Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:13-16

13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Matthew 5:1-99

Matthew 5 THE LORD THEN began to speak to His disciples, though in the presence of the multitude, instructing them in the principles of the kingdom. First of all He showed what kind of people are going to possess the kingdom and enjoy its benefits. In the kingdoms of men today a man needs plenty of self-confidence and ‘pushyness’ if he is to be a success, but the opposite holds good for the kingdom of heaven. This had been already indicated in the Old Testament: Psalms 37.0 , for instance,... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Matthew 5:13

The Chief Functions of the Disciples in the World. The Lord continues to address His disciples directly: v. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. Having experienced the sanctifying power of the Word and Spirit of Jesus, the disciples are a salt. Note the four main qualities of salt: It is white and pure, it prevents rapid decay, it... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Matthew 5:14-15

The same admonition under a different figure: v. 14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. v. 15. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Christ is, strictly speaking, the only true light of the world, John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:35. But His disciples partake of His nature; they are a light in and through Him; they receive their illumination as well as their... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Matthew 5:16

Jesus Himself applies the parable: v. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. The policy of obscuration, of hiding beliefs and convictions, is often urged by lukewarm Christians, so-called "reasons of prudence and wisdom: gradual accustoming of men to new ideas; deference to the prejudices of good men; avoidance of rupture by premature outspokenness; but generally the true reason is fear of unpleasant consequences... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Matthew 5:1-16

PART SECONDChrist manifesting Himself in outward obscurity as the true Saviour, by His works; and proving Himself the promised Prophet, Priest, and King, in His continual conflict with the spurious notions entertained by the Jews concerning the Messiah (Matthew 5:1 to Matthew 16:12)._____________FIRST SECTIONCHRIST MANIFESTING HIMSELF AS THE PROPHET. A. AS TEACHER OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, CH. 5–7Structure of the Sermon on the Mount.—The grand fundamental idea of the... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Matthew 5:10-16

the New Salt and Light of Human Society Matthew 5:10-16 We must expect to be persecuted, if we hold up the pure light of a consistent life amid the evils of the world. Men hate the light which exposes their misdeeds. They will tolerate you only so long as you leave them alone. But the universal testimony of those who have suffered thus is that the Son of man walks through the furnace beside His faithful martyrs. Our holy lives ought to act as salt to arrest the corruption around us. It is... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

In the three chapters beginning here we have the Magna Charta of the Kingdom. This chapter opens with a great revelation of its supreme condition. Character is everything. The first word is suggestive, "Happy." That marks the divine will for man. It also announces that human happiness is conditioned in character. A sevenfold happiness is named. Such character is contradictory to the spirit of every age apart from the Kingship of God, and will result in "persecution." So the King adds an eighth... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Matthew 5:1-42

The Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:1-42 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The key to the Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew 4:23 : "preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom." Before the Lord sat a great crowd of people and among them His own disciples. As He looked into those hungry faces He saw the same needs there, that we would see in any audience today. The one yearning of their hearts was that they might find happiness. They had failed. Many thought that wealth would make them happy. They had been... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:13

THE CHRISTIAN IN SOCIETY‘Ye are the salt of the earth.’ Matthew 5:13 Our present topic is the Christian in society. The words of the text were spoken to those whose social surroundings were far less favourable than ours. We may indeed be thankful that for us the world around us is not so vile a world as it was then. I. The Christian’s mission.—The Christian has a definite mission for society. He is to become its salt, to preserve it from corruption. Whether men will hear or whether they will... read more

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