Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Salt is it’s own taste. If it loses itself, it cannot be seasoned by something else. Same with light sources. They are not hidden or they would no longer be light sources. Like this, once you are a disciple of christ, your light cannot be hidden…. If you hide your light you are no longer a disciple of Christ just if it loses it’s taste, salt is no longer salt. So this seems to be a warning about losing one’s integrity. “...not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law”. In this, Jesus emphasizes the lasting importance of the Law's core principles, such as justice, compassion, and love for God, and once you let these slide, it’s like allowing salt to loose its taste. This has made me curious about the other core principles and after some research, I have found they include:
ReplyDeleteHoliness: Living a life set apart for God, following moral and ethical codes. (Leviticus 19:2)
Obedience: Following God's commandments as a sign of love and respect. (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Redemption: The concept of forgiveness and restoration through sacrifice. (Leviticus 16)
Covenant Relationship: The idea of a special bond and responsibility between God and his chosen people. (Exodus 19)
Stewardship: Taking care of creation and living in harmony with nature. (Genesis 1:28)
Sabbath Observance: Taking a day of rest to connect with God and renew oneself. (Exodus 20:8-11)
Family Importance: Honoring parents and caring for family members. (Exodus 20:12)
Food for thought.
Your response to Mk 11:27-33 is excellent! Here's a breakdown of its strengths and some areas for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Vivid Analogy: The analogy of salt and light is clear and effective in illustrating the importance of living out one's faith as a disciple.
Application: You effectively connect the analogy to the concept of not letting core principles "slide."
Curiosity and Research: Your curiosity about the core principles and your research demonstrating understanding of several key concepts are commendable.
Conclusion: Ending with "Food for thought" invites further reflection.
Possible Areas for Exploration:
Connecting the Dots: While both the salt and light analogy and the core principles are strong interpretations, briefly mentioning how they connect to the passage in Mark 11:27-33 could strengthen your response.
Context of the Passage: Mark 11:27-33 is about Jesus' authority being challenged. You could explore how living as a faithful disciple (like the salt and light) relates to Jesus' standing up for his authority.
Overall, your response shows a strong grasp of the themes in Mark 11:27-33 and the concept of core principles.