Salty Saints ~ Matthew 5:13

Good morning and welcome to the Panhandle. Come on in, the Bible is open and His Word is great so let's do some surfing. Today we will be hanging out in Matthew 5:13.

“Compromise is a deadly cancer to our witness in the world.” The world’s desires are seducing. Materialism, political expediency, irresponsible rhetoric, moral laxity, and foolish actions are compromises that trade in false promises. And yet even in this kind of world a little salt goes a long way. The casual witness of life and word has often reaped eternal dividends.

Salt should never call attention to itself except when it is in the wrong place. When sprinkled on food, it brings out the natural flavor; one is hardly aware of its presence. But let the ice cream salt seep into the ice cream, and salt is out of place! This once happened to me and Gayla. We made a batch of ice cream and didn't get the lid down tight and some salt water got into it. Kevin and Konnie came over and we gave them some and they graciously ate it, but when we tasted it, we knew something was wrong. As a Christian when you compromise your walk and find yourself in the wrong place doing the wrong thing, you ought to fill noticeably out of place.

Salt is composed of two poisons. Its technical name is sodium chloride. Sodium and chloride are poisonous when taken separately. But God joins these two poisons to make salt, a condiment on every table. All of us are poisoned by sin, but in Christ Jesus, we are transformed and become a temple of God. It is God’s transforming work that makes our witness a necessity for the world.

Salt is composed of many different sizes of grains. When viewed through a microscope, salt grains are different sizes and shapes. Christians are this way too, all Christians of all ages and of all stations in life make up the salt of the earth.

In the ancient world salt was highly valued. To the Greeks salt was called divine. Here in Matthew 5:13 Christ Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth;” This suggests at least three things: purity, preservation, and flavor.

Matthew 5:13

13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

1. Purity - Salt has many uses, but in the Old Testament it is most often used as a purifying agent. The Romans had a sort of jingle about salt: “There is nothing more useful than sun and salt.” This probably came from the process of using sea water and the sun to acquire the salt. To the Roman World salt symbolized purity. No doubt its glistening whiteness made this connection easy. Roman soldiers were often paid in salt, this is the basis for the word “salary.”

The Israelite used salt in the sacred incense: "With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.” (Exodus 30:35). God never changes. His promises and His demands on His people are equally as changeless.

Christ Jesus’ use of the symbol of salt to describe the call and influence of purity that we are brings to society. Sadly one of the characteristics of this world is a lowering of standards. Standards of honesty, of diligence in work, of conscientiousness, and moral standards. As the salt of the earth, and Christ Jesus’s disciples we are to purify a corrupt world through our example of righteous living and our declaration of the gospel. When people look at you do they see a person striving for Christ like purity? Are you salt of the earth?

2. Preservation

Salt was also a preservative in a time before refrigeration. Without salt, bacteria would cause meat to spoil and become poison. Salt was so vital in the preservation process that wars were fought over it and entire economies were based on it. Salt literally meant the difference between life and death.

The Israelite sacrifices and offerings were salted: "Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.” (Leviticus 2:13)

"You shall present them before the LORD, and the priests shall throw salt on them, and they shall offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.” (Ezekiel 43:24).

Salt also symbolized the irrevocable character of God’s covenant with Israel: "All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD to you and your descendants with you." (Numbers 18:19).

Salt preserves. Perhaps this was the primary use in the mind of Christ Jesus when He used salt as an illustration. Just as salt prevents or kills bacteria in food, the kingdom servant prevents or confronts corruption in the world. As Christians we are to serve as a preservative against the evils of society, we must have an antiseptic influence on life. We should be the person who by our presence defeats or deters the corruption of this world and makes it easier for others to be good. We are to help preserve our culture from all kinds of sin, like toxic hatred and immorality.

Christ followers should also be like salt in that we would create a thirst for Christ Jesus.

At a meeting some young people were discussing the text, “You are the salt of the earth.” One suggestion after another was made as to the meaning of “salt” in this verse.

“Salt purifies,” was one suggestion.

“Salt preserves from decay,” was another suggestion.

Then a Chinese Christian girl spoke out of an experience none of the others had. “Salt creates thirst,” she said, and there was a sudden hush in the room. Everyone was thinking: Have I ever made anyone thirsty for the Lord Christ Jesus?

Can people tell you are a Christian? Do they at least realize that there is something different about you – in a good way? Are you salt of the earth?

The Englishman who invented potato chips sold only a few packages a week until he thought of putting salt on them. At first, inventor Frank Smith fried thin slices of potatoes and peddled them on a very small basis. Then he tucked a little pinch of salt wrapped in blue paper into each package. His business boomed to the point that he had to purchase a huge farm to grow his potatoes. Today the potato chip business has spread all over the world. But without salt it would have died in England generations ago.

3. Flavor

Salt loses itself in service to the object that is being salted or preserved, which is the third aspect of the meaning of this symbol—flavor. Salt is used for flavor enhancement, it makes things more appealing. Some food without salt is sadly flavorless and in some cases even a sickening thing. Ever try eating fries with no salt (yuck).

When you apply salt to food properly, it is not so that you can taste the salt, but so that the food itself tastes more appealing. Christianity is to life what salt is to food. Just as salt enhances the taste of food, you as the salt of the earth should lend flavor to this world. Your role in society is not to be against it so much as it is to enrich or flavor it for Christ Jesus, making it more truly a realm of blessing for humanity.¹

Salt is used to purify, to preserve, and to add flavor. True Christians will encourage goodness and stand against corruption in society. You are able to give appealing flavor to your faith by being kind, and loving others. Are you the salt of the earth?

4. Useless Salt

Salt is useless unless it is sprinkled on food. In fact, it is distasteful any other way. If left in the saltshaker, it may draw moisture and harden. It is best when spread on watermelon or tomatoes or brown beans. Contaminated salt on the other hand does not promote purity, preservation, or add flavor. This salt is only good for spreading over ground where you want to kill vegetation or on slick and icy spots to prevent slipping.

Sadly people often connect Christianity with that which takes the flavor out of life. Oliver Wendell Homes once said, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”

When a Christian lives an unrighteous lifestyle, they stop being useful. Nothing grows where they go.² The verb translated lose its taste indicates foolish and immoral behavior. If a Christian is not fulfilling their purpose as a Christian, then they are on their way to disaster. Those who lose their distinctiveness are like useless salt which is thrown out on the path.

Salt can lose its flavor by becoming “watered down,” The same thing happens with weak theology. Or when the Gospel message is missing all together. You are the salt of the earth. Guard your message and don’t let it become useless.

Thanks again for dropping by and sharing in this time of study of God's Word. I pray that God will bless you and yours as you go through the week and I'll see you back here next week Lord willing.

Biblesurfer

1 Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Matthew (Vol. 24, p. 18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.

2 Stein, R. H. (2017). Differences in the Gospels. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1506). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Barclay, William. The Gospel of Matthew: Volume 1

Weber, Stuart K. Holman New Testament Commentary