马太福音5:13-20
愿恩惠、平安从父神和救主耶稣基督归于你们，时常遵行祂诫命的人。阿们。
很多基督徒，在移民美国之前啊——甚至包括已经在这里生活的，会错误地以为美国是基督教国家，借用圣经的话，可以称得上“山上之城”，“灯塔国”等等。在这里生活久了，说实在的，你就会发现，原来每片土地都差不多，因为罪性和罪人在世界的哪个角落都一样。就拿最近美国司法部公布的一个几百万页案件卷宗来看，许多的政要名人都跟那位已经被定罪且狱中自杀的性犯罪者有关联。无论是政府公职人员，还是商界的名流，都或多或少被提及。前总统克林顿夫妇甚至很快要面对国会，为此案件提供证词，答辩。如果你对这片所谓“理想”的土地国家失望，那就对了，因为神的国不在这地上，地上的一切都会过去，神的国度必要完全圣洁地降临。那时，神要审判活人死人，所有的人都要面对上帝的审判，神要除去一切的罪恶和罪人，唯有信靠祂的救恩并且遵行祂诫命的人才能在祂的国度里永远公义、圣洁地活着。
那真正的灯塔和山上的城是什么？首先我们知道，主耶稣自己是照亮世人黑暗的光，而且祂藉着自己的身体钉死在十字架上，第三天从死人中复活，成为永不会摧毁的圣殿，也藉此重建了圣城新耶路撒冷，就是新约的基督教会。希伯来书12:22 “你们乃是来到锡安山，永生神的城邑，就是天上的耶路撒冷。”到了圣经的最后一卷书启示录，圣灵给我们描绘出新耶路撒冷的美好画面。启示录三章12节，“得胜的，我要叫他在我神的殿中作柱子。”启示录21:2“我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫。”这样我们就可以看见，救主耶稣基督才是真正的灯塔和山上的城，或者说，祂是灯塔和城的根基，而教会是世上的灯塔和山上的城。
也因此，主耶稣在今天的福音经文中说，“你们是世上的盐……是世上的光。”（太5:13-14）我们因信耶稣基督，就已经成为了世上的盐和光，这就是我们的身份和角色。弟兄姐妹们，当魔鬼和人的罪性侵蚀世上每个角落、每一颗心灵的时候，我们不要希奇，更不要绝望，因为教会，神的家，神的儿女，你们蒙了恩召的基督徒们，才是这个败坏的世界所需用的盐和光，也是父神藉着祂的独生爱子耶稣基督所建造的山上之城。
其实仔细想一下，这是多么大的一份责任和使命，大到我们似乎担当不起，因为我们知道，自己作基督徒，按照我们真正的表现，并不完美，常常有亏欠，所做所行的并不能每时每刻叫身边的人看见我们的好行为，归荣耀给我们在天上的父。好多时候，我们也是一样表现得糟糕，会让人耻笑说，“看，这是谁家的孩子竟然这个样子？”而且，说实在的，这世上有其他东西可以代替盐来提供咸味吗？应该没有，要不然，我们的厨房里就可以不用看见盐了；但事实恰恰相反，一顿饭没有盐，就没法做，没法吃，对不对？我们基督徒的身份在世上也是一样，不要忘记，神把我们放在世人中间，是要为祂作见证，作祂给世人的光和盐。保罗在哥林多前书4:9说，“我们成了一台戏，给世人和天使观看。”不管我们自己是否时刻警醒，认识到自己的身份，神的名字已经藉着洗礼刻印在我们额头上，我们身边的人知道我们是属神的子民。我们的一言一行都被身边的人观察着，他们也好奇，我们到底是不是跟世上的人不一样。
神也给我们极大的劝勉，“盐若失了味，怎能叫它再咸呢？以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人践踏了。”（太5:13）最近下雪，我们知道路上都撒盐，虽然这路上的盐肯定也有咸味，但跟餐桌上调味的盐比起来，完全是两个不同的地位，一个是卑贱，被汽车轮胎随便轧；另一个是精细加工，高档包装，放在厨房，随时供人享用。弟兄姐妹们，我们蒙召的身份就是要做厨房里调味的，而不是大卡车随意倾倒在马路上化雪防滑用的，神给了我们极大的尊荣和价值，我们也不要轻慢，而是随时用心去保守这天上来的恩赐。
主耶稣还告诉我们，祂来不是要废掉律法。我们不是说蒙了恩典，就可以妄用得来的自由了，而是要好好使用我们的恩典和自由去行善。“无论何人废掉这诫命中最小的一条，又教训人这样做，他在天国中要称为最小的。”（太5:19）这里有可能带来误解，让人错误地以为，即使不遵行主的诫命，也可以照样作基督徒，到时候不过在天国里位份小一点而已——没关系的，只要进去就行。这是错误的解释。因为后面主耶稣说了，“我告诉你们，你们的义若不胜于文士和法利赛人的义，断不能进天国。”（太5:20）意思很清楚，就是进不去。那我们怎么解释前面“要称为最小的”？很简单，就是说，那轻看主的吩咐和诫命，又误导人这样信的人，在“天国里面的人”眼中，要被称为最小的，就是说，在天国外面，进不去了。
弟兄姐妹们，你处在哪个位置呢？如果我们感到自己的行为不够好，有需要悔改的地方，那就赶快悔改，天天悔改，要与我们得着的天国救恩相称，相匹配。并且回想我们是怎么走上这条路的，我们是怎么起初被带进教会，带进神的国，称为神的儿女，成为世上的光和盐的。
我们的身份根基就在于耶稣，祂为我们，成全了律法。祂不仅吩咐我们去行义，而且早已经成全了这义，这完全的义藉着信心完全归给了我们。也因此，我们脱离了律法的定罪和咒诅，我们得来的义，是远远胜过文士和法利赛人的义了。这基督的义，是完全的，没有瑕疵，让我们配受天国。祂就是那纯净的盐田，我们都是由祂产出的。我们的咸味和所有的美善都是从祂而来。祂的义也在我们身上不断地流淌出来，让我们成为神的义。“神使那无罪的，替我们成为罪，好叫我们在祂里面成为神的义。”（林后5:21）我们上周旧约经文也说，神所喜悦的，就是要我们，“行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与神同行。”（弥6:8）凡在基督耶稣里面的，我们的不义也会藉着悔改，凭着耶稣基督的义，被洁净了。“我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。”（约一1:9）也因此，我们可以像挪亚和约伯一样，被神称为世上的“义人”，并且以这样的身份坚定地活在地上，等候盼望将来神国完全的降临，在那之前，继续谨慎自守，作为光和盐，见证主的救恩和荣耀。阿们。
