Bible Passage: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-20
A good metaphor can make an idea come alive.
“Time is money.”
“He has a heart of gold.”
“That guy is a real couch potato.”
Metaphors like these are interesting turns of phrase used to communicate an idea by comparing it to something else, connecting the two in a thought-provoking and remarkable way.
Instead of just calling the guy lazy, calling him a “couch potato” tells us he’s lazy in a far more memorable and interesting phrase.
Jesus was an absolute master of metaphors.
In His Sermon on the Mount, the great manifesto of the Upside-Down Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus uses metaphors throughout, including two famous examples in today’s reading.
He compares citizens of the Kingdom to both salt and light, two common elements of everyday life that anyone can relate to and remember.
Believers are like salt, Jesus said, and should remain salt-like—although His meaning in this choice of metaphor is up for debate. Some common interpretations are:
- Just as we sprinkle salt on food, God is “sprinkling” believers worldwide to witness to the Gospel.
- Just as salt enhances the flavor in food, Christians bring out goodness and righteousness by living rightly everywhere they go.
- Just as salt was used as a preservative to keep meat from spoiling in the ancient world (before refrigeration), Christ-followers share the Gospel, which brings salvation to the world and keeps people who receive it from destruction.
Admittedly, it is hard to know which interpretation is most likely, or perhaps all are valid.
But the point is perhaps more easily tied into the second metaphor in today’s passage: we are not only the salt of the earth, but the light of the world.
As Christians, we carry Christ and His Word with us everywhere we go, which we are to proudly display in our words and actions. This light is never meant to be hidden but broadcast to the world. We are specifically told to “let our light shine ” so that others may see this and ultimately see the God behind it, glorifying Him.
The point of both metaphors is that we represent Jesus to the world. Men of Christ faithfully live out their faith in word and deed in all they do, and in so doing, point others to the Lord of their lives.
Prayer: Lord, help me to let the world know that I am a man who belongs to You! Forgive me for ever hiding it; make me bold to share You everywhere I go today. Amen.
Reflection: If a non-believer were to examine your life, would they know you were a Christian without you explicitly saying it? What would it mean for you to very intentionally display your faith at work/school/in your community?
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