Now that we are all conditioned by the health experts to see salt as an evil, causing
high blood pressure and heart attacks, how do we preach the life-giving and valuable
commodity, salt?
ST
I once used a reference to salt in a "Blue Christmas" service, and spoke of
the healing uses for salt. Just as our tears can be a move toward healing our wounded
souls, epsom salts are used to heal feet that are sore and wounded from long journeys. So
maybe salt isn't always so bad afterall....... SueCan
I'm jumping ahead to use this passage (actually vs 14-16) this coming Sunday (Jan.
31st). I was wondering if anybody had noticed any good "light" discussions going
on with any of the texts recently. It seems that I have come across several that speak of
light and darkness... just wanted/needed some sharpening as I think about "letting
your light shine before others". Let me know, or feel free to comment here. Thanks.
RevAmy
Rev Amy,
There were some really good "light" illustrations shared on the January 3rd
gospel site. I used the one about the Hubbell telescope.........
hope this helps, SueCan
SueCan -- Thanks! It did help. One of my small churches just started a UMW (women's
group) who had their first bazaar and who bought new chandliers for the church. These have
just been installed this week and this Sunday's communion service will be our first
opportunity for worshipping with the lights in place. I want to tie the theology of the
church being a place of light ... and of Christians as being carriers of light in such a
way that these special new lights won't just be something that we take pride in because
look how pretty our church is.. but because there is an enduring association with our
mission. Thanks again for your direction. Pray for me this Sunday please, I fear some
potentially tense moments. RevAmy
Dear Friends,
I'm preparing a message from Mt. 5:13-20(21-37) on the theme "Promises Worth
Keeping: Resolving to Live What We Say We Believe," a Pre-50 Day Spiritual Adventure
sermon. I'm considering Jesus' memory of the Jews in the times of the OT prophets
continually breaking their promises to God. He speaks out of pity for all the people of
the ages who would try to keep God's law, but would fail miserably. Jesus shows us that
sin is much bigger and more serious than we expect; consequently, living the life in
Christ is much deeper and seemingly more impossible than we like to admit. We believe
ourselves to be his holy people, but rarely live up to his standard of holiness.
Blessed Adventuring,
OKBob
Somewhere I read an essay in a journal of bibilcial studies years ago claiming that
Jesus was a Pharisee and that is why he criticized them - they did not go far enough.
Certainly we would agree, that the he held the pharisees faith in the Torah and the
Prophets and believed in the resurrection. As we read this passage, once again I wrestle
with the thought of the radical pharisiasm lived out in the singleminded obedience of our
Lord who was both Salt and Light.
tom in ga
I need some input on verse 19: "Therefore, whoever breaks 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."
I have a parishioner who has used this verse to justify an extramarital affair. He says
that breaking the commandments only guarantees a "lesser position" in the
kingdom of heaven. I'd like some interpretations and feedback on this.
Thanks. Nancy from NY
Gee, Nancy, you opened up Pandora's Box!
Well, why not. Here are my two bits. First off, you can generally find something in
scripture to justify just about anything, including incest, and giving your daughters'
virginity to an angry mob... So why not adultery? Jesus was pretty clear to the woman
caught in adultery when he said "Go and sin no more." Matthew's verses on
divorce are clearly opposed to divorce, and liken marrying a divorced woman to committing
adultery. The center of the Gospel, methinks, is to love yopur neighbor in ways that are
humble and serving, to act with honor, to put God before just about anything, and to cut
out the garbage.
Second, as to that verse, I believe there is room in heaven, even for the hopeless
sinner! (But ya gotta repent and turn to God....)
Nancy, this promises to be one of those topics that crowds out exegesis -- with good
reason. Perhaps we can move it to the discussion section?
HW in HI
Dear Nancy,
Re verse 19.
It seems to me that people can justify just about anything in the Bible, if the
proof-texting is done carefully enough. Why did Jesus speak different answers to various
people? A professor of mine recently said that he addressed each person at the subtle
point of their own idolatry. This man can easily find justification for his affair, but it
does not accurately reside in the Bible. Whom is he hurting here. His wife - betrayal of
trust. His children - what are they learning about the meaning of "covenant" and
"everlasting" here? How will that be acted out in their lives. How many others
will they in their turn hurt? Etc. I think an answer to him lies in another passage about
a millstone.
About the passage and his worry about his "position" in the kingdom: I
believe that the kingdom of heaven is not just for heaven in the by and by, but is also
for here in this earth. To say that the kingdom is coming is not just future in sense but
is also present progressive. It's happening now. I believe we Christians are called by to
God to work to evoke the kingdom of heaven here on earth by obedience to Jesus' two laws-
love God, love each other. (Maybe "thy kingdom will come when thy will is
done.") A low place in the kingdom then could mean that the person is doing a poor
job here of helping God draw all humans into the kingdom. This is not works righteousness.
I believe our existence in the future coming kingdom is assured. But we still find
ourselves here living in a real earth with theodicy, etc.
MUF
Hum, let's see.
