Matthew 5:13
You all are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes insipid, in what will
it become restored? It is no longer
capable to do anything except that after being cast outside to be trampled upon
by mankind.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
Salty was an incredibly precious commodity in the ancient
world. It is typically described as
having three main uses.
- First, Salt was connected with purity. Salt is white in color, making this connection easy. As such, salt is one of the most basic offerings to gods in many religions, including Judaism. (See Leviticus 2:13 as an example). When Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth, He is telling us that His followers are an offering to God. While others may lower themselves to the standards of the world, God’s followers rise up to attain the purity of God.
- Second, salt is a preservative. In those days they didn’t have refrigeration and they certainly didn’t have freezers. In order to preserve meats, they would be salted and cured. Salt is added to many baking recipes in the ancient world for the same reason. When Jesus compares His followers to salt, He is saying that we are part of God’s plan to try and preserve the world from outside corrupting influences.
- Third, salt adds seasoning – which some people call flavor. Salt draws out flavor from the food around it. When Jesus calls His followers the salt of the earth, He is definitely saying that we are to draw out flavor from the world around us. We are to make the world seem better and more enjoyable – as God intended it to be.
Which of these qualities rings the truest with you? Which of these qualities can you work on in
order to improve as a follower of Christ?
Second Thought:
Jesus then asks what happens when salt becomes insipid. The word insipid means “lacking in flavor.” When salt loses one of its inherent qualities
what can put it back? We have to take
special note of this. As the followers
of Christ, we gain certain inherent qualities when the Holy Spirit is placed
within us. We inherent share the
qualities of God’s character. Granted,
we share them to a far less degree and struggle with putting them on display as
God would have us. But even when we
struggle to put them on display we still have them! But what should happen to us if we don’t have
them? What does it look like when we no
longer have the inherent qualities of God within us? What good am I if I no longer have Christ
living and shining through me but instead rely upon my own strength and
greatness? That is not an existence for
which I long. But we must be careful,
because often times Christianity becomes reduced to a “Christianized version of
what I really want to do.” That is
insipid! Following Christ isn’t about
convincing God to allow me to have my way.
Following Christ is about abandoning myself so that as I decrease Christ
lives in me and increases within me.
Have you ever been insipid?
If so, when you look back on those times how do you feel?
Third Thought:
This last portion of the verse has depth of meaning that I’m
sure I haven’t found yet. What good is
salt that has no saltiness? It is good
for nothing except to be trampled upon by mankind. I find it interesting that this is the same
result that a person who tries to do good apart from God experiences. A person who does good will eventually be
taken advantage of by the world. They
will be abused and neglected and used by a naturally selfish world. If such a person is in God, then it has a
purpose in that the person is modeling God and the world is rejecting God. But if a person who is trying to do good is
simultaneously apart from God, what purpose does their rejection and abuse
serve? They are just being trampled upon
by the world for no reason! No, if we
are going to be trampled upon by the world then we might as well be in God so
that the world’s rejection of us serves some purpose!
Have you felt rejection from the world? Do you take any comfort in knowing that your
rejection serves God’s will?
Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 5:14-16
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