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Salt, Light, and a Whole Heart 

Teacher’s Outline on Matthew 5:13-20 & 43-48 

Opening Statement Come on in, folks, and find yourself a comfortable seat. I’m so glad you’re here. We are stepping back onto the mountainside today to listen to Jesus. Now, I know when we get to the Sermon on the Mount, sometimes we feel like Jesus is setting a bar so high we couldn’t reach it with a ladder. He talks about righteousness and perfection, and if we aren’t careful, we might feel like giving up before we even start. But I want you to set your hearts at ease. Jesus isn’t trying to crush us; He’s trying to make us whole. He’s inviting us into a life that is deep, flavorful, and loyal to the core. Today, we’re going to talk about being the “salt” of the covenant, the “light” that points home, and what it really means to be “perfect” in love. Let’s dig in. 

Part 1: Distinctive Living (Matthew 5:13-16) 

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.” 

• Commentary: Jesus starts by telling us what we are, not just what we should act like. He says, “You are the salt.” Now, in the ancient world, salt was precious—sometimes Roman soldiers were even paid in it (that’s where we get the word “salary”). But there’s a deeper meaning here that a Jewish listener would hear. In the Old Testament, salt was a symbol of the covenant—a “covenant of salt” meant a promise that couldn’t be broken. Jesus is saying we are the people who preserve God’s covenant in the world. But here’s the warning: if salt loses its “savour” (or tang), it’s useless. The Greek word Jesus uses here for “lost his savour” is moranthē, which actually means to become “foolish” or “moronic”. If we Christians blend in so much with the world that we act just like it, we aren’t just bland; we are acting foolishly. We lose our purpose. 

• Cross-References: Leviticus 2:13 (Salt of the covenant); Colossians 4:6 (Speech seasoned with salt); Numbers 18:19 (Covenant of salt). 

• Life Application: You can’t flavor a potato if the salt stays in the shaker. We have to mix with the world to help it, but we must keep our distinct “flavor” of covenant loyalty. Don’t be afraid to be different; that distinctiveness is what preserves goodness around you. 

• For Discussion: Jesus suggests that a Christian who acts exactly like the world has become “foolish.” In what areas of life do you find it hardest to keep your distinct “flavor”? 

Matthew 5:14 

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” 

• Commentary: Just as salt has to touch food to work, light has to be seen to work. Jesus calls us the “light of the world,” which is amazing because elsewhere He claims that title for Himself (John 8:12). He’s sharing His mission with us. When He talks about a “city set on a hill,” He is likely alluding to the prophet Isaiah, who saw a time when God’s people (Zion) would shine so bright that nations would stream toward them. We are meant to be that city—a visible community that shows the world what God looks like. We aren’t meant to be secret agents for the Lord; we are landmarks guiding travelers home. 

• Cross-References: Isaiah 42:6 (Light for the nations); Isaiah 60:1-3 (Arise, shine); Philippians 2:15 (Shine as lights). 

• Life Application: If you are living a life of kindness and integrity, you are going to stick out like a white limestone city on a sunny hill. Don’t apologize for it. Your visibility might be the very thing that helps someone else find their way out of the dark. 

• For Discussion: Why do we sometimes feel the urge to “dim the lights” of our faith when we are around certain groups of people? 

Matthew 5:15 

“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.” 

• Commentary: Jesus uses a little common sense humor here. A “bushel” was a clay measuring bowl. Nobody lights a precious oil lamp and then smothers it with a bowl—that would snuff it out or make it useless. The light is meant for “all that are in the house.” This tells us that our faith isn’t a private hobby; it’s a public utility. We don’t generate the light ourselves; we reflect the light of the Father, just like the moon reflects the sun. Hiding that reflection defeats the whole purpose of being a disciple. 

• Cross-References: Luke 8:16 (No one hides a lighted candle); Mark 4:21 (Candle under a bushel). 

• Life Application: Sometimes we put a “bushel” over our light because of fear, or maybe because of an inferiority complex—thinking we aren’t “good enough” to shine. But Jesus says, “Take the bowl off!” Let the light do what it was made to do. 

• For Discussion: What is the “bushel basket” you are most tempted to hide your faith under? Fear of rejection? Past mistakes? Being too busy? 

Matthew 5:16 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

• Commentary: This is the goal. We do “good works”—acts of mercy, justice, and kindness—not so people will clap for us, but so they will look up and praise God. We are like a window; people should look through us to see the Father. If we are doing things just to show off, we are like a mirror, drawing attention only to ourselves. The purpose of our light is to reveal God’s glory, not our own resume. 

