December 23, 2025

Matthew 5:13-20  (HCSB)
Believers Are Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Christ Fulfills the Law
17 “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Drew Nash
Recently, I was working outside in the dark next to two coworkers. All three of us had flashlights pointing into the darkness, illuminating some papers. When we finished working, I went to turn my light off and realized that it was off the whole time! The light from the flashlights of the two coworkers was bright enough to illuminate the darkness. I did not even realize my light was off and that I was holding a dark flashlight. This is like Verse 16. If our actions reflect the work of Jesus, then our light will be so bright, people will notice that something is different about us. In Verse 17, Jesus teaches that He comes to fulfill the law, and in verse 20, Jesus states that a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees is needed to enter the kingdom of heaven. In those times, the scribes and Pharisees were considered to be the most righteous people on earth. However, if their self-made righteousness is not good enough, where do we get true righteousness? We need to ask Jesus for it and for guidance. Then our light will be so bright, others will notice, and we can share our light with others.