Matthew 5:13-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:13-16

Christian influence. It was not to the outside multitude, but to his own disciples, that Jesus addressed these words. To these, more immediately, the whole sermon was preached (see Matthew 5:1 , Matthew 5:2 ). We have to consider Christians— I. AS THE SALT OF THE EARTH . 1 . God ' s instruments for its purification. 2 . They impart relish to life. 3 . They preserve the world from destruction. 4 . In preserving they are preserved. II. AS ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:13-16

The influence of sanctified characters. The righteousness which Christ commends will exert in the world a most gracious moral influence. It will season, as the salt does; it will illuminate and quicken, as the light does. "Salt seasons things, causing things to taste savoury, which otherwise would be no way pleasant, or wholesome, or good for the body." "Our Lord applies to his disciples the stronger word "light," i.e. essential light, rather than any which signifies merely a light-bearer.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:14

Matthew only. Ye are the light of the world . After speaking of the moral tone that the disciples were to give to the world, in contrast to sin in its corrupting power, Christ refers to them as enlightening, in contrast to sin as darkness and ignorance. Our Lord further naturally exchanges the term "the earth" (which from its strong materialism had suited the figure of the salt) for "the world"—a phrase which must, indeed, as regards the disciples, be limited to this earth, but as regards... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:14

The missionary power of Christ's disciples. "Ye are the light of the world. " Christ's disciples are light-bearers rather than light. Christ is, properly speaking, the Light; and Christ's disciples carry that light, in what they are, and what they do, and what they say. I. CHRIST THE LIGHT . It was a dark world indeed when the light rose and streamed forth from Bethlehem (see Matthew 4:16 ; Luke 2:32 ; John 1:4 , John 1:5 ; 2 Corinthians 4:6 ). 1 . Light... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:15

Neither do men light a candle, etc. The same illustration comes in Luke 8:16 ( Mark 4:21 ), immediately after the parable of the sower, and again in Luke 11:33 , immediately after the reference to the repentance of the men of Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah. All four passages have too much verbal similarity to admit of any of them being absolutely independent. Mark 4:21 has the greatest number of peculiarities. The two passages in Luke agree very closely with each other, but of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:16

Matthew only. Let your light so shine ; even so let your light shine (Revised Version); οὕτως λαμψὰτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν . The Revised Version (cf. Rheims) does away with the misinterpretation suggested by the Authorized Version, "so that," for οὕτως refers solely to the method of shining spoken of in verse 15, "like a burning lamp upon its stand" (Meyer). Our Lord has here no thought of effort in shining, such as may improve the brightness of the light given, or of illuminating... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:13

Ye are the salt of the earth - Salt renders food pleasant and palatable, and preserves from putrefaction. So Christians, by their lives and instructions, are to keep the world from entire moral corruption. By bringing down the blessing of God in answer to their prayers, and by their influence and example, they save the world from universal vice and crime.Salt have lost its savour - That is, if it has become tasteless, or has lost its preserving properties. The salt used in this country is a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:14

The light of the world - The light of the world often denotes the sun, John 11:9. The sun renders objects visible, shows their form, their nature, their beauties, their deformities. The term light is often applied to religious teachers. See Matthew 4:16; Luke 2:32; John 1:4; John 8:12; Isaiah 49:6. It is pre-eminently applied to Jesus in these places, because he is, in the moral world, what the sun is in the natural world. The apostles, Christian ministers, and all Christians, are lights of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:15

Neither do men light a candle ... - The word rendered “candle” means any portable light, as a lamp, candle, lantern. Compare Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Luke 12:35. Jesus proceeded here to show them that the very reason why they were enlightened was that others might also see the light, and be benefited by it. When people light a candle, they do not conceal the light, but place it where it may be of use. So it is with religion. It is given that we may benefit others. It is not to be concealed, but... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine ... - Let your holy life, your pure conversation, and your faithful instructions, be everywhere seen and known. Always, in all societies, in all business, at home and abroad, in prosperity and adversity, let it be seen that you are real Christians.That they may see your good works - The proper motive to influence us is not simply that we may be seen (compare Matthew 6:1), but it should be that our heavenly Father may be glorified. The Pharisees acted to be seen of men,... read more

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