harm*do all the good you can*attend to the things of God

Matthew 5: 17-7:23 constitutes a unit built on the three pillars of Jewish religious life:

*the Law*prayer*almsgiving

v. 20 “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

righteousness} term of relationship to the purpose and the will of God

Kingdom of Heaven} state of the purpose and will of God actualized.

Scribes and Pharisees} kept the letter, but not the spirit of the Law.