There is apodictic "law" and casuistic "law". The Ten Commandments,
as I remember, exemplify apodictic law, while portions of, say, the Holiness Code from
Leviticus exemplify casuistic law. Jesus, I think, would have considered any explication
of Jewish Law, whether apodictic or casuistic, as fodder for his comment about "least
of these commandments".
Jesus also, however, quite clearly dismissed the notion of *blind* adherence to the
Law. Time after time after time Jesus reminds us of the importance of circumstance in the
application of rules for living life. If the ox is in the ditch, go and sin no more,
healing on the sabbath -- each stand out as examples of Jesus turning traditional
understanding of law inside out and upside. Yet, not only do we have the quote about
breaking the lest of the commandments, but we also have the quote about coming to change
not an iota thereof, but to fulfill the Law.
What are we to make of the confusion, the apparently mixed messages?
I have a thought which might not stand the heat of academics, but, nonetheless, I'll
share it. The Law (Torah), taken as a body, points towards a greater good. Even Jesus
quotes the Deuteronomic Summary, which seems to express this notion -- love of God, love
of neighbor. Perhaps, just perhaps, what Jesus means when he speaks of "righteousness
exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees, is not so much a checklist of who has done
what, but rather "exceeding" in the sense of "going beyond" -- taking
an extra step. In this latter sense, letting one's light shine has more to do with the
sensible application of Law based upon circumstances than about keeping track of
particular behaviors.
The greater good (letting one's light shine) can thus be seen as choosing from among
the options behaviors which most fully "love God" and "love neighbor".
It is not inconceivable to me that such a love might well lead to behaviors not normally
fitting the more normal definitions of obeying rule and regulations, be they apodictic or
casuistic. Bottom line is that we don't know with certainty what is the outcome of any
given behavior before it is done. We might have good ideas about outcomes, we certainly
can apply the tests of history wherein similar behaviors have produced particular results,
but we can never be sure. No wonder Luther advised us to "pecca fortiter".
Another Jim
Letting your light shine, in this context, is not about letting others see how smart
your are or how pretty you are or how you are delightful in various ways, Here letting
your light shine is about service to God and the goal is that God will be glorified by
your good works. Serving God is not optional for Christians. We all have different gifts
but all are bound by our coventant to serve God one way or another. To do justice, love
mercy and walk humbly with God means to live a life of service to and fellowship with God.
Churches need to delete the word "volenteer". Rather we are a priesthood of
all the believers. We are a team helping each other shine in service to the Lord. Love
rejoices when that which is good or true triumphs (or shines).
Humility does not mean hiding your light under a bushel, it means shining because its
not about you, its about serving and glorifying God. Arise, Shine! Manzel
ST: How can salt lose its saltiness, without its very essence being lost? I am not sure
where I am going with this, but it may have something to do with losing our very essence
as God's children, and what that means. revd
A comment on the salt saying, from The Five Gospels (Jesus Seminar): "Most salt
contained impurities in ancient times; salt with excessive impurities would be [bland or
insipid and] good for nothing--it would just be thrown away. We can no longer determine
the precise wording of the original saying and since the original context has been lost,
we do not know how Jesus applied it to his situation" (p. 139). Perhaps
homiletically, one could explore/reflect on the impact of an insipid(!) witness. Doug in
Riverside. PS--I'm going to work with v. 17, not to abolish but to fulfill the law &
prophets. Any help would be appreciated!
A followup comment on salt, this one from Daniel Patte, The Gospel According to
Matthew, p. 70. Patte connects salt and light with the beatitudes. "The designation
of the disciples as 'salt' and 'light' expresses among other things that they are both
blessed and a blessing for others. And, indeed, 'salt' has this connotation in the Hebrew
Scriptures where it is associated with sacrifices (see Exod. 30:35; Lev. 2:13); it is
'pure' and 'holy' , and thus purifies and sanctifies." Doug in Riverside
Salt, it can season your food. Too much will raise your bloodpressure and cure your
veins. Salt can melt the snow on the roads as well as rust the underside of your vehicle
away. Salt can put out a burning fire when nothing else will (a magnesium fire for
example. There was an attempt to extinguish the Chernobyl fire by bulldozing tons of salt
into the firey hole.) Salt will sting your eyes, it will burn an open wound....Salt is
very helpful, but must be used with some forethought and with calculations as to the end
result. As Jerry Clower said, if you don't want a salty egg after you done done it, You
gotta throw it away and start over. We all know folks who take their idea of being
"the salt of God's Spirit" and brutalize the fool out of folks with it. I really
don't think that's what Jesus had in mind (though I do believe that His example of living
and relating are examples as to how "God Salt" can flavor the lives of those we
come in contact with.... Similiar things can be said for light. It grows our food, it tans
our skin, it mellows our attitudes. It can put our eyes out, it can burn our skin. Light
can be focused to the point of being painful and damaging. By the same token, it can be
used to remove cateracts, melt steel, convey messages, it can change night into day. It
can give hope to those without... Light can be a source of joy and encouragement. Light
can deter crime or be a part of one. These laeser pointers that you can now purchase for
ten dollars or so are a prime example. Laws are now being passed, calling it assault to
shine such a light in a persons face (we've had instances of that happening at ballgames,
people pointing these things at the referee's eye....light also must be utilized in a
responsible way. rdnc
Salt and light...at first they seem like two unrelated metaphors. But upon a little
reflection, both are absolutey necessary for life. Here in the North, folks put out salt
licks for farm anaimals and wildlife in the winter (especially deer). These animals cannot
remain healthy without salt in their diet. Niether can we (though we get more than enough
in the prepared foods we eat!). And light is essential for photosynthesis that grows the
food we eat, for all the green life that are the lungs of Earth providing us with oxygen
and eliminating CO2; and for managaing our circadian rythyms, our daily biological clock.
