As Jesus continued introducing his
newly recruited disciples to the realities of the kingdom, he
finished describing the happy
state of kingdom living and taught them how this would be noticed
by others. He used familiar images of salt and light, and then
described application of the Torah
in the kingdom.
“You
are the salt of the earth,” Jesus told his new recruits. “You are
the light of the world.” Salt
and light are noticed.
Salt, of course, is
a seasoning agent and preservative. Crude salts were harvested from
the Dead Sea and used around the country. Unlike the stable qualities
of the sodium chloride we use today, these salts were unrefined, full
of impurities, and could lose their savor and their preserving power.
If the saltiness washed away the useless salt was thrown out.
What is interesting is Jesus’ language about salt losing its flavor. The phrase lose its flavor is the Greek word moraino, from which we derive moron. It and its Hebrew counterpart, which Jesus really had in mind as he spoke, means tasteless or foolish. When we through the grace of the Holy Spirit make a difference in the world around us it is noticed. I guess this is what Paul the apostle had in mind when he wrote, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:5-6).
Life
in the kingdom, Jesus suggests, means his followers continually
provide flavor and preservative in the world. This seems to reinforce
my idea that the church is the embassy of the kingdom, influencing
the world with the culture and values of the kingdom it represents.
If we are no longer salty, but taking on the blandness of the culture
around us, what good are we? We
need to be noticed for who we represent.
By light Jesus
referred to the physical capacity to light up the darkness. He gave
two illustrations. Jesus pointed to a nearby city situated high on a
hill. The city’s night lights ensured it would be noticed by
everyone in the region. He then spoke of the crude lamps most modest
homes had, made from a simple bowl and wick. Because of the poor
light the lamp would be placed on a lampstand in order to provide the
most light. It would be foolish to hide the light under a bushel, for
example. Lights are created to shine.
I note that Jesus
said to the new disciples, “Your are salt. You are
light.” There was no command, there was no encouragement to
achieve. They were informed that life in the kingdom means making a
visible difference. We are noticed.
What is noticed,
however, is not from a form of dress or conduct but from something
that comes from within. A life that is different because repentance
and renewal have taken place.
Maybe that is why
Jesus spoke of the way he would apply the Torah. When two
Jewish rabbis disagreed about the interpretation or application of
the law they would accuse each other of nullifying it or making it of
no effect. Jesus did this with Pharisees, whom he said made the law
of no effect by their ridiculous traditions.
Jesus made it clear
his interpretation of Torah was correct. “Don’t think I
came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy,
but to fulfill.” He went on to say that not even the smallest yod
or the decorative “tittles” that adorned them would be left out.
All would be noticed and carefully observed.
Breaking the least
of the commandments would cause one difficulty in the kingdom, but
keeping and teaching them would be noticed. Righteousness that
exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees is prerequisite to entering
the kingdom.
Scribes were
copyists and experts on the law. Pharisees were the most respected
teachers of the law. Yet they had a religion noticed more for its
lists of dos and don’ts than genuine faith and relationship with
God. With all their effort in being blameless, Jesus noticed often
they were not righteous.
Jesus told his
disciples they should be noticed for their righteousness. They should
know their duties to God and each other, and from within live to
complete them. The inner quality of righteousness, derived from the
changes within as they had struggled
to enter the blessed state of the kingdom would be as noticed as
salt and light, making a real difference to the world around.
This is where the
mission to be the embassy of Jesus’ kingdom comes into play. Our
embassy is not here to be bland and dull, obsessed with foolishness.
Neither is it here to contain its light within the four walls. It is
here to be noticed by the community as a place of the flavor and
brightness of the kingdom. This is not accomplished by cool music or
great teaching. It is not achieved by the the best programming and
generous ministry. It is best realized when ordinary people, living
their lives for Jesus, will glow with inner righteousness from a
changed life, and emanate the salt and light that causes the world to
take notice.
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP)
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