Believers Are Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty?[a] It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.(A)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.(B) 15 No one lights a lamp(C) and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.(D) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.(E)

Christ Fulfills the Law

17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.(F) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter[b] or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.(G) 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:13 Or how can the earth be salted?
  2. 5:18 Or not one iota; iota is the smallest letter of the Gk alphabet.

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.(A)

14 “You are the light of the world.(B) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.(C) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(D) that they may see your good deeds(E) and glorify(F) your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.(G) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.(H) 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands(I) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(J)

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