The Bible Project

Sermon on the Mount E8 – Why does Jesus call his followers salt and light? In the Hebrew Bible, salt is a metaphor for God’s long-lasting covenant with Israel, connected to priestly sacrifices, ritual purity, and social bonds. And the Hebrew word for light, or, shares a wordplay with torah, meaning God’s wise instruction. God’s wisdom given in the Torah is a light for Israel that they are called to share with the nations. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the meanings of salt and light, showing how Jesus applies these covenant words to his new community of followers.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: The Meaning of Salt and Light in the Bible (0:00-9:29)Chapter 2: A Key Hebrew Wordplay Between “Light” and “Instruction” (9:29-11:49)Chapter 3: Light and God’s Torah in the Book of Isaiah (11:49-29:21)Chapter 4: Salt and Light as Metaphors for the Covenant (29:21-46:29)Referenced ResourcesMatthew 1-7: Volume 1 (International Critical Commentary) by W.D Davies, Dale C. Allison Jr., and Ch