The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 189

1 e;·s. 13, 14.-SaTt and light. Christ regards his people as the snlt of tl..e earth and 88 the light or the world. In both characters they have a mission to others. The Church exists for the sake of the world. She has 11, la.rgevoca.tion; the whole earth is the field of her "l'""ork, aud there she is to labour not for her own ends, but to benefit mankind. How grie.ous is the perversion of those who exactly reverse the position of Christ, and behave a.s though the world only existed for the benefit of the Church I I. THE SALT, 1. Its function. The salt is to preserve that on which it is sprinkled from corrupting. (1) The world is in danger of sinking into corruption. Society is threatened with disintegration by the mutual opposition of conflicting classes. Domestio life is corroded by immorality and intemperance. "Naturalism" defiles a.rt. Frivolous amusements tend to become unwholesome. Therefore a preserving and purifying agent is needed. (2) The world is worth preserving. Otherwise wby salt it? Christ does not desire the destruction of civilization, but its preservation. Christianity is not nihilism. Politics, commerce, art, literature, are all worth keeping from corruption. 2. Its action. Salt is antiseptic. The Church is expected to be of the same character; not merely to be pure, but to purify. This is not confined to definite crusades against evil. The mere presence of good men and women in the world tends to keep it sound and healthy, by the silent influence of example. The old heathen world was rotting in vice when the Christians appeared and infused a new life of purity into society. We cannot calculate the advantage to the whole world of the presence in it to-day of pure-minded, earnest, unselfish, good men and women. A few such, like a little salt, have an immense influence in preserving a great mass of society. 8. Its failure. The salt may lose its savour. It may not have become corrupt. Yet as a negative thing it is then useless, and only fit to be cast away as so much dust. If the grace of God, if the spirit of Christ, if the Divine life, vanish from the Church, the corporation may still exist, but its mission will have ceased. For the sake of the world the spiritual vigour of the Church mnst be preserved. It will not do to be too con- ciliatory to society. The Church is salt, not sugar. II. LIGHT. 1. Its nature. Light banishes night. It reveals our danger, shows our path, cheers our hearts, and refreshes our health. All these things are expected of Christian influence on the world. 2. Its position. A city on a hill; a lamp on its stand. Christians are not to be ashamed of their confession. It is tae duty of the Church to be prominent, not for her own sake-for her own prestige-but to spread light on others. 3. Its radiance. The light streams out by means of good works. 'l'he world cares little for our words, but it has a sharp eye for our works. We want a new gospel for the present age, one written on the lives of Christians, that the world may see the reality of what we preach. 4-. Its object. The glory of God. lf this last point had not been added, it might have seemed as though the self-glorification were allow- able. But our works are not to our own credit, because, if they are good, all the good- ness in them comes from the grace of God. Therefore we glorify God in bearing fruit, by so living that his life shines out through our conduct.-W. F. A. Vers. 17, 18.-0hrist's trmtment of the Old Testament. Here we see the attitude of our Lord towards the Old Testament. He did not come to destroy the ancient teaching, but to fulfil it. Christ's words show two positions-a negative and a positive. I. 'l'HE OLD TESTillENT HAS A PLACE IN THE CHBIBTIAN ECONOMY. The grounds on which this is established are worthy of consideration. 1. Its origin. The Old Testa- ment was inspired by God. It records his words spoken to Moses and the prophets. Words of God are not to be lightly set aside, however ancient they may be. 2. Its truth. .Although it is only a preliminary revelation, it is not the Jess a real revelation. The truth it contains is partial, and represents an early stage in the development of Divine ideas among men; yet all truth has an eternal element in it which we may dis- cover when we strip off the husk of its temporary form. 8. Its moral character. 'l'he Old Testament is a grand testimony to righteousness. We can never dispense with the 'l'en Commandments. The stern protests of the prophets against national sin stand good to-day as the utterances of an undying conscience. 4. Its spiritual life. It is difficult for a Christian to get beyond the devotional spirit of the Psalms. Private piety is revealed in the Old Testament so as to be the example and stimulus for all ages. IL THE OLD TESTAMENT lB HOT A SUFFICIENT REVELATION. It was defective by CH, v. 1-48,] TI:JE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 181