• Cross-References: 1 Peter 2:12 (Good works leading to glorifying God); John 15:8 (Bearing fruit glorifies the Father). 

• Life Application: This week, do something kind for someone—and if they thank you, deflect the praise upstairs. Say, “I’m just thankful God has been good to me.” 

• For Discussion: How can we do good works publicly without falling into the trap of spiritual pride or showing off? 

Part 2: The Heart of the Matter (Matthew 5:17-20) 

Matthew 5:17 

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” 

• Commentary: Some folks thought Jesus was a radical rule-breaker here to tear down the Old Testament. Jesus stops that rumor cold. He says He came to “fulfill” (Greek: pleroo) the Law. This means to “fill it full” or bring it to its intended goal. Think of it like an acorn and an oak tree. You don’t destroy the acorn by smashing it; you destroy it by planting it so it grows into the tree it was always meant to be. Jesus is the “oak tree”—the destination the whole Old Testament was pointing toward. He embodies the true meaning of God’s law. 

• Cross-References: Romans 10:4 (Christ is the end of the law); Galatians 3:24 (Law as a schoolmaster); Luke 24:44 (All things must be fulfilled). 

• Life Application: Never think the Old Testament doesn’t matter. It sets the stage for Jesus. When we read it, we should look for Him on every page, seeing how He completes the story God started long ago. 

• For Discussion: How does knowing Jesus “completed” the law help you understand why we don’t follow every single regulation (like dietary laws) today, but we still honor the moral heart of the Bible? 

Matthew 5:18 

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” 

• Commentary: Jesus had a high view of Scripture. A “jot” was the smallest Hebrew letter (yod—looks like an apostrophe), and a “tittle” (keraia) was a tiny stroke of a pen, like the difference between a P and an R. Jesus is saying that God’s Word is precise and permanent. Not even the fine print is going to disappear until God’s purposes are totally accomplished. He isn’t here to abolish the law, but to bring it to its full completion. 

• Cross-References: Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.; Luke 16:17 (Easier for heaven and earth to pass). 

• Life Application: In a world where truth seems to change with the wind, isn’t it comforting to know we have a Book that is solid? We can build our lives on it because the Author doesn’t make mistakes. 

• For Discussion: Why is it important for us to trust that God cares about the “details” (the jots and tittles) of His promises? 

Matthew 5:19 

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” 

• Commentary: Jesus warns against “relaxing” or “loosening” the commandments. We can’t pick and choose which parts of God’s will we like. But notice the grace here: even the person who messes up and breaks the least commandment is still “in the kingdom”—they are just called “least”. Greatness in God’s eyes isn’t about fame; it’s about integrity—doing what God says and helping others do the same. 

• Cross-References: James 2:10 (Stumble in one point, guilty of all); 1 Samuel 2:30 (Those that honor me I will honor). 

• Life Application: It’s easy to have “pet sins” we think don’t matter—maybe a little grudge or a little white lie. Jesus invites us to sweat the small stuff when it comes to obedience because it reflects our love for Him. 

• For Discussion: Why do you think Jesus links “doing” and “teaching” together? Can you effectively teach someone to follow Jesus if you aren’t doing it yourself? 

Matthew 5:20 

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 

• Commentary: This verse would have shocked the listeners. The Pharisees were the “religious gold standard”—they followed every rule. How could anyone be more righteous than them? But their righteousness was external—it was a mask. Jesus is calling for a righteousness that starts in the heart. He doesn’t want us to just act right on the outside; He wants us to be right on the inside. This is a “surpassing righteousness” that we can’t earn on our own; it requires a heart transplant from God. 

• Cross-References: Romans 3:21-22 (Righteousness apart from the law); Philippians 3:9 (Not having my own righteousness). 

• Life Application: Don’t settle for looking good on Sunday morning if your heart is far from God on Monday. Ask God to change your want-to, not just your have-to. 

• For Discussion: What is the difference between “following rules” and “having a heart alive to God”? 

Part 3: Radical Love (Matthew 5:43-48) 

Matthew 5:43 

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.” 

• Commentary: Jesus quotes a common saying of the day. The Old Testament definitely said “love your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:18), but it never said “hate your enemy”. That was something the religious teachers added on their own. They inferred that if they were supposed to love their own people, they were allowed to hate the outsiders. Jesus is correcting their math. He is stripping away the human additions to get back to God’s heart. 

