MEMORY VERSE: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ Matthew 5:16.
LESSON SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:12-16.
STUDY HELP: Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pages 25-44.
LESSON AIM: To study what Jesus meant by describing His followers as salt and light.
‘Salt is valued for its preservative properties; and when God calls His children salt, He would teach them that His purpose in making them the subjects of His grace is that they may become agents in saving others. The object of God in choosing a people before all the world was not only that He might adopt them as His sons and daughters, but that through them the world might receive the grace that bringeth salvation. Titus 2:11. When the Lord chose Abraham, it was not simply to be the special friend of God, but to be a medium of the peculiar privileges the Lord desired to bestow upon the nations.’ Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page 35.
1. How did Jesus describe the influence His followers were to have upon the earth? Matthew 5:13, first part.
NOTE: ‘Salt must be mingled with the substance to which it is added; it must penetrate and infuse in order to preserve. So it is through personal contact and association that men are reached by the saving power of the gospel. They are not saved in masses, but as individuals. Personal influence is a power. We must come close to those whom we desire to benefit. The savour of the salt represents the vital power of the Christian, the love of Jesus in the heart, the righteousness of Christ pervading the life. The love of Christ is diffusive and aggressive. If it is dwelling in us, it will flow out to others. We shall come close to them till their hearts are warmed by our unselfish interest and love. The sincere believers diffuse vital energy, which is penetrating and imparts new moral power to the souls for whom they labour. It is not the power of the man himself, but the power of the Holy Spirit that does the transforming work.’ Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page 36.
2. What advice about salt did Jesus give to His disciples? Mark 9:50.
NOTE: ‘In the ritual service, salt was added to every sacrifice. This, like the offering of incense, signified that only the righteousness of Christ could make the service acceptable to God. Referring to this practice, Jesus said, “Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” All who would present themselves “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1), must receive the saving salt, the righteousness of our Saviour. Then they become “the salt of the earth,” restraining evil among men, as salt preserves from corruption. Matthew 5:13.’ Desire of Ages, page 439.