You are the salt of the earth!
Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet” (Matthew 5:13). Up until this verse, Jesus had spoken at length about soft virtues such as mercy, gentleness, and peacefulness, but what did he mean when he said that his disciples should be the salt of the earth? Does this still apply to Christians today?
The power of salt
Jesus uses a metaphor when he says that the disciples are the salt of the earth. In Jesus’ time, salt was very valuable. To understand what Jesus meant by this image, we need to know what role salt played in society during Jesus’ time. In fact, salt had several important uses. First of all, salt was used in the same way we use it today—in food, as a flavor enhancer. In addition, salt was used for preservation, that is, to prevent food from spoiling. For example, if you didn’t salt the fish, it was only a matter of hours before it started to smell bad and quickly became completely inedible. Salt was also used as fertilizer in the soil.
Salt thus contributed to both flavor and growth, as well as helping to prevent spoilage. So when Jesus uses salt as a metaphor for his disciples, it is likely that he wanted to convey that they could acquire the same qualities as salt if they lived according to his commandments. But the opposite is also true: that they might lose their strength and thus become useless.
Jesus’ words can protect us from corruption
In Mark it says, “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another ” (Mark 9:50). There is power in Jesus’ words to protect us from corruption, from decay within ourselves, if we live by them. The Bible says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). If we live by the words Jesus spoke, our minds and hearts will remain pure and sound.
In the same way, by following Jesus and keeping our hearts pure, we can be the salt of the earth. When we serve Jesus as Lord, we are the salt of the earth because we can help people who come into contact with us to experience God’s goodness. To use the metaphor of salt, they taste like we are pure, sound, and living That we have something of the kingdom of heaven within us. A serious consequence is that we can lose our strength if we do not actively seek God, keep his commandments, and follow Jesus. Jesus makes it clear that no one can be his follower without giving up everything they own and possess. If you don’t do that, you are not the salt of the earth. The salt you should have in yourself is good for nothing (Luke 14:33–35). “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). God has promised us that he will give us strength and support if we seek him in all of life’s situations and challenges.
The salt of the earth and the light of the world
In the next episode of the Sermon on the Mount, a new picture about the disciples is explained. That is, they are the light of the world. What a privilege it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today. Someone who can help people connect with God. When we follow Jesus, we are protected from the destructive forces that once made us so unhappy. We can be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Through our lives and our connection with God, we receive the same power that is found in salt. It purifies, promotes growth, and prevents decay. The fact that there are people like this in the world, even today, should give us great hope.
Watch the video about Matthew 5:13 here.