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“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”
These are not suggestions. They are not aspirations. They are declarations of Jesus Christ about the identity and calling of every true disciple.
Let us look at what the Word of God says:
> “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
> You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
> nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
> Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
> — Matthew 5:13–16 (NASB)
The lyrics of “Salt and Light Shine” are essentially a sung meditation on these verses. They take the direct words of Jesus and press them upon our conscience:
You are the light of the world”
Over and over, the song returns to this double identity. It is not enough to be forgiven. It is not enough to be saved. We are called to function—actively, visibly, tangibly—in the earth and in the world as salt and as light.
Two great spiritual truths emerge:
1. Your identity is defined by Christ’s word, not by your feelings or circumstances.
2. Your identity carries a responsibility. Salt that does not season, light that does not shine, fails its purpose.
This teaching will trace these truths through the context, language, theology, and practical application of Matthew 5:13–16, using the song’s lines as stepping stones.
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These words of Jesus are located in what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Matthew 5 begins with the Beatitudes, those statements beginning with “Blessed are…” (Matthew 5:3–12). There Jesus describes the character of those who belong to His kingdom:
Then immediately, without a break, He says:
> “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”
Who was He speaking to?
Not to the religious elite. Not to Roman governors. He was speaking to disciples who had responded to His call, ordinary people who had heard, repented, and followed. Men and women with weaknesses, fears, failures—yet now joined to Him.
He had just described their inward character (the Beatitudes). Now He describes their outward impact (salt and light). Identity and influence are inseparable. If you are genuinely what He describes in verses 3–12, then you must function as He describes in verses 13–16.
Notice also the context of persecution:
> “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you… Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great…” (Matthew 5:11–12)
Then He says:
> “You are the salt… You are the light…”
That means:
The song echoes that pressure and that call:
> “Don’t blend in when you’re called to stand out
> Don’t grow dull when the world needs your fire”
Jesus placed His disciples in the midst of a corrupt, dark world and told them: “You are the preserving element; you are the illuminating presence.”
The world will not change you. You are to change the world.
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To grasp the force of Jesus’ words, we must look briefly at two key terms in the original Greek:
### 1. “Salt” – halas (ἅλας)
“You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13)
The Greek word *halas* has three main uses in the ancient world:
1. Preserving agent – Salt stops decay.
2. Flavoring agent – Salt brings out taste.
3. Covenant symbol – Salt was associated with permanence and covenant loyalty.
In Leviticus 2:13, God commands:
> “With all your offerings you shall offer salt.”
2 Chronicles 13:5 speaks of:
> “A covenant of salt” – a permanent, enduring covenant.
So when Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth,” He is saying:
Now the warning:
> “If the salt has become tasteless…”
The phrase “become tasteless” translates the Greek verb *mōrainō* (μωραίνω), which literally means “to become foolish, dull, insipid.” It is related to the word from which we get “moron.”
This means: Salt that loses its saltiness becomes foolish, useless, senseless.
The disciple who loses his distinctiveness becomes spiritually foolish and functionally useless in God’s purpose.
The song captures this:
> “Don’t let your flavor fade—stay sharp and true”
### 2. “Light” – phōs (φῶς)
“You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:14)
The Greek word *phōs* means:
John 1:9 says of Jesus:
> “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”
In John 8:12, Jesus says:
> “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
Notice the sequence:
Not a different light. His light in us, shining through us. We do not originate the light; we reflect and transmit it.
The word *phōs* in this context also suggests visibility and exposure. Light does not negotiate with darkness; it exposes it. That is why Ephesians 5:11–13 instructs us:
> “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them… all things become visible when they are exposed by the light.”
The song puts this simply:
> “Season the darkness, push back the night
> The world is watching—let them see Christ”
Salt restrains decay. Light exposes darkness. Together, they describe the total impact God intends His people to have.
---
We will move through the major themes of the lyrics and align them with the biblical text.
### A. “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world”
The song begins and repeatedly returns to this refrain. Notice:
This is an identity statement rooted in your relationship to Christ. When you were born again, something changed at the very essence of your nature. You are now:
Therefore, by nature of this union:
The question is not *whether* you are salt and light, but *what kind* of salt and light you are:
The lyric:
> “You carry His flavor, you carry His glow”
is a poetic way of saying: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). His character is the “flavor.” His presence is the “glow.”
### B. “If salt loses its salty taste…”
Jesus asks a rhetorical question:
> “If the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?” (Matthew 5:13)
Salt in the ancient world was often mixed with impurities. If the salt content leeched out, what remained was a useless sediment. It looked like salt, but it did not function like salt.
Spiritually, this speaks of compromise:
The song admonishes:
> “Don’t let your flavor fade—stay sharp and true”
> “Don’t blend in when you’re called to stand out
> Don’t grow dull when the world needs your fire”
This aligns with Romans 12:2:
> “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Salt that conforms to its environment is salt that is dissolving, disappearing, becoming ineffective.
Jesus’ verdict on unsalty salt is stark:
> “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” (Matthew 5:13)
This is one of the most solemn warnings in the New Testament about useless profession. A believer who will not be distinct will become despised. Trampled underfoot speaks of contempt. When the church loses its saltiness, the world does not respect it; it despises it.
### C. “A city built on a hill cannot be hidden…”
Jesus next turns to light:
> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
In the ancient world, many cities were built on elevated places for protection and visibility. At night, their lamps and fires could be seen from miles away. They were unavoidable.
The church, as the corporate people of God, is that city:
> “You are… fellow citizens with the saints… having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone… in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19–22)
When the church lives in obedience and holiness, it is a city on a hill—visible, distinct, a testimony. When the church tries to hide, to blend with the world, it denies its own nature.
