Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - June, 2005

Bible Study - Commentaries
Matthew Chapter 5: 13-17 

from Kaniyamparmabil Achen, the Great Teacher of Malankara

Analogy of believers 

Can be seen in verse 5: 13-16 and in Mark 4:21-23, Luke 8:16-18

Verse 13: “Ye are the salt of the earth”. 

The study of salt during the time of our Lord is significant:

1) Salt was a symbol of purity. Salt was an integral part of all sacrifices. Even though a believer lives in this world, he should, as St. James says, “keep oneself from being polluted by the world and keep his word and acts sacred” (James 1:27).
2) Salt is used as preservative. A believer’s life should preserve others from sins.
3) Salt is used to make food tastier. Just like a salt makes food delicious, the believer should make the life flavorsome. A little salt can make a lot of food delicious. Similarly, a Christian should remain as ‘yeast’ for society. He should spread happiness everywhere. We should remember that a small number of apostles acquired the world for the Lord. 
4) Salt is required for everyone from rich to the poor and anyone can get it without much effort. So a Christian individual are needed everywhere and should work everywhere. 

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50).

What happens if the salt loses its saltiness? 

If we don’t preserve the salt as required, it becomes useless. All its abilities will be lost. Any believer who forgets his mission is also like this. Not only this, but he will make others useless, too. So a Christian either saves the world or the world steals his Christianity. A believer wrote in his Holy Bible that “this book will keep you away from the sins or your sins will keep you away from this Book.” 
There was a practice in the early church. When a person who left the church comes back, he would lie down in front of the door and pray to step on him, as he was useless salt. [Refer Mark 9:50 ; Luke 14:34]

Matthew 5:14: “You are light of this world “
[Also refer Proverb 4:18; John 8:12; John 9:5; 12:36; Phil 2:15]

How can a believer be the light of the world? Lord said, “So long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). “Nothing is impossible without me”. When we join these two versus we can see that a believer becomes the light of the world not by himself but because he obtained it from the Lord. This refers to the light that is emanating from the Lord at his heart. 

The benefits of light:

1) Removes darkness. The duty of Christian is to remove the darkness of sin. He is the one who removes the unrighteousness of the individual, family, society and nation. 
2) Any small light can be seen from too far away. Similarly, all should see Christians. The faith should not be in heart alone, it should be put in view, too. The essence of such demonstration is to attract others to Jesus Christ.
3) The lights guide the ship travelers to the safe shore. So light always leads. The world looks to a Christian for leading the constructive and creative acts. “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).
4) The light of a person should come from the presence of Christ in him. If one gets the light from elsewhere, it cannot bring forth real progress. It is like running with a torch in front of a vehicle. 
5) A candle or any other thing gives light by burning. A Christian cannot give light without losing anything.
6) Everywhere there is darkness for 10-12 hours per day. It is not used just to say it is dark, instead one has light a lamp. A Christian has be a lamp in this dark world. We if put a lid on a flame, it will die. So the talents that you have received are not to be buried (Mat 25: 14-29). Such people are ‘worthless servant’ for our Lord. During our Lord’s time, there were floor lamps with long stem. 

Our Lord said about John the Baptist, “He was a burning and shining lamp”(John 5:35). We should make an effort so that our Lord will say the same words about us too.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works” 

The same Lord who instructed not to do anything to show off in front of others instructs us to show them our good works. This is not because of self praise, but here the objective is to “glorify your Father who is in heaven.” 

How can we glorify God?

1) By offering the praise (Psalm 50:23 KJV)
2) Do all things for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31)
3) By dying for him (John 21:19)
4) By suffering for the Lord (1 Peter 4:14-16)
5) Fcszc (John 5:8) – I am not sure (!!!!!!!)
6) Glorify God in your body and in your spirit (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Christ and the Law

Verse 5:17: “ Do not suppose that I have come to subvert the law or the prophets: [I have come] not to subvert, but to complete”.
[Also Refer Psalms 40:18]

The correct usage is ‘to complete’. The Aramaic/Syriac word used is “Dhe-male”. The usage ‘fulfill’, which is the common usage (in most translations) also mean ‘to do’. The Jews crucified Him as if He violated the Law. Many times they criticized him as not observing the Sabbath. In this context, how do we understand the Lord’s words? About the eternity of Law is in verse 18, which is “For verily I say to you, that until heaven and earth shall pass away, one iota or one letter shall not pass from the law, until all shall be fulfilled” ( 5:18) 

The Jews used the word ‘ Law’ in 4 ways . It meant for 1) 10 Commandments 2) First 5 books of the Bible [Pentateuch] 3) “The Laws and Prophets” meant the Old Testament books that we use now. 4) The traditions – which are laws made by scribes. Of all these, the Jews were ruled by the fourth one during our Lord’s time.

What are these laws made by the Scribes? 

They interpreted some general commandments of the God ( given to Moses ) and made hundreds of laws. Our Lord described them as “heavy burdens” (Matthew 23:4). As example, God commanded “not to do any work on Sabbath”. But Scribes interpreted “work” as even lifting a small load. Then the weight of load was defined as “food as much as a small fruit, one mouthful of milk, or even the honey needed to apply on a wound”, etc. Even lifting up ones own child was regarded as breaking the law. The law prohibited treating on the Sabbath. Even if a person is about to die, treating the disease was considered breaking the law. The Scribes made these laws but the Pharisees worked with them to execute it. Initially these laws were oral statements, but around 200AD, this was made as book called ‘Misna (Mishna)’. The interpretation to this law is called Talmud. But we should not forget some scribes like Ezra who tried to turn people to God.