O1
We are to be salt for the earth and a light for the world.
Category: Evangelizing & Preaching
Type: Positive
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Unique
Classical commandment: No
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Everyone
Literal Application: mandated
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Detailed codes: GFm - Gentile female, mandated | GMm - Gentile male, mandated | JFm - Jewish female, mandated | JMm - Jewish male, mandated | KFm - K'rovat Yisrael female, mandated | KMm - K'rov Yisrael male, mandated
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- Acts 13:47
-
Ephesians 5:8-14
- Luke 14:33-35
- Mark 9:49-50
- Matthew 5:13-16
- Matthew 6:22-23
- 1 Peter 2:9
- Philippians 2:14-15
Key OT Scriptures
-
Isaiah 49:5-6
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
Because salt is essential for life, it is used in the Bible to symbolize life. Related to it, light is used in the Bible to symbolize godly knowledge and understanding that leads to life. Yeshua said of himself in John 9:5 : While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. And yet, in Matthew 5:14 he told his disciples: You are light for the world. Could both be true? Yes, both were true, for he told his disciples in John 12:35 : The light will be with you only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, or the dark will overtake you; he who walks in the dark doesn't know where he's going. Yeshua was letting his disciples know that he was going away, but that he was going to transfer his light to them so that when he left, his light would remain. The Bible uses "light" to symbolize revelation and understanding as far back as Genesis 1:3 and, in Isaiah 49:5-6 , Israel is said to be a "light to the Gentiles" (i.e. the rest of the world). Therefore, when Yeshua imparted his light to the original Jewish disciples (today all who believer in Yeshua are his disciples), he did so with the expectation that they/we would disseminate it throughout the world in his behalf. "Salt" is also used symbolically in the Bible. In addition to salt being an intrinsic part of our bodies and therefore necessary for life, it is used to preserve food and to make food flavorful. By Yeshua saying that we (his disciples) are to be salt for the earth, and by his warning to us not to lose our saltiness, he is sending us forth to minister the truth and life of God through both our words and through our "enlightened" examples that others who have need of knowing God would want to emulate.
Classical commentators
This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the classical commentators.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Drawings
Artist: Jenske Visser
Short Movies
Moving Works - We Are the Salt
This two minute short reveals the great need to reach people who have no access to the Gospel and how God's Spirit has been moving to reach the unengaged of Mali.
Songs
Matthew West - Do Something
Heartcry of David - Habitation
Sermons
Greg Koukl - How To Share Your Faith
Expert on defending your faith, Greg Koukl, talks about an unexpected approach to sharing what you believe. You’ll learn how to modify your goal for conversations to communicate more effectively with others. No matter how little you may know about Christianity, or how aggressive, articulate, or intelligent the other person may be, Greg gives you a game plan that will allow you to converse with confidence in any situation. By using his “Columbo tactic,” you’ll discover how asking carefully selected questions will draw people out and cause them to rethink their beliefs.
Pictures
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2