Matthew 5:13

Monday, 18 November 2024

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13

“You, you are the salt of the earth, and if the salt – it may be insipid – in what will it be salted? For nothing it strengthens now. If not, having been cast out – trodden by men.” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus encouraged the disciples, telling them that even in times of persecution, if it is for His sake, they should rejoice. They have a greater reward coming. Now, He begins to describe their state in Him, and what they should do about it, beginning with, “You, you are the salt of the earth.”

Salt has various uses and connotations in Scripture. It enhances flavor, thus making the bland palatable. It prevents decomposition and corruption. It is used as a base of the temple incense when compounding the fragrances (Exodus 30:35). It was the one mandated addition to the sacrifices and offerings at the Tabernacle that had no prescribed measurement. Etc.

Thus, it is a symbol of covenant faithfulness. This is seen, for example, in Numbers 18 –

“All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.” Numbers 18:19

As such, the disciples were to be like these meanings in their lives. Jesus was equating them to salt to indicate how they should conduct themselves as they went forth, sharing the good news of the kingdom. Understanding this, He next says, “and if the salt – it may be insipid – in what will it be salted?”

The verb translated as insipid, mórainó, speaks of a person turning to foolishness. The cognate noun móros, speaks of a fool or a stupid person. Today, we would call such a person a moron.

The earth needed the salt of the good news. Without it, there would be no good news! But if the disciples were like useless salt, the earth would not find the hope and restoration it needed. They were to be active and “tasty” as they went forth, preserving the message purely while also maintaining absolute covenant faithfulness by not adding nor subtracting from the word.

This role continues with believers today. We are not to distract ourselves from our role in this manner but are to give hope in a meaningful way to those we encounter. Otherwise, the earth where we are will not be properly salted. That is seen in the words, “For nothing it strengthens now.”

What good is a bump on a log? It is annoying to sit on and will be cut off when the planning process takes place. What good is salt if it has lost its saltiness? It has no value. As such, Jesus says of it, “If not, having been cast out – trodden by men.”

Imagine on the day when we stand before the Lord, and we are questioned about our role in continuing the message of Christ. When asked what value we had, our answer is, “I was like a floor mat that people walked over. Other than that, I didn’t do very much.”

That is essentially what Jesus is saying to His disciples. “If you aren’t willing to get up and fill your role, you are no better than the dirt under the people’s feet to Me.” Considering that man was formed from the dust of the earth, it is a scathing indictment. “You were as much help in spreading the good news as Adam was before I formed him.”

Jesus is using a simple metaphor to convey a wonderful truth about how things should be. Of the terminology here, Vincent’s word studies provides the following story from history –

“Dr. Thompson ("The Land and the Book") cites the following case: ‘A merchant of Sidon, having farmed of the government the revenue from the importation of salt, brought over a great quantity from the marshes of Cyprus - enough, in fact, to supply the whole province for many years. This he had transferred to the mountains, to cheat the government out of some small percentage of duty. Sixty-five houses were rented and filled with salt. Such houses have merely earthen floors, and the salt next the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. I saw large quantities of it literally thrown into the road to be trodden under foot of men and beasts. It was 'good for nothing.’”

Life application: Of what value is your salvation to you? In the world, it appears as if most Christians are asleep to the fact that they were once eternally separated from God because of simply being born.

Instead, we grade ourselves on a bell curve against others. “Well, I wasn’t a drug addict or a prostitute like... like they were!” Yes, but you were just as far from God as they were. In your arrogance, you are failing to be what God wants you to be now. Which is actually worse?

Have salt in your life and be willing to acknowledge the greatness of God, who was willing to do for you what you could never do for yourself. Be one who is willing to make the world a better place by bringing others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Don’t be foolish and wind up trampled under the feet of the common people as they go about their daily lives, not even noticing that you are there.

Glorious Lord God, You have done for us what we could never have done. You removed our sin and placed us high in the heavenly places with You. This is because of Your goodness and love for the people of the world. Help us to act in a like manner toward those we encounter, never failing to be like salt in their lives. Amen.