I am a Jesus pusher!!! We must see this section (Matthew 5:13-16) from the perspective of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). This view allows for no misinterpretation of meaning or approach. The Beatitudes declare the “Formation of the Kingdom.” It becomes evident from the opening statement of the Sermon on the Mount that you and I are not responsible for this development. We do not build the Kingdom of God; we do not grow into the Kingdom of God. We are helpless! Our carnal pride of self-centeredness hinders our admission of such a state. God created us to live dependent on Jesus. When we link with Jesus, depend on Him, and live in the resource of His Person, the Kingdom of God is formed.
The nature of God and man’s merger, the Kingdom of God, has a purpose. Jesus immediately moves to propose the “Function of the Kingdom” (Matthew 5:13-16). In the Kingdom of God, we cannot live in isolation. It demands community; however, it is not just a community in their private group’s isolation. We already discovered this section is intimately attached to the beatitude discussing “persecution.” The Kingdom of God must influence a world that reacts adversely to the link forming the Kingdom. The fact that there is persecution loudly proclaims the influence. The world persecutes the Christian because of the power generated from the link we have with Jesus. He is a Jesus pusher!!!