Sermon on the Mount

Teachings from Matthew 5

Lesson One • Salt

Pastor Noble Baird

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Matthew 5:13

Here in Michigan, salt is a pretty valuable tool. No matter what county you live in, when that cold weather hits, you know it will not take long for those big orange trucks to fire up and get those caution lights going. Regardless of whether you have lived here all your life or just one year of experiencing our two seasons (road construction and snow), you know how important salt is when the snow comes.

1. What are some crazy stories or experiences you have had with snow?

2. Are you a fan of the snow or are you contemplating being a Michigan snow-bird and trying to fly down to Florida when the snow comes?

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus uses the concept of salt to continue His discussion in our call as His followers. If you remember last year, we began the Sermon on the Mount by going through the Beatitudes. Jesus really laid out what a sanctified life ought to look like as we grow, one day at a time, in our walks with the Lord, striving to be more like Christ. Those Beatitudes ultimately culminated in Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’” It is such a beautiful and encouraging reminder that as we grow in our walks with the Lord, persecution will come - physically, emotionally, and mentally. However, regardless of the form of the persecution we receive as we share the Gospel of Christ, we are truly blessed as we have been given the gift of salvation and life, eternal life, through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection!

3. What Beatitude was a challenge or encouragement for you?

4. Is there a Beatitude over this past year that you have been working on and allowing the Lord to work in your life?

Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” This concept of salt Jesus uses was understood by His followers and certainly all those listening as a very important tool during this time. During the time of Christ and even into the 20th century before refrigeration was created and more widely used, salt was used as a preservative. So, with this concept and understanding in mind of salt being a preservative, it is interesting how Christ is calling His followers preservatives if you will. Calling them to help reach out and save those around them who are dying in their sin, rotting if we follow along with the illustration Christ is making.

Furthermore, when we look at salt in the culinary world (I am no Chef Ramsay, but I love watching Master Chef!), it is used as a supplement to improve meats and make them even better than before! In the same way, we have been called to this as well. Before Christ ascended to Heaven He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). As His followers, and in being the salt of the world, we are called to not only make disciples but to teach and instruct them in the ways of the Lord and certainly Christ’s teachings. Why? So that a lost and rotting world may be preserved, ultimately improved, and made better than before through this sanctification process that takes place once we come to faith in Christ!

5. When was the last time you took an opportunity to be the “salt” of the earth and shared the truth of the Gospel with someone?

6. Is there a sense of urgency from Christ when He uses this concept of being salt in the world?

Jesus did not just stop there, there is a flip side and another option - laziness. Christ posed a question in Matthew 5:13 asking how salt that loses its taste can be restored? Sadly, this is a reality of many who claim to be followers of Christ. Often, at the time of salvation, a fire is ignited. It is exciting and truly encouraging to see. However, if that passion does not remain and the things of this world begin to take priority over the call of being salt in a lost and rotting world, that fire can grow smaller and smaller and the light grows faint. The focus is no longer on Christ and His will, but focused inward or simply a plateau of religious liturgy that means nothing to us personally, emotionally, or spiritually. Know my heart. I have been there. I have experienced those times of drought where my focus was shifted off the call Christ has placed in my life. That is why Jesus gives this warning. If we truly grasp this concept of being called the salt of the world, we must have a heart, mind, focus, and desire to follow after Christ and allow His Word to take precedence over our life.

7. Is there anything in your life that is causing you to lose your effectiveness or take priority over your calling to be the salt of the world?

8. What are some practical habits or disciplines you can implement in your life and the life of your family?

Sadly, all too often, we become distracted and even motivated by the things of this world. They can take the form of many different things: job, sports, relationships, status, or you fill in the blank. Whatever it may be, these things take precedence over our walk with the Lord and ultimately our desires to have Him as the priority in our lives. What can then happen is exactly what Christ warns about in this teaching. If we lose our desire to reach the world and share the love of Christ, we lose our effectiveness. Therefore as Christ uses this imagery, we ought to be thrown out into the streets to be trampled on under people’s feet. This is really such a great reminder and image to have as we allow the things of this world to trample and distract us from our calling.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Paul is expounding on and reminding the church in Corinth and us of our call as followers of Jesus Christ. We have been reconciled to the Father through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Therefore, we are called to be ambassadors! We have the privilege to be walking examples, representations, and witnesses of who Christ is and what He did for all! Therefore, it is my prayer and hope that we will not only be living examples and representatives of Christ, but that we will be salty ambassadors who desire to preserve a lost, hurting, broken, and rotting world for the Gospel!

9. Who is someone you need to reach out to and simply show the love of Christ with, not just in word, but in action?

10. Not a question, but a challenge. If you truly desire to be the salt of the world - pray for that this week. Pray for that as a family. Then, when an opportunity comes and as the Spirit leads you, do not hesitate. Be bold, confident, and remember your calling as an ambassador of Christ!

