The Sermon on the Mount
Daily Bible Studies for June 16-21, 2008
Learn what we believe and how we are to behave!
This Week’s Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16 MOT & NLT
13You are the salt of the earth, but of the salt be tainted, by what shall it be salted? For it is strong (useful) no longer except to be thrown out and to be walked on by people. (MOT)
13“You (all) are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. (NLT)
14”You (all) are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” (MOT)
14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. (NLT)
15”Nor do they light a lamp and place it under the bushel, but on the lampstand, and it lightens (or gives light to) everyone in the house.” (MOT)
15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. (NLT)
16Thus, let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good works and may glorify your Father in heaven (or the heavens.) MOT
16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (NLT)
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, salt is a powerful image for healing, flavor, preservation and even wealth in biblical times. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may live as “salt” in the world; that my life may be “salt” to my family, friends, co-workers, classmates, loved ones, and particularly to those who don’t know You! Give me an extra measure of “saltiness” today that others may live more fully, because You are alive in me! This I pray in the holy name of Jesus! Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
13You are the salt of the earth, but of the salt be tainted, by what shall it be salted? For it is strong (useful) no longer except to be thrown out and to be walked on by people. (MOT)
13“You (all) are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. (NLT)
In our day, salt is “bad.” It gives us high blood pressure. It makes us retain water. But in Jesus’ day salt was a great blessing. It had many uses, and folks even used it for money in some places (Thus the saying, “Worth his salt”!) Jesus’ use of this illustration, makes it clear that we are called to be effective agents of healing and life in our world, because of His presence in us!
Today’s Challenge: I will be “salt” to everyone I meet today, bringing, zest vitality and life to them by the Spirit’s presence in me!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, light dispels darkness, and brings clearer vision to all who have vision in the first place! I pray that You will fill me with the Holy Spirit right now that I may live as light to everyone around me. Use me today to bring blessings to others, to bring Your light to them, that they may come to know You as Lord and God, and Your Son, Jesus, as Savior and Lord! This I pray in His name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
14”You (all) are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” (MOT)
14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. (NLT)
As the MOT makes clear when Jesus said, “You” in the statement above, He meant “You all”—all the disciples who were listening. By God’s grace that includes us as well! The first point Jesus makes about us as light is that light is given to shine. Only when we let the “light” of Jesus shine in our lives will others see Him in us and come to know Him, too!
Today’s Challenge: I will let my “light” shine for all to see today, that many may be influenced for Jesus by my life!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I’m reminded that Jesus told us that HE is the Light of the world, and that as such I am merely a reflected light. He is the “sun” and I am the “moon.” I pray that You will empower me with the Holy Spirit so that I may live faithfully today, and shine brightly for others to see. Let Jesus come through my life to others, that they may come to know Him! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
14”You (all) are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” (MOT)
14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. (NLT)
Another truth we see in today’s Scripture is that when a city is put on a mountain top it CANNOT be hidden. Jesus didn’t say, “It’s HARD to hide a city on a mountain.” He said it can’t be done. His intent is clear. It ought to be impossible for us as bearers of His light in our lives to be “hidden.” We are called to “shine” brightly everywhere and all the time that He may be glorified in us!
Today’s Challenge: I will “shine” in Jesus today regardless of the challenges and temptations to hide my light!
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we continue to examine the image of light in our Scriptures, I pray again for the boldness of the Holy Spirit that I may truly shine for Jesus—or shine AS Jesus to others. I know I can only do this in the power of the Holy Spirit, so fill me again right now with the Holy Spirit, that I may give light to everyone around me today and always. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
15”Nor do they light a lamp and place it under the bushel, but on the lampstand, and it lightens (or gives light to) everyone in the house.” (MOT)
15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. (NLT)
Jesus’ point is clear: No one lights a lamp in a house and then hides it under a basket. In Jesus’ day, oil lamps were the only source of light other than sunlight (or fires). Thus, when a lamp was lit inside a house it was put on a stand so that it could cast its light for everyone to see. In the same way, as we go about our days, Jesus calls us to shine our light—HIS light—on everyone we meet, that they may see Him and turn to Him as well.
Today’s Challenge: I will put my “light” on a “stand” that everyone around me may see Jesus!
Friday:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, it’s easy for me to get confused about the place of good works in my life. I know that I can’t gain your favor by my good works, so empower me by Your Spirit to understand that the good works in my life are intended to point others to You. Give me the humility to tell others that anything good in me comes from You, that they may, indeed, glorify You. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
16Thus, let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good works and may glorify your Father in heaven (or the heavens.) MOT
16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (NLT)
Notice how clearly Jesus identifies the purpose of our good works in today’s Scripture: it is to point others to God! When we’re honest, we realize that goodness is not part of our nature. Good works aren’t natural, so when we live consistently in goodness, others will recognize God at work in us. The key, then, is to live in the Spirit’s power, so we can let our light shine consistently.
Today’s Challenge: I will live to bring glory to God in all that I am and do!
Saturday:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I conclude this week of study and reflection on Matthew 5:13-16, I pray that You will empower me by Your Spirit to live continuously as “salt” and “light,” that others may, indeed, see the good works in my life as a reason to bring glory and honor to You! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
16Thus, let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good works and may glorify your Father in heaven (or the heavens.) MOT
16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (NLT)
The MOT translations reads “the heavens” in parentheses. This does not indicate that Matthew believed there was more than one heaven. It was simply the custom of the Jews of Jesus’ day to refer to “heaven” as “heavens” to signify its expanse. The New Living Translation’s rendering “Heavenly Father” is quite appropriate, and for us, a lot clearer, too!
Today’s Challenge: I will live in the light of Jesus today, that I may bring others to Jesus, the Light!