Matthew 5:12-16
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:12-16: Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verse 12: Rejoice and be glad when you face persecution for your faith, for your reward in heaven will be great. This echoes the suffering of the prophets who came before you.
Verse 13: Jesus compares his followers to salt, emphasizing their role in preserving and flavoring the world. If believers lose their distinctiveness and compromise their faith, they are of no use and will be discarded.
Verse 14: Believers are also likened to light, meant to shine brightly in the darkness of the world. Just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden, Christians should not hide their faith but let it shine for all to see.
Verse 15: People do not light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. Instead, they place it where it can illuminate the whole room. Similarly, Christians should not hide their faith but let it shine for all to benefit from.
Verse 16: Jesus instructs his followers to let their light shine through their good deeds, so that others may see their actions and give glory to God. By living out their faith in a visible way, believers can point others to the source of their light, which is God in heaven.