You are the salt of the earth.
You are the light of the world.
—Matthew 5:13, 14
Having named eight character traits of discipleship, Jesus now illustrates how those who possess them exert a positive influence in the world.
The Christian is to be vigilant in keeping “from being polluted by the world” (Jas 1:27) but is not to withdraw from the world in a cloister of seclusion.
You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, he said. Your exemplary living of the beatitudes enables you to counteract corruption as salt and provide illumination as light.
He concludes: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Such is a happy result of embodying the eight beatitudes.
Salt is to eliminate corruption.
Light is to eliminate darkness.