• Cross-References: Leviticus 19:18 (Love neighbor as self); Proverbs 25:21 (If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread). 

• Life Application: We have to be careful not to add our own prejudices to God’s Word. Just because society—or even religious tradition—says it’s okay to hate a certain group, doesn’t mean God agrees. 

• For Discussion: Who are the “enemies” or “outsiders” in our culture today that we are tempted to feel justified in hating? 

Matthew 5:44 

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” 

• Commentary: This is the game-changer. Jesus commands us to love the very people who want to hurt us. The word for love here is agapao, which isn’t a warm, fuzzy feeling; it’s a decision to show active kindness. It’s active: bless, do good, pray. You can’t truly hate someone you are sincerely praying for. This love is a refusal to seek revenge or retaliation. 

• Cross-References: Luke 23:34 (Father forgive them); Romans 12:14 (Bless them which persecute you); Acts 7:60 (Stephen praying for his killers). 

• Life Application: Think of the person who irritates you the most or has treated you unfairly. Commit to praying for their well-being (not just that they would change!) every day this week. 

• For Discussion: Why is praying for an enemy so powerful for our own hearts? 

Matthew 5:45 

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” 

• Commentary: Why love enemies? To show family resemblance. We want to act like our Daddy. God offers “common grace”—sunshine and rain—to everyone, even people who curse Him. He doesn’t zap people the moment they sin. When we show grace to mean people, we look just like God. We prove we are His children by acting like Him. 

• Cross-References: Ephesians 5:1 (Be followers of God as dear children); Luke 6:35 (He is kind unto the unthankful). 

• Life Application: When you are generous to someone who doesn’t deserve it, you are giving them a small glimpse of God’s character. You are being “light” in their darkness. 

• For Discussion: How does seeing God’s patience with “evil people” change how you view the difficult people in your life? 

Matthew 5:46-47 

“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” 

• Commentary: Jesus asks, “What makes you different?” Even the tax collectors (who were considered traitors and thieves) loved their own friends. If we only are kind to our own circle, our own political party, or our own church clique, we are no better than the rest of the world. Jesus calls us to be extraordinary—to have a love that crosses lines and breaks down walls. 

• Cross-References: 1 Peter 2:20 (What glory is it if you are patient when buffeted for faults?); Luke 6:32 (Sinners love those that love them). 

• Life Application: Next time you are at a gathering, go out of your way to speak to the person who looks different from you or who you know disagrees with you. Offer a warm greeting. That is Kingdom work. 

• For Discussion: Why is it so comfortable to stay in our own bubbles, and why does Jesus want us to burst them? 

Matthew 5:48 

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” 

• Commentary: This verse scares a lot of folks. “Perfect? I can’t be flawless!” But let’s look at that word. The Greek word is teleios. It doesn’t mean “never making a mistake.” It means “complete,” “mature,” “whole,” or “fully grown”. It’s related to the Old Testament idea of being tamim—wholehearted and blameless in covenant loyalty. It means having a heart that is undivided in its loyalty to God. Just as God loves everyone completely (sun and rain on the just and unjust), we are called to be “complete” in our love, leaving no one out. It’s a call to covenant loyalty, not impossible flawlessness. 

• Cross-References: Deuteronomy 18:13 (Thou shalt be perfect/whole with the Lord); James 1:4 (Perfect and entire, wanting nothing); Colossians 1:28 (Present every man perfect/mature in Christ). 

• Life Application: Stop trying to be “flawless” and start trying to be “whole.” Be loyal to God. Let His love fill you up so completely that it spills over onto everyone—even your enemies. That is spiritual maturity. 

• For Discussion: How does redefining “perfect” as “mature,” “loyal,” or “wholehearted” change your approach to this command? Does it make it feel more possible? 

Closing Statement Well, friends, we’ve covered some steep ground today. Jesus is calling us to be salty, to shine bright, to honor His Word, and to love people who might not love us back. It sounds impossible if we try to do it on our own grit. But remember, Jesus fulfilled the law because we couldn’t. He gives us the strength to be “whole” and “loyal” children of God. We don’t do this to earn God’s love; we do it because we have God’s love inside us. Let’s go out this week and be the salt of the earth—sprinkling a little grace everywhere we go. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word. Help us to be salt and light in a world that needs You. Give us the strength to love our enemies and the courage to live with whole, loyal hearts. We love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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