Matthew 5:13–20

Jesus says we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But what exactly does this mean? How do we go about being salt and light? We are salt and light when we do what he sends us to do: make disciples of all nations. Saving souls is the reason that God established the church on earth. It is why we are here. It is why Emmanuel Lutheran Church exists. The goal of the church is to save souls! Both your soul and your neighbor's.

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. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

We read that seeing the crowds, Jesus "went up on the mountain. When he sat down, his disciples came to him and he opened his mouth and taught them,..." Thus begins the Sermon on the Mount. It is a sermon delivered to believers. It is not for non-believers. It does not tell us how to be saved. It is not an evangelism message. It was delivered to people who were already saved. To Jesus' disciples. So while it does not tell us how to be saved or become a disciple of Jesus, it tells us what God expects of us; how we are to live as disciples of Jesus and as children of God. It really describes Jesus himself, and by extension describes what Jesus' followers are to be like. It spells out God's requirements for us, his church, his people.

God's demands are summarized in the last verse of our text: "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." That's a mild translation. Jesus literally said, "...you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." "No way." "By no means." "It just won't happen." Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.

But that is a problem for us. You see, the scribes and Pharisees were righteous. They obeyed the laws of God. They kept the commandments. They observed the ceremonies. They went to church, they said the liturgies. They sang the right hymns and prayed the right prayers. They fasted. They obeyed the law. They were righteous according to God's law.

Our Old Testament reading for today says the same thing. It was addressed to the people of God. In it God said that they fasted and kept the laws. But God was arguing with his people. He was still angry with them.

What more can we do? We go to church. We pray. We do the liturgy. We sing the hymns. We are good people. We do not steal or murder. So he tells us, "unless your righteousness exceeds theirs." Even if we keep his laws and commandments God is still not satisfied. Even if we do all our religious duties, God is still not happy with us.

He told them in our Old Testament reading that their fasting was not the fast that he choose. Their religious duties were not what he was looking for. Their liturgy, their prayers, their hymns we not what he commanded. Rather His fast was "to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke." He said that true righteousness is "to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house, and to cover the naked."

These things we have not done. We have kept the law, but we have not done these things. We have been complacent about these. We are apathetic and lukewarm toward our poor neighbor in his suffering. We have not loosed the bonds of wickedness or let the oppressed go free. We have hidden ourselves from those in need, from those who suffer, from those who are lost in sin and oppressed by Satan. Indeed, what Jesus tells us is that being saved; being a follower of Jesus isn't just about going to heaven when we die. It's not just a ticket out of hell. It's not just a life insurance policy that pays off when we die. Rather, being a believer in Christ is our entire life. It is the way we live right now, today. It is about serving your neighbor. It is about loving your enemy. It is about forgiving those who offend you. It is about helping your neighbor in need. It is about bringing the lost into the light of the gospel and leading him to faith by proclaiming God's word. It is about caring for others and saving their souls.

Just like the Pharisees and scribes, we perform our religious duty, but "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall in no way enter into the kingdom of heaven."

So, what shall we do? How shall we be saved? Does forgiveness mean that God stops enforcing his law so we can get into heaven? Does the cross of Jesus mean that God will lower the bar? Will God just overlook our sin because we have been saved?

No. Rather, Jesus says, "He has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets...truly heaven and earth will pass away but not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished....therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." He does not lessen the law or take away from its strength. So, our righteousness must exceed theirs.

But how? Instead of coming to abolish the law; Jesus did come to fulfill it. That is, he accomplished what the law demands of us. He did what we cannot do. He took our place under the law and did it for us. What we cannot do, he did for us. Our own righteousness cannot exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, so Jesus gives us his righteousness. A far greater righteousness than even they had. A different sort of righteousness. For the righteousness of Jesus is the righteousness of faith, theirs was the righteousness of the law. In your Baptism God covered you with the righteousness of Jesus. In Holy Communion God renews that righteousness in you. Your Baptism gives you a greater righteousness than that of the scribes and Pharisees. Baptism gives you the righteousness of Jesus, the righteousness of faith.

We proclaim Jesus and him crucified, because on the cross he fulfilled all righteousness. He fulfilled the law and the prophets. He opened the doors to the kingdom of heaven to all believers by his death on the cross. Baptized into Christ your righteousness far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees because you have the righteousness of Jesus; the righteousness of faith.

So, what do his righteous people do? His righteousness is our way of live. It is our walk as followers of Jesus in this world. Jesus tells us that His righteous people are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. You, baptized believer; you, the church of Jesus Christ, are the salt and the light. That is your vocation. That is what the church is in the world. That is what the church does. You salt the earth and you light the way to salvation for a people living in darkness.

But are you doing that? Is Emmanuel doing that? Are you salting the earth? Are you lighting the way to heaven for people? If the salt does not salt, or the light does not light, then it is good for nothing except to be cast out and trampled underfoot. That word "cast out" is the same word Jesus used of people being cast into hell. The salt that does not salt will be cut off from Christ and thrown away.

So what does it mean to be salt and light? Jesus tells us, "Go, make disciples of all nations." He says, "You are ambassadors of reconciliation, reconcile with your brother." He says, "if you forgive anyone his sins, they will be forgiven in heaven." "Preach the gospel, in season and out of season." "Be ready at all times to give a reason for the hope that is in you."

Being salt and light means to save souls. The goal and purpose of the church is to save souls. It is through the church that God spreads forgiveness to all people. The forgiveness and salvation the Jesus won on the cross is dispensed to the world through you, the church. That is what church does. If the church does not do this, it will be cast off and thrown away. The church is not a social club; it is not a civic organization; it is not a friendship society; it is not a fraternal brotherhood. It is the salt and light of the world. It is called to save souls. It is sent to make disciples.

Are you being the salt of the world? Are you lighting the way to heaven for those living in darkness? These are the tough questions that you and Emmanuel congregation must ask. You are here to save souls, nothing else. Every decision made in boards and committees; every vote cast in voters' meetings. Every dollar spent must be done with this criteria: is this going to save souls? If that is not the criteria, it is illegitimate. It is poor stewardship. It will be judged by God.

Therefore, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Spreading the gospel to bring others to salvation is your good work. It is what God has called you to do. It is how you love your neighbor. If you do not seek your neighbor's forgiveness and salvation, you do not love him. If you do not loose his bonds of wickedness, or undo the straps of the yoke of Satan, you do not love him. If you do not share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house, you do not love him.

These things are your priority; your purpose; your goal. Jesus has clothed you in his righteousness; a righteousness that far exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus has sacrificed himself on the cross to take away your sins. Jesus has opened the gates of heaven to you. And Jesus has made you the salt and light of the world.

Amen.