Title: Light and Salt /Matthew 5:13-16
Content Light and Salt / Matthew 5: 13 - 16
The talk about light and salt in Matthew 5:13-16 is one of the most heard sayings. Still, there are quite a few things we need to reconsider. First, looking through the flow of the text, it is placed after the Beatitudes. We've been hearing serums on blessings over the past two weeks. Likewise today, this text should be understood in connection with blessing. In other words, it will be said that it is a natural way to be followed as people who have been blessed.
Salt and light have something in common. This means that you have to sacrifice yourself to fulfill that role. Salt must melt itself to fulfill its essential role as salt. In the same way, light also needs to burn something to fulfill the role of light. Showing through these roles is a lesson in self-sacrifice to bring positive results to the other side. This is the role that those who have become disciples of Jesus must fulfill.
We should further note that the narrative of salt and light is laid out as it is now. It is a question of why they are placed in the order of salt and light rather than light and salt. This is to show the passive role and the active role in order. Passive refers to the role of preventing corruption. Being active means not only preventing corruption, but also bringing life to life. It is believed that Jesus Christ spoke in the above order to demonstrate this very function.
Therefore, it can be said that this shows the stage of faith development of those who have become disciples of Jesus Christ. If we are the only ones who live by the teachings of Jesus and think and live as if we have to harm others, we will still be only passive believers. At this stage, we will have to go one step further and take on the role of truly melting and burning ourselves and bringing life to the other side. When we live such a life, we are living as those who have been promised the Beatitudes.