Lesson One • Salt

Pastor Noble Baird

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Matthew 5:13

Here in Michigan, salt is a pretty valuable tool. No matter what county you live in, when that cold weather hits, you know it will not take long for those big orange trucks to fire up and get those caution lights going. Regardless of whether you have lived here all your life or just one year of experiencing our two seasons (road construction and snow), you know how important salt is when the snow comes.

1. What are some crazy stories or experiences you have had with snow?

2. Are you a fan of the snow or are you contemplating being a Michigan snow-bird and trying to fly down to Florida when the snow comes?

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus uses the concept of salt to continue His discussion in our call as His followers. If you remember last year, we began the Sermon on the Mount by going through the Beatitudes. Jesus really laid out what a sanctified life ought to look like as we grow, one day at a time, in our walks with the Lord, striving to be more like Christ. Those Beatitudes ultimately culminated in Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’” It is such a beautiful and encouraging reminder that as we grow in our walks with the Lord, persecution will come - physically, emotionally, and mentally. However, regardless of the form of the persecution we receive as we share the Gospel of Christ, we are truly blessed as we have been given the gift of salvation and life, eternal life, through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection!

3. What Beatitude was a challenge or encouragement for you?

4. Is there a Beatitude over this past year that you have been working on and allowing the Lord to work in your life?

Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” This concept of salt Jesus uses was understood by His followers and certainly all those listening as a very important tool during this time. During the time of Christ and even into the 20th century before refrigeration was created and more widely used, salt was used as a preservative. So, with this concept and understanding in mind of salt being a preservative, it is interesting how Christ is calling His followers preservatives if you will. Calling them to help reach out and save those around them who are dying in their sin, rotting if we follow along with the illustration Christ is making.

Furthermore, when we look at salt in the culinary world (I am no Chef Ramsay, but I love watching Master Chef!), it is used as a supplement to improve meats and make them even better than before! In the same way, we have been called to this as well. Before Christ ascended to Heaven He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). As His followers, and in being the salt of the world, we are called to not only make disciples but to teach and instruct them in the ways of the Lord and certainly Christ’s teachings. Why? So that a lost and rotting world may be preserved, ultimately improved, and made better than before through this sanctification process that takes place once we come to faith in Christ!

5. When was the last time you took an opportunity to be the “salt” of the earth and shared the truth of the Gospel with someone?

6. Is there a sense of urgency from Christ when He uses this concept of being salt in the world?

Jesus did not just stop there, there is a flip side and another option - laziness. Christ posed a question in Matthew 5:13 asking how salt that loses its taste can be restored? Sadly, this is a reality of many who claim to be followers of Christ. Often, at the time of salvation, a fire is ignited. It is exciting and truly encouraging to see. However, if that passion does not remain and the things of this world begin to take priority over the call of being salt in a lost and rotting world, that fire can grow smaller and smaller and the light grows faint. The focus is no longer on Christ and His will, but focused inward or simply a plateau of religious liturgy that means nothing to us personally, emotionally, or spiritually. Know my heart. I have been there. I have experienced those times of drought where my focus was shifted off the call Christ has placed in my life. That is why Jesus gives this warning. If we truly grasp this concept of being called the salt of the world, we must have a heart, mind, focus, and desire to follow after Christ and allow His Word to take precedence over our life.

7. Is there anything in your life that is causing you to lose your effectiveness or take priority over your calling to be the salt of the world?

8. What are some practical habits or disciplines you can implement in your life and the life of your family?

Sadly, all too often, we become distracted and even motivated by the things of this world. They can take the form of many different things: job, sports, relationships, status, or you fill in the blank. Whatever it may be, these things take precedence over our walk with the Lord and ultimately our desires to have Him as the priority in our lives. What can then happen is exactly what Christ warns about in this teaching. If we lose our desire to reach the world and share the love of Christ, we lose our effectiveness. Therefore as Christ uses this imagery, we ought to be thrown out into the streets to be trampled on under people’s feet. This is really such a great reminder and image to have as we allow the things of this world to trample and distract us from our calling.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Paul is expounding on and reminding the church in Corinth and us of our call as followers of Jesus Christ. We have been reconciled to the Father through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Therefore, we are called to be ambassadors! We have the privilege to be walking examples, representations, and witnesses of who Christ is and what He did for all! Therefore, it is my prayer and hope that we will not only be living examples and representatives of Christ, but that we will be salty ambassadors who desire to preserve a lost, hurting, broken, and rotting world for the Gospel!

9. Who is someone you need to reach out to and simply show the love of Christ with, not just in word, but in action?

10. Not a question, but a challenge. If you truly desire to be the salt of the world - pray for that this week. Pray for that as a family. Then, when an opportunity comes and as the Spirit leads you, do not hesitate. Be bold, confident, and remember your calling as an ambassador of Christ!