The lyric echoes this:
> “Don’t hide what God has placed in you
> Live boldly, love openly, stand out for what is right
> Your life is meant to point the way to Him”
Light is not optional decoration; it is essential exposure. We are not called merely to have private devotions but to live public testimonies.
### D. “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket…”
Jesus continues:
> “Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand…” (Matthew 5:15)
Three simple but profound points:
1. God is the One who lights the lamp.
2. Lamps are meant for lampstands.
3. The basket represents anything that covers or hides your light.
The lyrics urge:
> “Don’t ever hold back”
> “Stay salty, stay bright, stay true to His call”
We must ask: What basket am I hiding under?
Jesus says it is irrational to light a lamp and then cover it. Likewise, it is irrational for a believer to receive salvation, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, and then live as though none of it were true.
### E. “Let your light shine before others… that they may see your good works…”
Here we come to the central command:
> “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father…” (Matthew 5:16)
Notice:
1. “Let” – This is an act of the will.
2. “Your light” – It is personal.
3. “Before men” – Public.
4. “That they may see your good works” – Tangible.
5. “And glorify your Father who is in heaven” – Ultimate purpose.
The lyrics align exactly:
> “In the same way, let your light shine before people
> That they may see your good works
> And give glory to your Father who is in heaven
> …Your life is meant to point the way to Him”
This is an antidote to a self-centered Christianity. Good works are not for self-promotion but for God-exaltation.
### F. Salt and Light in Spiritual Warfare
We must also see this in the context of spiritual conflict. The world is under the sway of the evil one (1 John 5:19). Darkness and decay are not neutral; they are driven by unseen powers.
Salt and light, therefore, are spiritual weapons:
The lyric:
> “Season the darkness, push back the night
> The world is watching—let them see Christ”
agrees with John 1:5:
> “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
The darkness does not extinguish the light; the light drives out the darkness.
---
How then do we live as salt and light in a corrupt and dark world? I will outline four practical steps, each with a simple proclamation.
### Step 1: Embrace Your God-given Identity
First, we must accept Jesus’ declaration as final authority over our identity.
Do not argue with His words. Do not reduce them to theory. Say to yourself, “Because Jesus says it, it is so—whether I feel it or not.”
Action:
Proclamation 1:
“I receive the words of Jesus as truth. He says I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Therefore, in Him, I am salt and I am light. My identity is not defined by my past, my failures, or this world, but by the word of the Lord.”
---
### Step 2: Guard Your Saltiness (Resist Compromise)
Second, we must refuse the process of becoming tasteless. That means dealing ruthlessly with compromise.
Key areas:
Jesus warns that unsalty salt is “no longer good for anything.” That is a terrible verdict. To avoid that:
Proclamation 2:
“In the name of Jesus, I renounce every form of compromise in my life. I choose holiness over worldliness, obedience over convenience, truth over popularity. By the grace of God, I will not let my flavor fade. I will remain sharp, pure, and distinct for His glory.”
---
### Step 3: Remove the Basket (Renounce Hiding)
Third, we must identify and remove whatever is hiding our light.
Ask the Holy Spirit:
Then deal with it decisively.
Proclamation 3:
“I refuse to hide the light God has placed in me. I reject the fear of man, the spirit of shame, and every lie that tells me to be silent. By the authority of Jesus’ name, I remove every basket from my life. My lamp will be on the stand God has chosen for me.”
---
### Step 4: Commit to Visible, Practical Good Works
Fourth, we must intentionally engage in good works that reflect the character of our Father.
Remember:
Ask:
Examples:
The lyric says:
> “Bring taste to the tasteless, bring light to the lost
> Your good works will shine, drawing hearts to the Father
> You’re His witness here—don’t ever hold back”
Make this conscious: “Today, my works will point to my Father, not to me.”
Proclamation 4:
“I present myself to God as His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Holy Spirit, lead me into the works the Father has prepared for me today. Let my actions, my words, my choices shine with the light of Christ, so that others may see and glorify my Father in heaven.”
---
### Proclamation of Faith
Let us now make a united proclamation, based directly on Matthew 5:13–16 and the truths reflected in the song:
> **I declare that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Master.
> He has said, “You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world.”
> Therefore, in Christ, I am salt in a decaying earth and light in a dark world.
> I refuse to lose my saltiness through compromise or worldliness.
> I will not blend in when I am called to stand out.
> I will not hide the light God has placed in me under any basket of fear, shame, or sin.
> My life is set by God as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
> I will let my light shine before people, through good works prepared by God,
> so that they may see and give glory to my Father in heaven.
> By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will stay salty, stay bright, and stay true to His call,
> in Jesus’ name. Amen.**
### Prayer
“Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for the clear, uncompromising words of Your Son. He has told us who we are: salt of the earth, light of the world. We acknowledge that in many ways we have failed to live this out. We have allowed our flavor to fade, and we have hidden our light.
We now repent of compromise, fear, and silence. Cleanse us by the blood of Jesus. Fill us afresh with the Holy Spirit. Sharpen our saltiness. Intensify our light.
Lord, place each of us on the lampstand You have chosen—at home, at work, in our communities, in the church. Let our lives bring taste to the tasteless and light to the lost. Use our good works to draw many hearts to glorify You.
We ask that from this day forward, the confession of Jesus over us—‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world’—will be a living reality, not a mere phrase. We submit to Your Word, and we yield ourselves as instruments of Your kingdom in this generation.
We ask it in the authority of the name of Jesus. Amen.”
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