“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Mt 5:13-16).
Salt is to give taste and season the food. Jesus tells his listeners that they are the salt of the earth. His disciples are to give taste to the earth and season the earth. His followers are not just to live and let live the others. Their life is not self oriented either. Life of any disciple of Jesus has to communicate something to the people around. Disciples have to season the world and give taste to the world.
Disciples are also light of the world. They have to illumine the world and they have to be visible. Again, like the salt, light is not for itself. It is for the others. And the qualities of light are to be seen and illumine the others. Disciples lives are to give light to the others.
Good deeds of the disciples are the salt and light. Jesus concludes thus saying that the people may see your good deeds and give glory to God. Good deeds of the disciples should add taste to the world and season the world. Good deeds also should illumine the world and be seen as good deeds. These good deeds are those that give glory to God. The disciples should not expect rewards for themselves for the good deeds done. The goal of the good deeds is the glory of God.
