Matthew 5:13-16
13“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:13-16 · NLT · read the whole chapter ↗
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Context
this verse finishes the salt and light part of Jesus' sermon. salt kept food from going bad back then, so both pictures are about making a difference in the place you already are.
this reading backs up one verse to include salt. Jesus is still near the start of the Sermon on the Mount, speaking to people who have just heard the beatitudes, a list of blessings for people the world usually overlooks.
salt and light are both small things that change what is around them. a pinch of salt changes a whole meal, and one lamp changes a dark room. Jesus says his followers have that kind of effect on the places they live.
verse 16 gives the reason. the goal of good deeds is that people would see God more clearly and praise him.
What it means
the reason for the good deeds is in the last line. people see what you do and end up praising God, so the credit goes up to him instead of to you.
did you know? the Sermon on the Mount runs all the way through Matthew 5, 6 and 7. this week's three readings all come from the first part of it.
Think about it
what's one good thing you could do this week that could point someone to God?
Try this
do the good thing you thought of before the day's over. if anyone notices, let the credit go to God.
talk about it: what is something kind a friend did that made you think about God?