Text: Matthew 5:13-20
May grace and peace be multiplied to you from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, to those who continually walk in His commandments. Amen.
Many Chinese Christians, before immigrating to America—and even some already living here—mistakenly assume that the United States is a "Christian nation." Borrowing biblical language, they might call this country a "city set on a hill" or a "beacon of light." However, after living here for a while, to be honest, you realize that every land is much the same, because sin and sinners are the same in every corner of the world. Take, for example, the millions of pages of case files recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice; many high-ranking politicians and celebrities are linked to that convicted sex offender who committed suicide in prison. Whether public officials or business elites, many have been mentioned. Former President Clinton and his wife may even soon face Congress to provide testimony and defend themselves publicly regarding this case.
If you feel disappointed by this so-called "ideal" land, you are right to feel so. God's kingdom is not of this earth. Everything on earth will pass away, but the Kingdom of God must descend in perfect holiness. At that time, God will judge the living and the dead. Everyone must face God’s judgment. God will remove all evil and all sinners; only those who trust in His salvation and obey His commandments will live forever in righteousness and holiness in His kingdom.
What, then, is the true beacon and the city set on a hill? First, we know that the Lord Jesus Himself is the light that illuminates the darkness of the world. Furthermore, through the crucifixion of His body and His resurrection from the dead on the third day, He became the temple that will never be destroyed. In doing so, He rebuilt the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the New Testament Christian Church. Hebrews 12:22 says, "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." In the final book of the Bible, Revelation, the Holy Spirit paints a beautiful picture of the New Jerusalem. Revelation 3:12 says, "The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God." Revelation 21:2 says, "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Thus, we see that the Savior Jesus Christ is the true beacon and the city on a hill—or rather, He is the foundation of the beacon and the city, and the Church is the beacon and the city on a hill for the world.
