Salt of the Earth and Light of the World (Matthew 5:13–16)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 15 (on Matthew 5:13–16) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.XV.html

On why "salt of the earth" lays the whole world upon the apostles:

For not to two cities, nor to ten or twenty, nor to a single nation am I sending you, as I sent the prophets; but to earth, and sea, and the whole world; and that in evil case.

On the salt that loses its savour — the teacher who falls:

For other men, though they fall never so often, may possibly obtain indulgence: but the teacher, should this happen to him, is deprived of all excuse, and will suffer the most extreme vengeance.

On the disciples set as a city on a hill, conspicuous to all:

For ye shall be as conspicuous to all as a city set on the ridge of a hill, as a candle in a house on the candlestick, giving light.

On good works that shine without vainglory:

Dost thou command us to live for display and vain glory? Far from it; I say not this ... but "Let your light shine." That is, "Let your virtue be great, and the fire abundant, and the light unspeakable."

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Book I, Chapters 6–7 (on Matthew 5:13–16) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 6. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf106/npnf106.v.ii.vi.html

On who is judged the insipid salt:

"Ye are the salt of the earth;" showing that those parties are to be judged insipid, who, either in the eager pursuit after abundance of earthly blessings, or through the dread of want, lose the eternal things which can neither be given nor taken away by men.

On who is trodden under foot of men:

It is not therefore he who suffers persecution, but he who is rendered savourless by the fear of persecution, that is trodden under foot of men.

On hiding the lamp under a bushel measure:

Every one, therefore, who obscures and covers up the light of good doctrine by means of temporal comforts, places his candle under a bushel measure.

On the added words "and glorify your Father which is in heaven":

Hence our Lord has not said merely, "that they may see your good works," but has added, "and glorify your Father who is in heaven:" so that the mere fact that a man by means of good works pleases men, does not there set it up as an end that he should please men; but let him subordinate this to the praise of God, and for this reason please men, that God may be glorified in him.

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 5:13–16) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.v.html

On the salt that seasons the human race:

Or, because by the Apostles the whole human race is seasoned.

On the salt that has lost its savour:

That is, if the doctor have erred, by what other doctor shall he be corrected?

On the boldness of preaching that hides for no fear:

He instructs them what should be the boldness of their preaching, that as Apostles they should not be hidden through fear, like lamps under a corn-measure, but should stand forth with all confidence, and what they have heard in the secret chambers, that declare upon the house tops.

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 5:13–16) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.v.html

On the apostles as salters with eternity:

The Apostles are preachers of heavenly things, and thus, as it were, salters with eternity; rightly called "the salt of the earth," as by the virtue of their teaching, they, as it were, salt and preserve bodies for eternity.

On the nature of light to spread its rays:

It is the nature of a light to emit its rays whithersoever it is carried about, and when brought into a house to dispel the darkness of that house.

On good works that shine to the honour of God, not of men:

He means not that we should seek glory of men, but that though we conceal it, our work may shine forth in honour of God to those among whom we live.

Remigius (c. 841–908)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 5:13–16) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. (A later Western compiler, quoted only through the Catena.) Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.v.html

On the salt required upon every acceptable sacrifice:

It should be known, that in the Old Testament no sacrifice was offered to God unless it were first sprinkled with salt, for none can present an acceptable sacrifice to God without the flavour of heavenly wisdom.

On the apostles sent forth like the beams of the Sun of righteousness:

For as the sun sends forth his beams, so the Lord, the Sun of righteousness, sent forth his Apostles to dispel the night of the human race.