Study Questions – The Sermon on the Mount #2

Kyle Bartholic   -   April 10, 2025

Palm Sunday – Salt & Light

Sermon on the Mount (CGS#2)

Matt. 5:13-16

INTRODUCTION: The Sermon on the Mount only takes 10-15 minutes to read in its entirety. We find this sermon in Matthew 5:1-7:28. This whole section is a kingdom corrective from Jesus. The region of Galilee was a hotbed of resistance against Rome. In this long discourse, Jesus presents the unexpected virtues of the kingdom of God which in many ways are upside-down to the values that his listeners would normally expect.

The teaching in this sermon certainly sets a high standard. If we take it seriously, we realize that we cannot attain it and therefore cannot merit salvation. It is the end of the way of law and drives us to seek salvation in Christ. But when we have received this salvation as God’s free gift, the sermon shows us how we should live in the service of our gracious God. It shows us what life is like in the kingdom of God. The sermon removes all complacency. The follower of Christ cannot say, “I have done all I should; I am the complete servant of God.” No matter how far we have gone along the Christian road the sermon tells us that there is more ahead of us.[1]

Connection to Palm Sunday – On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was heralded as the rightful king, which he was. However, the symbols of his entry and his posture that day pointed to the reality that his kingdom and purpose was largely misunderstood. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains the normal values of the Kingdom of God. Which just like his entry on Palm Sunday, point to the reality that this kingdom, his kingdom, is far different than what we would expect, but is far better than we could imagine. If we are willing to be taught by Jesus, we will discover the life-giving truth of his kingdom.

 

We heard in the beatitudes (blesseds) about the virtues and values of the kingdom of heaven. And in line the main point of the whole Sermon on the Mount, those values and virtues are distinctively different than anything in Rome or our world today. As we continue to study these two chapters in Matthew, we’ll see how those virtues play out in the lives of believers. But to make sure the point of distinctiveness is clear, Jesus gives two different illustrations, his people are to be like salt and light.  The first pictures Jesus’ followers as salt (5:13–16). In the ancient near East, though salt was used for many things, it was primarily used as a preservative. In the days before refrigerators, salting down meat was the best way to preserve it. Much of this salt came from salt marshes and the like and, therefore, had many impurities. If such salt were leached a little, the percentage of impurities could become so high that the salt would have no effectiveness. So also are Jesus’ followers to retard decay in a world that drifts constantly toward corruption. But if they are leached, removing what is distinctive about them, they are useless. They certainly do not staunch the world’s evil if they lose their distinctive obedience, allegiance, and power. In fact, in time they are simply trampled underfoot. Or to put it another way (5:15, 16), just as a city on a hill, lighted at night by a thousand shimmering olive oil lamps, cannot be hidden, so a true disciple of Jesus cannot be hidden. Such people will stand out. And in any case, just as it is ridiculous to light a lamp and then hide it under a measuring bowl, so it is unthinkable to hide the Christian’s light. The very purpose of the lamp is to shed light in a dark place; and the very purpose of Jesus’ followers is to shed the light of Jesus, of biblical revelation, of moral integrity, of the gospel of the kingdom, in a very dark world.[2]

 

 

 

 

GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. Have you ever had an experience with salt or light that helps you to understand Jesus’ teaching here in Matt. 5:13-16?

 

 

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

 

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

 

Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.

  1. What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
  2. Come back to this question from last week: If the values of the kingdom of heaven are distinctively different than any earthly kingdom, how does that reframe my expectations of earthly kingdoms and their rulers?  Did you notice a change in your response or expectations to world events this week? Why or why not?
  3. We have refrigerators today, but salt for most of human history, was a preservative. How are you, as a Christian, a preservative (like salt) in your world?
  4. Our lives always declare our priorities and values. I.e., They shed light on what is important to us. What is seen in your life? Remember, this isn’t a call to become mystics but to consider how we go about the normal things of life as Christians.
  5. Jesus says that the point of our distinctive lives is not selfish pride, but God’s glory. How does that reframe the purpose of your life? How does that inform your obedience to the teachings of Jesus?

 

 

 

[1] Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992), 91–92.

[2] D. A. Carson, God with Us: Themes from Matthew (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2009), 33–38.