Immediately following the beatitudes Matthew has Jesus move on to the "salt" and "light" sayings. Both are such familiar, even hackneyed images that we rarely consider what first-century meanings they might have conveyed to their audience, or why these sayings are placed at this point in Jesus' discourse. Isolated from its surroundings, Matthew 5:13-16 appears to uplift independent truths. But considered in context, these striking images become both more complex and "down to earth."

The beatitudes describe attitudes and actions that will first usher in and then prevail in the coming kingdom of God. Beatitude people are kingdom people - disciples whose actions incarnate the kingdom while testifying to its approaching fulfillment. What then has "salt" got to do with "kingdom"?

Part of our in…