THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: THE DISCARDED SALT

Matthew 5:13

King James Version (KJV)

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Here again we have a description from the Beatitude describing the essential character of kingdom citizens and the metaphors of salt and light indicate the citizen’s influence for good as they penetrate secular society.

Meditation: Jesus used ordinary images, such as salt and light, to convey extraordinary truths. What does salt and light have to teach us about God and his reign on earth? Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. People traded with it, like we trade with gold and stock. Salt also served a very useful purpose in hot climates before the invention of electricity and refrigeration. Salt not only gave food flavor, it also preserved meat from spoiling. Salt was used as a symbol of fellowship and the common meal.

The near-Eastern expression to betray the salt meant to betray one's Master or some person who was owed loyalty and devotion. Leonardo da Vinci in his painting of the Last Supper depicts Judas in the act of tipping over the salt shaker, thus symbolically indentifying himself as the betrayer of his Master.

Jesus used the image of salt to describe how his disciples are to live in the world. As salt purifies, preserves, and penetrates, so the disciple must be as salt in the world of human society to purify, preserve, and penetrate that society for the kingdom of God and of his righteousness and peace. Why did Jesus speak of discarded salt as being useless? Salt was often put in ovens to intensify the heat. When the salt was burned off and no longer useful it was thrown out on the road or on the roof top where it would easily get trodden upon.

Perhaps Jesus wanted to contrast useful salt used for giving flavor and for preserving food with salt which was burned and no longer of much benefit, to encourage his disciples to be faithful witnesses and to not neglect the opportunity to influence others for the kingdom of God through the witness of their lives and their testimony to the power of the kingdom of God.

Jesus also used the image of light and a lamp to further his illustration. Lamps in the ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling. The Jews also understood "light" as an expression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God. In his light we see light (Psalm 36:9). His word is a
lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105).

God's grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God's kingdom.

Prayer:

"Oh Lord God Almighty, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. So, I plead, please fill my heart and mind with your light and truth. Free me from the blindness of sin and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. And on this journey, may I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed". Amen.

Further Inspection and Reflection

Verses 13-16

The prophets, who went before them, were the salt of the land of Canaan; but the apostles were the salt of the whole earth, for they must go into all the world to preach the gospel. It was a discouragement to them that they were so few and so weak. What could they do in so large a province as the whole earth? Nothing, if they were to work by force of arms and dint of sword; but, beginning the work as silent as salt, one handful of that salt would diffuse its savour far and wide; would go a great way, and work insensibly and irresistibly as leaven, Matt. 13:33.

The doctrine of the gospel is as salt; it is penetrating, quick, and powerful (Heb. 4:12); it reaches the heart Acts 2:37. It is cleansing, it is relishing, and preserves from putrefaction. We read of the savour of the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor. 2:14); for all other learning is insipid without that. An everlasting covenant is called a covenant of salt (Num. 18:19); and the gospel is an everlasting gospel. Salt was required in all the sacrifices (Lev. 2:13), in Ezekiel’s mystical temple, Ezek. 43:24. Now Christ’s disciples having themselves learned the doctrine of the gospel, and being employed to teach it to others, were as salt. Note, Christians, and especially ministers, are the salt of the earth. GLORY!

A. If they be as they should be they are as good salt, white [pure], and small, and broken into many grains, but very useful and necessary. Pliny says, Sine sale, vita humana non potest degere—Without salt human life cannot be sustained.

(1.) What we are to be in ourselves—seasoned with the gospel, with the salt of grace; thoughts and affections, words and actions, all seasoned with grace, Col. 4:6. Have salt in ourselves; else we cannot diffuse it among others, Mark 9:50.

(2.) What we are to be to others; we must not only be good but do good, must insinuate ourselves into the minds of the people, not to serve any secular interest of our own, but that we might transform them into the taste and relish of the gospel.

(3.) What great blessings we can be to the world. Scripture teaches us that ‘Mankind’, lying in ignorance and wickedness, are a vast heap of unsavoury stuff, ready to putrefy; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines, to season it with knowledge and grace, and so to render it acceptable to God, to the angels, and to all that relish divine things.

(4.) Thus, we must be scattered as salt upon the meat, here a grain and there a grain; as the Levites were dispersed in Israel, that, wherever they live, they may communicate their savour. Some have observed, that whereas it is foolishly called an ill omen to have the salt fall towards us, it is really an ill omen to have the salt fall from us.

As the lights of the world, we are intended to illuminate and give light to others (Matt. 5:15), and therefore,

(1.) They shall be set up as lights. Christ has lighted these candles, they shall not be put under a bushel, not confined always, as they are now, to the cities of Galilee, or the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but they shall be sent into all the world. The churches are the candlesticks, the golden candlesticks, in which these lights are placed, that they light may be diffused; and the gospel is so strong a light, and carries with it so much of its own evidence, that, like a city on a hill, it cannot be hid, it cannot but appear to be from God, to all those who do not willfully shut their eyes against it. It will give light to all that are in the house, to all that will draw near to it, and come where it is. Those, to whom it does not give light, must thank themselves; they will not be in the house with it; will not make a diligent and impartial enquiry into it, but are prejudiced against it.

(2.) We must shine as lights, [a.] By our good preaching. The knowledge we have, we must communicate for the good of others; not put it under a bushel, but spread it. The talent must not be buried in a napkin, but traded with. The disciples of Christ must not muffle themselves up in privacy and obscurity, under pretense of contemplation, modesty, or self-preservation, but, as they have received the gift, must minister the same, Luke 12:3. [b.] By their good living. They must be burning and shining lights (John 5:35); must evidence, in their whole conversation, that they are indeed followers of Christ, Jas. 3:13. They must be to others for instruction, direction, quickening, and comfort, Job 29:11.

Finally, for what end our light must shine—“That those who see our good works may be brought, not to glorify us (which was the things the Pharisees aimed at, and it spoiled all their performances), but to glorify our Father which is in heaven.”

Note, The glory of God is the grand thing we must aspire for in every thing we do in religious conviction, 1 Pet. 4:11. In this centre the lines of all our actions must meet. We must not only endeavor to glorify God ourselves, but we must do all we can to bring others to glorify him.

Reminder, The holy, regular, and exemplary conversation of the saints, may do much towards the conversion of sinners; those who are unacquainted with religion may hereby be brought to know what it is. Examples teach. And those who are prejudiced against it may hereby be brought in love with it, and thus there is a winning virtue in a godly conversation.