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, Salt of the Earth and Light of the World
- Bible verses
- First draft by AI
- Last edited 2026-10-04
- Encyclopedia home
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
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, and it is often invoked when the credibility of the Korean church is called into question.
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 goes on to describe 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" added to offerings (Leviticus 2:13). Many interpreters hold that salt that "have lost his savour" referred to salt mixed with impurities that 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 appears to stand in tension with 6:1, which warns against practicing righteousness "before men, to be seen of them"; the tension is usually 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.
In the Korean Church
"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 church's public credibility has declined, the phrase "salt that has lost its savor" is frequently invoked as an expression of self-examination.
Related Passages
- Mark 9:50
- John 8:12
- Philippians 2:15
- 1 Peter 2:12
See also 5
🚩 Is there a problem with this article? Report it
Log in to report. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours.
Discussion 0
Share your thoughts, other viewpoints or corrections for this article.