You are the salt of the earth but if salt loses it’s taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matt. 5:13
As disciples of Jesus, He says we are the salt of the earth. What does that mean? In first century Palestine, salt was used to season foods just like today but without electricity, it was also used to store and preserve food like meat and fish. That is still done today, but not as a nessesity. From their understanding of salts uses, they understood that Jesus was saying to them, as salt you would not be changed by the things around you but, you would change the things around you. So, we are called to preserve the earth, to keep it from spoiling. We do this by living out the beatitudes, loving God first and loving our neighbor as ourself. If we don’t love our neighbor, how can we love God (1 John 4: 20-21)? As we share love, it testifies to God’s nature and His presense in our lives. Just like salt, changing the people around us.
Doesn’t Jesus go on to say that if salt loses it’s taste, with what can it be seasoned? The taste would be it’s power, it’s effectiveness. If salt stops being salt, it’s no better than dirt. If it doesn’t do what it’s created to do, it’s not serving it’s purpose.
Jesus demands loyalty that remains and doesn’t diminish over time. As a disciple, we are called to action. He never intended for us to be “pew warmers”. He said ” Follow me.”
Let’s go where He would go.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Sermon on the mount
When I read this I was struck with what may be an off-the-wall thought, but I’ll throw it out there anyway.
I was thinking of other characteristics of salt. You’ve mentioned it’s ability to preserve and give taste. It occurred to me that when we add salt to a recipe, it is usually in much smaller proportions to the other ingredients- it doesn’t take much to impart its flavor. Once it’s stirred in or dissolved, it isn’t easily removed either. And that’s how we are to effect the world. Even the small amounts we put out into the world can have a great effect if we are persistent.
Another aspect I thought of was something I recall (hopefully correctly) from Geology 101- cleaving/crystal formation. Each rock has a particular pattern it tends to break into when it’s hit and a predictable crystal structure it makes when forming. Testing these are ways to determine what kind of rock you have.
Salt forms something of a cube with distinct corners and planes- it is pretty easy to identify. It got me thinking about what Tim said about discipleship and doing everything in love. As salt in this world, others must always be able to identify us as belonging to Christ and we must be constant in our dealings with the lost. When we are tested, maybe even broken, our character must remain in tact- we must still look like salt not shattered glass.
I may not have described that well, but I thought it was interesting. Maybe that seems like a reach, but then again, maybe there was a little more to the analogy when Christ made it than was realized at the time. Just my random thoughts.
These are great observations. Thanks for sharing.
Laura, I think your thoughts on this subject were very helpful! This website has been the best I have seen so far speaking on the subject of “salt of the earth.”
Thanks for sharing:)
thanks for the visit Bethany. glad you found it helpful