Therefore, the Lord Jesus says in today’s Gospel text, "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-14). Because we believe in Jesus Christ, we have already become the salt and light of the world; this is our identity and our role. Brothers and sisters, when the devil and human sinfulness erode every corner of the world and every human heart, do not be surprised, and certainly do not despair. For the Church—the household of God, the children of God, you Christians who have received this holy calling—is exactly the salt and light that this corrupt world needs. You are the city set on a hill built by the Father through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
If we think carefully, this is an immense responsibility and mission—so great that it seems we cannot bear it. We know that as Christians, according to our actual performance, we are not perfect. We often fall short. Our actions do not always allow those around us to see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven. Many times, we behave poorly, leading others to mock us, saying, "Look, whose child acts like this?"
Furthermore, honestly, is there anything else in this world that can replace salt to provide saltiness? There isn't. If there were, we wouldn't need salt in our kitchens. But the opposite is true: a meal without salt cannot be prepared or eaten, right? Our identity as Christians in the world is the same. Do not forget that God has placed us among the people of the world to bear witness to Him, to be the light and salt He gives to mankind. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:9, "For we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men." Whether or not we are constantly mindful of our identity, God’s name was engraved on our foreheads through Baptism. Those around us know we belong to God. Our every word and action are observed by those around us, and they are curious to see if we are truly different from the rest of the world.
God also gives us a profound exhortation: "But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet" (Matthew 5:13). When it snows, we know salt is scattered on the roads. While that road salt certainly has saltiness, its status is entirely different from the seasoning salt on a dinner table. One is lowly, crushed by car tires; the other is refined, elegantly packaged, and kept in the kitchen to be enjoyed at any time. Brothers and sisters, our calling is to be the seasoning in the kitchen, not the grit dumped by trucks to melt ice on the road. God has given us great honor and value; let us not treat it lightly, but diligently guard this heavenly gift with our hearts.
The Lord Jesus also tells us that He did not come to abolish the Law. We must not say that because we have received grace, we can misuse our freedom. Rather, we should use our grace and freedom to do good. "Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19). This part can be misunderstood, leading people to think that even if they do not obey the Lord's commandments, they can still be Christians—they'll just have a "smaller" rank in heaven, so it’s "fine as long as I get in." This is a false interpretation. For afterward, the Lord Jesus says, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). The meaning is clear: you won't get in at all.
How then do we explain "called least"? Simply put, it means that those who despise the Lord's instructions and lead others to believe such things will be "called least" by those inside the Kingdom—meaning they are on the outside, unable to enter.
Brothers and sisters, where do you stand? If we feel our behavior is not good enough and there are areas where we need to repent, then let us repent quickly—repent daily. Let our lives be worthy of and match the salvation of the Kingdom we have received. Remember how we started on this path—how we were first brought into the Church, into God's kingdom, called children of God, and made the light and salt of the world.
The foundation of our identity lies in Jesus. For our sake, He fulfilled the Law. He not only commanded us to practice righteousness, but He also fulfilled this righteousness long ago. This perfect righteousness is credited entirely to us through faith. Therefore, we are delivered from the condemnation and curse of the Law. The righteousness we have received far exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. This righteousness of Christ is perfect and without blemish, making us fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. He is the pure salt mine from which we are produced. Our saltiness and all our goodness come from Him. His righteousness continually flows out through us, making us the righteousness of God. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
As our Old Testament reading from last week said, what the Lord requires of us is "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). For all who are in Christ Jesus, our unrighteousness is cleansed through repentance by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Thus, like Noah and Job, we can be called "righteous" in the world by God. In this identity, let us live steadfastly on earth, waiting in hope for the full coming of God's Kingdom. Until then, continue to be sober-minded and watchful, serving as light and salt, witnessing to the Lord's salvation and glory. Amen.