Please read Matthew 6:1-18

In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus called on His disciples to be very evangelical. He called us "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." But what exactly did Jesus mean by this charge to impact the world with our actions?

Interestingly, I believe Jesus actually intended for us to focus on our private devotion in order to fulfill this charge.

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus teaches that we should have the proper motivation in our religious practices. Just like the motivation behind sin is also a sin (as described in chapter 5) it is only with the proper motivation of faith that we do things in righteousness. If we give to the poor, pray, and fast only to be seen doing these things so people will know we are religious, then we are hypocrites and not fulfilling our mandate.

In the charge to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, Jesus is not telling us to go around making sure everyone knows we are Chrisitan. In reality, we are to be deeply devoted in private worship of giving alms, praying, and fasting.  When we do this faithfully, it will have an effect on our lives, others will see it, and we will be the city set on a hill that cannot be hid.