Matthew 5:13–16
Bible Verses. Also called Matthew 5:13-16, Salt and Light, Ye are the salt of the earth, Ye are the light of the world.
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.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
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.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
Matthew 5:13–16 is the passage in which Jesus calls his disciples "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." It is among the texts most frequently cited in discussions of Christian social responsibility. In Korean Protestant churches, it is also often invoked when the public credibility of the church is called into question.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
This passage immediately follows the Beatitudes. At the close of the Beatitudes, Jesus speaks of disciples who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (Matthew 5:10–12). He then describes what those disciples are in the world, using the images of salt and light, a city set on a hill, and a candle on a candlestick. The passage ends with the words "that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (v. 16).
Interpretation
- Read as a declaration: Jesus does not say "become salt" but "ye are the salt." This is understood to mean that discipleship itself already entails a role in the world.
- The meaning of salt: Several meanings have been proposed, including salt as a preservative that prevents decay, salt as that which gives flavor, and the "salt of the covenant" offered with sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13). Many interpreters explain salt that has "lost his savour" as salt of that time which, being mixed with impurities, had lost its saltiness through exposure to moisture.
- Light and good works: The light becomes visible through good works, whose purpose is not one's own glory but the glory of the Father. This stands in some tension with 6:1, which warns against doing righteousness "before men, to be seen of them"; the tension is explained by the difference in motive.
Debates and Issues
This passage is applied differently depending on how one understands the relationship between the church and the world. Those who emphasize social transformation hold that the church should enter the political, economic, and cultural spheres and exert influence there. Those who stand in the Anabaptist tradition hold that the church's very life as an alternative community distinct from the world is itself the light. Those who give priority to gospel evangelism read the light as witness to the gospel.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korea, "Let us be the salt and light of the world" is an extremely common motto among churches, Christian schools, and Christian organizations. Whenever surveys or critiques indicate that the public credibility of the church has declined, the expression "salt that has lost his savour" is frequently cited as a word of self-examination.
Related Passages
See also 5
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