We are the salt of the earth, but do you know what is the meaning of this statement in the verse of Matthew 5: 13? Enter this edifying article, and learn with us what Jesus wants to tell us with this teaching.
We are the salt of the earth
Jesus Christ, during his walk as a man here on earth, exercised his ministry teaching many times with language in the form of parables. In the sermon on the mount Jesus tells the crowd:
Matthew 5:13 (PDT):- You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how can it be salty again? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown and stepped on by people.
While this teaching is not usually reflected as one of Jesus' parables, the comparative narrative used in it can be considered a relatively very short one. But, in addition, this verse is immediately complemented by Jesus' teaching on the parable of the lamp, where he says:
Matthew 5:14-16 (PDT): 14 –You are the light that illuminates the world. A city that is on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor a lamp is lit to put it under a basket, but on the candlestick so that it illuminates everyone in the house. 16 Likewise, you must be light for others in such a way that everyone may see your good deeds and worship your Father who is in heaven.
Today Jesus tells us that, as Christians that we are, as his disciples, we too we are the salt of the earth and the light that illuminates the world. But how should we reflect on this teaching of the Lord?
If you want to know about other teachings of Jesus, we invite you to read the article on: The best parables of Jesus and its biblical meaning. With them, Jesus was looking for a way to understand the message of God and his Kingdom, through comparative, symbolic, reflective and credible stories.
We are the salt of the earth: Reflection
As Christians it is necessary to reflect on what Jesus wants to tell us with this teaching. Because in the Gospel of Luke we also find that Jesus mentions the salt that loses its flavor:
Luke 14:34-35 (PDT): 34 -Salt is good, but if it loses its flavor, what will it be salted with again? 35 It is no longer good for anything, neither for the soil nor for fertilizer. You have to throw it away. Listen carefully to what I say! –
But here, in addition, Jesus tells us: Listen well! As if to say, be careful not to lose the essence, the substance that comes from Christ. That is, take care of and develop the nature that you acquired through Christ, the identity of being new creatures, which is being children of God.
However, because Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earthWhat is the meaning of salt in this context? What is the central focus of this teaching and how can we apply it in our lives? In response, the first thing would be to define what salt is and what it represents
What is salt?
Salt is the oldest seasoning in the world that is recorded in history and also the only rock that can be consumed by man. This seasoning seasons other foods, giving them a salty taste, which is perceived when consumed, through the receptors on the tongue.
Edible salt is also an appetite-stimulating element, which implies a change in man's behavior regarding the desire to eat. The two most fundamental uses of salt are to season and preserve foods, such as meat and fish.
Salt has played such an important role in history that it has been able to move and in fact continues to move large economies and monopolies. It was the cause of wars in the past and became a form of currency.
Even the term salary comes from the payments that were made with salt in the days of the Roman Empire. While in the history of the biblical Old Testament we can cite some passages that indicate the use and importance of salt in the culture of the people of Israel:
- As a condiment to give seasoning or flavor to food, (Job 6:6).
- Symbol of the pact with God: “You shall offer salt with all your offerings”, (Leviticus 2:13).
- By God's instruction, it was to be delivered without fail as demanded by the priests, (Ezra 6:9).
We are the salt of the earth for three main qualities
As you can see, salt had uses in the spiritual context in the Old Testament. But now it is necessary to see the qualities of salt that Jesus wants us to see, to tell us that!We are the salt of the earth!
The qualities of salt is what Jesus wants to be manifest as fundamental characteristics throughout his Church, let's see the three main ones below.
Salt preserves and prevents corruption
Salt has the property of being an excellent food preservative, since it prevents the putrefaction of foods such as animal meat and fish. In the spiritual sense, we must assume this quality of salt in our lives as a purifying element. That is, living a life of holiness, standing firm in faith despite trials:
Mark 9:49 (TLA): -God is going to purify everyone as when we purify things with salt or fire-.
salt makes you thirsty
Salt when consumed stimulates the desire to drink water, in the spiritual sense we must generate that same desire in others. We must be a source and encouragement for people to want to drink living water, which comes from the word of God so that they are satisfied:
John 4:14 (NKJV): But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst. Rather, The water that I will give him will be in him a fountain of water flowing to eternal life..
Salt Gives Flavor
The most important quality that we could see in the definition of salt is that it is a condiment that gives seasoning or flavor to foods. We can manifest this quality of salt in the spiritual sense when we receive the essence and substance that is Christ in our life.
That is why Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth, because by receiving Him, we manifest Him and become multiplying instruments of faith. Whoever approaches us must feel the need to taste the essence of Christ in his life.
Now complete this knowledge by reading about these 6 Characteristics of a missionary who loves God. As well as knowing the teachings of Jesus of yesterday, today and forever.