Bible Studies in the Gospel of Matthew

Bible Studies in the Gospel of Matthew
XV

Matthew 5:13: When you forsake everything—to the utmost, in every possible sense of the word (Luke 14:33-34); when you always seek God’s kingdom first and nothing else besides (Matt. 6:33), then God’s all-seeing eye will see it, and He will powerfully strengthen you. 2 Chron. 16:9.

Then we have truly become His disciples, and to them only Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.” “Salt” in its spiritual sense, is the key word here; it is all.

Sadly, God’s people are on average far from being the salt of the earth. They have not forsaken anything from the heart. When it is a question of power, they fail because of money or because of honor, because of comfort and convenience, or because of the opposite sex.

Failure is out of the question if we are to be the salt of the earth. We must stand firm in all tribulations and changing circumstances. Then our attitude is that we will not fail regardless of what anyone might say or do—not at any cost!

When this is our attitude, we are truly in a good state. Then we are the salt of the earth. The world will not pass away as long as there are such people in this world (Abraham and the five righteous). But woe to all those who remain behind when these are fetched to the glory that has been prepared for them. Then the salt is taken away, and when that happens, corruption sets in.