Mathew 5:1-12 lists the beatitudes; the human characteristics that God values and desires to see in all of us. These are the traits that Jesus taught everywhere he went and highlighted with his life. He calls us to be meek and merciful; pure in heart and hungry for righteousness; peacemakers and even persecuted. When preaching this sermon, Jesus followed each trait with a promise that these attitudes will lead us to obtain.  The mourn will be comforted; the meek will inherit the earth; the merciful shall obtain mercy; those that hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled; etc. But then, after the beatitudes, Jesus said two more things to us that are extremely important. So often we close our bibles at verse 12, but verse 13 and 14 are just as critical.  Jesus’ sermon didn't end at verse 12. The next two verses deserve just as much focus as the rest; they are vital enough to be listed among the most important of the  “red writing” in your bible.

Jesus said, first, that you are the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13). Salt is an essential mineral, a commodity in that day.   You are a precious commodity that can not be manufactured or duplicated. Jesus emphasized that salt is valuable, but, salt without savor is equivalent to dirt.  Salt without its precious quality ceases to be useful and is fit to be tossed under the feet of men.

Then, Jesus went further and said that you are the light of the world. Isn’t that amazing! This cold, dark, hopeless world has light hidden in it; it’s you! You are the light of the world, you are God’s light. You provide light over darkness, which means that in this world you are similar to the Sun. Life cannot exist without light. This world would be in such worse shape had it not been for God bestowing His precious light upon it. With light being so essential, Jesus asked, what man would cover or hide it? Who, possessing a light, would choose to dwell in darkness? When you hide the fact that you believe in Christ, or when you behave in a manner that is not like Him, you hide that beautiful light that God has given you and instead put on the cold, dark, hard masquerade that the rest of the world is warring.  Jesus said your light belongs high on a candlestick for all to see.

We must take the beatitudes with the right attitude:  By portraying meekness, mercy, peace and the others, we will receive the things promised to us by God and light up this world! Without the “savor” of these traits, though precious to God nonetheless, we are useless to this world.

 “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14).