Matthew 5:13 NLT says, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. In Matthew 5 we find Jesus sitting down on a mountainside instructing His disciples and he tells them, you are the salt of the earth.” He didn’t say, “I am”. He said, “YOU ARE”.
Here’s a few facts about Salt:
The scientific name for salt is sodium chloride.
- Every cell in the body contains salt an adult contains about 250 grams.
- You have to have salt to live. Eating too much salt is linked to high blood pressure, increased risk for heart and kidney disease, and increased water retention, which can lead to swelling in the body and dehydration.
- Just a little salt in oceanwater can sustain life, but too much you end up with dead sea where no fish and plant life can be sustained. The Dead Sea is roughly 8.6 times saltier than the ocean.
- Salt is used in more than 14,000 different ways , including making plastic, paper, glass, household detergents and fertilizers.
- The word salary comes from an ancient word meaning salt-money, referring to a Roman soldier’s allowance for the purchase of salt. Someone who earns his pay is still said to be “worth his salt”.
What does it really mean to be the salt of the earth?
Today salt is easy to purchase, but back in Jesus’ day salt was a precious commodity. So, when He told His disciples that they were the salt of the earth, He meant that believers have value in this world and was referring to their influence.
Salt was a symbol of the everlasting covenant. Leviticus 2:13, says, “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.” No offering was made to God without salt. The Bible refers to the everlasting covenant of salt – a covenant between man and God is called salt covenant. The idea of a salt covenant carries a great deal of meaning because of the value of salt. 2 Chronicles 13:5 says, “Don’t you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?” Hebrew newborns were rubbed down with salt to signify they were children of the covenant . (Ezekiel 16:4)
Salt is a primary preservative. Without refrigeration like we have now, salt was used to preserve meat and fish, to halt or slow down process of decay. As the salt of the earth, we are a preservative. Christians preserve the truth. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life”.
Salt is a primary seasoning. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt. You can’t lead anybody to Christ if you have no salt and are tasteless.
Salt irritates if you have a cut. You should have enough salt to correct someone and tell them the truth even though it irritates.
Salt creates thirst – People should be thirsty for what we have. In John 4 Jesus compared Himself to a drink of living water. But we won’t create thirst unless we are salty.
Salt produces change – One sprinkle has a dramatic effect. Our job is to change the atmosphere. Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How does salt become useless?
Salt was not always derived from evaporating sea water to a pure white form. It came from the salt marshes which contained impurities. When the salt leached out from dampness, it left behind a diluted residue which was worthless. So, the residue was thrown out on the street to be trampled under foot.
There is salt that is useful and salt that is useless. When we lose our influence, we become useless. We must stop celebrating ourselves within the walls of the church building. Our job is to fulfill the great commission according to Matthew 28:20. We’ve accomplished nothing if we haven’t won souls or changed lives for the kingdom of God.
