You Are Like Salt and Light^(A)

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt ·loses its salty taste [becomes tasteless], ·it cannot [^Lhow can it…?] be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and ·walked on [trampled].

¹⁴ “You are the light ·that gives light to [for; ^Lof] the world. A city that ·is built [stands; is set] on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ And people don’t light a lamp and then hide it under a ·bowl [or basket]. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way let your light shine ·before others [for people to see], so that they will see ·the good things you do [^Lyour good deeds/works] and will ·praise [glorify; give honor to] your Father in heaven.

⁴⁹ Every person will be salted with fire. [^CThe meaning of this proverb is uncertain; it may mean that the testing of believers purifies (fire) and preserves (salt); or it may refer to believers as God’s covenant people, since salt and fire were part of the OT sacrificial system; see Lev. 2:3; Num. 18:9.]

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its salty taste, you cannot make it salty again. So, ·be full of salt [^Lhave salt in/among yourselves; ^Csalt here may symbolize fellowship within the covenant], and have peace with each other.”

Use What You Have^(A)

²¹ Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a ·bowl [basket] or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand.

Use What You Have^(A)

¹⁶ “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. Instead, the person puts it on a lampstand so those who come in will see the light.

Don’t Lose Your Influence^(A)

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its salty taste, ·you cannot make it salty again [^Lhow can it be seasoned?]. ³⁵ It is no good for the soil or for ·manure [the manure pile]; it is thrown away.

“·Let those with ears use them and listen [^LThe one who has ears to hear, let him hear].”