Every nation or kingdom has a set of rules for its citizens to live by. So too does the kingdom of heaven. Citizens who desire to honor their heavenly Lord will seek to follow these rules in his service. Our passage for devotions this month, Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5–7, provides an instructive summary of what God requires of heavenly citizens. Here Jesus is speaking to the crowds and his disciples, explaining what characterizes such people. We could sum up the whole sermon with this phrase: you are salt and light in this world (5:13–16). But what does that even mean?

In Bible times, people didn’t have refrigerators. Salt is a preservative that kept their food from going bad. Salt removes moisture, which stops the growth of microorganisms that cause rotting and can make one who eats them sick. So why does Jesus call us salt? Part of his point is that the witness of his heavenly people repels the evil of this world like salt repels rot and decay. We are the salt in the evil culture around us. By the grace of God, this is what we are and who he has made us to be, for the power of spiritual salt is Christ.

Salt is also a seasoning. You can tell when salt is missing in a recipe, even if it was just a small amount. The recipe just isn’t right, and everything tastes a bit flat. In the world today, we see plenty of examples of nations that lack a Christian presence or history.  These societies are spiritually flavorless without the influence of the gospel. Without Christ and his kingdom, the world is a dark and tasteless place. The world needs spiritual flavor, and according to Christ, his people are the salt that provides it. However, salt does no good if it is kept in the shaker. The flavorful purpose of salt is only realized when it leaves the shaker and reaches our taste buds. So too for the citizens of Christ’s kingdom, who are called to be in the world but not of it. When elect unbelievers come into contact with a true citizen of the heavenly kingdom, they may wonder, “What am I missing?” The gracious work of the Spirit using that salt gives them a thirst for living water. Not everyone will experience that desire (you aren’t sugar, you are salt!), but by God’s grace your saltiness will bring others to a living faith in the same Lord who loves you.

Being a light in the world carries similar meaning. Even the smallest flame is seen in a dark room. That is what disciples are in this very dark and sin-filled world—shining lights. The purpose of that light is to give glory to our heavenly Father. God’s intention is for the world to hear your confession and to see your acts of love for God and your neighbor. You are not to hide this light. Hiding this light means you aren’t showing your love for God and are instead trying to hide in the shadows of darkness. We need to shine our light so brightly that even the darkest of places become brightened to the glory of God.

So, what are the attributes of human “salt and light”? The beatitudes provide a good place to start. We are to be poor in spirit (5:3), meaning we are completely dependent on God for salvation and we refuse to rely on our own merits. Our sin causes us to mourn (5:4), and God comforts us by telling us we are forgiven by the blood of his Son. Meekness (5:5) does not equal weakness. Just like a “broken” horse controls its power and uses it for another’s will, so too does the meek disciple in relationship to Christ. We are to hunger and thirst for righteousness (5:6) and to pray that this thirst is evident in our lives. God has been merciful to us, so we must be merciful (5:7) to those around us! One who is pure in heart (5:8) is wholly devoted to God in heart, mind, and soul. Peacemakers (5:9) speak with their words and actions that God’s message of reconciliation through Jesus is the only means to bring peace where there is mayhem caused by sin. The response to people with these traits is often negative; thus we will be persecuted (5:10–12). However, we have peace with God, knowing he loves us and will richly bless us in heaven.

The spiritual standard that Jesus teaches in the sermon on the mount continues to build through chapter 5. Unlike the teaching of the Pharisees, who emphasized the outward keeping of the law so others would see them, Jesus is focused on the heart. The phrase “but I say unto you” illustrates this difference. Jesus indicates through his teaching that he was not rejecting the Old Testament law but was rather come to fulfill every aspect of the law and the prophets. He ends chapter 5 by saying, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (v. 48). We can be thankful that Christ came to fulfill the law of his kingdom, for it is a standard we certainly cannot maintain by ourselves. As a reflection of his own perfect character, this law points us to Christ and the cross for complete fulfillment.

Having been saved and made righteous before God in Christ, we are freed to pursue a life of thankful obedience to the Lord of our heavenly kingdom. This sort of thankful living is reflected in our pursuit of other teachings from the sermon on the mount, which include Jesus’ instructions on giving to the needy (6:1–4), prayer (6:5–13), forgiveness (6:14–15), and fasting (6:16–18). By living in this way, we glorify God as shining lights in a world that is full of darkness and evil.

A person focused on kingdom work and the things of heaven will see God’s work more clearly in his or her own life. Conversely, if you are living a life that is focused on the darkness, it will be much harder to see that source of light that you have been given (6:22–24).  Continue to work as a kingdom citizen and strive to see God more and more through a life of kingdom work. Build your life on the Rock that is Jesus Christ (7:24–27). When the rains, floods, and storms come, he will keep you steady. Others will see your peace in the storm and look to see where your strength is coming from. Live a life that makes the Rock on which you stand visible to every eye that sees you. Live a life that makes people hunger and thirst for the living water. Don’t build your life on the sand that is yourself; when the storm comes, you will fall. Cling to the Rock that is higher than you.

Originally published September 2021, Vol 80 No 9