Salt and life are essential. We all need them. Does Jesus prhaps mean that we are
essential for one another? That we are truly interdependent and cannot live without each
other? Maybe so...and if we take this angle, it conencts powerfully with Psalm 112 and
Isaiah 58, which announce that our lives can be healed only when lived for others, and
that worship that nourishes us without leading us to our needy neighbor is worship that
God detests, or at least, is self-serving and meaningless. We are all salt and light...we
all relate to those around us. Maybe the true questionis WHAT KIND of salt and light are
we? Tasteless and bland, and not useful to God? Hidden and warming only our own small
circle and our "own little world."
Just getting started...salt has other connotations for us where winter brings ice and
snow and danger. More on that later.
Barry in OH
Re: How salt can lose its taste and still be salt. I read somewhere (sorry, I've
forgotten where, might have been Aha!) that salt was highly taxed. To avoid the high
charges, salt was often mixed with other white powdery substances so that a little could
go further. Depending on what the other substance was, this could reduce the salty taste
while still remaining salt.
I'm working on the theme of being named by Jesus as salt and light. He didn't say we
"should" be, or "might" be, or even "must" be salt and
light. He said we already are. So there aren't any escape hatches. No excuses for the
timid or unsure disciples. No way........Jesus said, "You are the light of the
world". Go and shine. Not much room there for the "Aw shucks, certainly you
don't mean ME" or the "Sure, I'll get to that as soon as I clear my
schedule" responses. Jesus' message here is the perfect combination of encouragment
and challenge. This week is our Annual Congregational Meeting also, so the text seems
doubly appropriate.
Still pondering, SueCan
How can its'saltness be restored. That has always been strange to me how salt can lose
its taste. Truth is it does not. The text finally made sense to me after a trip to the
Dead Sea several years ago. Salt was a precious commodity for preservation, and also as a
sign/symbol of the covenant. Along the shore of the Dead Sea mounds of salt pillars would
tower up. Persons would scoop up the pillar and place it in a leather pouch and take it to
their homes for cooking. When the cook reached near the bottom of the salt pillar, often
there was dirt mixed with the remaining salt. The text began to make more sense to me
after having the geographical and cultural setting explained in a why that helped me see
how salt could lose its saltiness.
KPB at FUMC, Rockwall
SueCan
I agree--Jesus said we already ARE salt and light. It's not a matter of "becoming
salty", but recognizing our saltiness; or perhaps, when we have lost it. Maybe
neither...maybe this lection calls us to remind the flock that the Christian life is
rythmic...a "charging our batteries" (re-salting ourselves) through our private
religion, personal devotion, retreat from the world...and then a "re-charging"
into the world again to be spread like salt on the winter roads, to make the pathways to
each other open and usable again, to melt away the coldness and icyness (sp?) of hearts
closed to God. Religion always verges on becoming religiosity when the this rythym is
lost, and worship becomes selfish (Is. 58). I think of the Pharisee standing on the corner
in his self-proclaimed righteousness and snubbing the tax collector ...sorry, this might
not make much sense, but the images just keep flowing!
Barry in OH
Hello! I'm Danny in Winnsboro, SC. This is my first time to this site. There are some
really great insights shared here. I'm glad that I came across this site.
I'm struggling with the connection between the two metaphors of salt and light. Several
of the contributions mentioned both the positive and negative effects of salt and light.
Therefore I'm wondering if the link between the two could be one of influence. As believer
we are not to exert a positive influence in the world? Barry in OH stated that Jesus said
we already ARE salt and light. And others have stated that salt and light can be both good
or bad. Each one of them can produce either positive or negative results. In the same way,
believers we are going to provide either a good witness or a poor witness. Our witness
will be either positive or negative. We will make either a little impact or a great impact
on those around, especially those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
It's going to be one or the other. Could it be that Jesus is trying to let these earlier
disciples whom he's called to help him fulfill God's mission know that God wants to use
them to make a positive difference in their spheres of influence?
As believers we have experienced the dynamic force of God's will at work in our lives
through our faith in Jesus Christ. This inner righteousness of the heart, which far
exceeds the outward righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, will manifests itself acts
of justice and mercy. In other words, the difference that God has made on the inside of us
is to show up on the outside through acts of service provided in Jesus' name. In addition
to meeting human needs, such acts of loving kindness may also cause others to glorify God.
Just some early fleeting thoughts.
