Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for This Week is: The Influence Of The Kingdom - Matthew 5:13-16
- Ye are the salt of the earth:
but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 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. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
INTRODUCTION
1. In The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. Blessed are they
that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are
the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall
be filled. Blessed are the
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are
the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness'
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.), we saw...
a. The character of those who would be citizens of the kingdom
b. The blessedness of the citizens described
2. In the final beatitude, Jesus implied the attitude the world would often display towards the citizens
of the kingdom - Matthew 5:10-12 - lessed are they which are
persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
a. The world would revile and persecute those in the kingdom
b. The world would say all kinds of evil against them falsely for His sake
c. The world would persecute them just as it persecuted the prophets before them
-- Thus the influence of the world upon the kingdom would often be one of persecution
3. Jesus then proceeded to describe the opposite...
a. The influence of the kingdom upon the world
b. The impact the kingdom was designed to have upon those in the world
[He uses two metaphors in doing so. The first, in (Matthew 5:13 - Ye are
the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing,
but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.) , involves the figure of salt...]
I. “YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH”
A. SALT HAS SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS...
1. It is white, enhances flavor, preserves, etc.
2. Based on the context, it is probably salt’s ability to enhance flavor to which Jesus refers in
his illustration
a. Notice: “...but if the salt loses its flavor...”
b. Salt has the ability to give flavor to that which is otherwise bland
c. Job mentioned this ability in - Job 6:6 - Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt?
or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
B. THROUGH THE METAPHOR OF SALT...
1. Jesus depicts the relationship of the citizens of the kingdom to the world as one of:
a. Making the world palatable (bearable) to God, and possibly to others as well
b. Perhaps making it possible for God to continue to bear with this world and its “distasteful”
wickedness
2. The idea that the “righteous few” can make it is easier for God to forbear the many wicked
is illustrated:
a. In Abraham’s conversation with God over Sodom - Genesis 18:20-32
- And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will
go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will
know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham
drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the
city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as
the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty
righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have
taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall
lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he
said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto him yet again,
and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for
forty's sake. And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure
there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And
he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry,
and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
b. In God’s dealing with Jerusalem - Jeremiah 5:1 - Run ye to and fro through the
streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
-- So from God’s point of view, the citizens of the kingdom give the world what good “flavor”
it has!
C. JESUS WARNS AGAINST LOSING OUR FLAVORING ABILITY...!
1. With pure salt...
a. It actually never loses its flavor
b. But when mixed with impurities salt can lose its ability to enhance flavor
2. We too might lose our ability to be a “flavoring agent” for the world...
a. By allowing “impurities” into our lives - 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Be not deceived:
evil communications corrupt good manners.
b. Therefore, we need to keep ourselves from sin - Ephesians 5:3-7 - But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger,
nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no
man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be
not ye therefore partakers with them.
D. IF WE LOSE OUR FLAVOR...
1. How are we going to be “seasoned”? (impurities prevent us from being useful)
2. We will be thrown out!
a. Is Jesus teaching the possibility of losing our salvation?
b. He certainly does elsewhere! - Matthew 13:40-43 - As therefore the
tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels,
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace
of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. - Revelation 3:15-16 - I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[First of all, then, we are told of the relationship of the kingdom to the world from God’s point
of view: “You are the salt of the earth.” In (Matthew 5:14-16 - Ye are
the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.), we find Jesus teaching concerning those
in the kingdom as to their primary function in the world...]
II. “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”
A. USED BY GOD TO TRANSMIT HIS GLORY TO THE WORLD...
1. They are “lights” in a dark world - Philippians 2:14-15 - Do all things without
murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
2. Their purpose: to proclaim the praises of God! - 1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: - Ephesians 5:8b-9 - but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
B. THEY ARE NOT A LIGHT IN AND OF THEMSELVES...
1. Only in the Lord - Ephesians 5:8a - For ye were sometimes darkness,
2. Christ is the “true” or “original” light - John 8:12 - Then spake
Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life.
3. Citizens of the kingdom are simply “luminaries” reflecting The One True Light, just as
the moon reflects the sun - 2 Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath
shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ.
C. CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM HAVE A TWOFOLD RESPONSIBILITY AS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD...
1. They must be visible
a. Implied by Jesus in His use of a “city” and a “lamp stand” as metaphors
b. Jesus therefore expects His followers to be seen by the world - e.g., John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another. - John 17:21 - That they all may
be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
2. They must radiate (give light)
a. This principle conveyed by the idea of the lamp
1) Designed to shine on a lamp stand
2) Not put under a basket
b. This principle explicitly stated in “let your light so shine before men”
-- The purpose of such visible radiation: so men may glorify the Father in heaven - e.g.,
1 Peter 2:11-12 - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation. - 2 Corinthians 9:12-13 - For the administration of this service not only
supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration
they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal
distribution unto them, and unto all men;
CONCLUSION
1. The influence and impact that the citizens of the kingdom are to have on the world can be simply stated...
a. “You are the salt of the earth”
b. “You are the light of the world”
2. Why make the effort to be salt and light? Because of He who is described as “your Father who
is in heaven”...!
a. An expression which should remind us that God is both:
1) Tender (He is our “Father”; a term of tenderness)
2) Majestic (He is “in heaven”)
b. Such a Majestic Being, willing to be our Father, makes Him:
1) Worthy to be pleased!
2) Worthy to be praised!
3. We who claim to be the children of God, citizens of the kingdom, are we...
a. Pleasing to our Father (by being “the salt of the earth”)?
b. Praising Him (by being “the light of the world”)?
If not, then may the prayer of David in Psalms 51:10-15 become our own:
Psalms 51:10-15 - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take
not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and
sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou
God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall
shew forth thy praise.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 - And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Prayer:
Lord I truly thank You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will
give them Your eternal blessings and accept them into Your heart - this I pray
in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen
Peace
be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace
be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. - Ephesians 6:23-24
This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement: That it never
be used for profit.
