TEXT: Matthew 5:10-48

As it is written in Matthew 5:13, "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."

Jesus Christ used the everyday table salt we use in cooking and seasoning to describe and make comparison with believers and His followers in the quoted key verse above.

So many ideas has sprang up from this topic of discuss and I will also like to know you own thought too, but before then, this is what I believe Jesus Christ actually meant when He described His people as the salt of the world.

A critical look on the verse of Matthew 5:13, Jesus Christ was not only making comparison between His believers and normal everyday salt, but was also referring to two different types of salt: "the salt of the earth" that cannot lost it savour if it continues to remain a salt (John 10:28, 29); and the salt that has already lost its savour, flavour or taste
(Matthew 5:13).

Now you may ask which is the salt that cannot lost it savour and the salt of earth that has already lost it savour?

There are two types salt: the true salt that cannot lost its savour, even if thrown away, it will still remain a salt with the flavour intact because of it genuine source of extraction and mode of production; and there is another type of salt that is collected from the Dead Sea by evaporation. The substance resemble pure salt but is not effective for preserving and seasoning.

The salt that cannot lost it flavour
Jesus Christ is referring to are His true believers which He categorically stated in the scriptures that no man shall be able to plug them out of His hands or make them lost their flavour (John 10:28) but can only attempt to make them to do so (John 15:19) but will always fail ( Psalm 91:7).

On the other hand, the salt which has already lost it flavour is referring to the scribes and Pharisees who have always been known for persecuting the followers of Jesus in an hypocritical way putting on false appearance of the "true salt" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:22) and continually trying to corrupt the true salt by their persecution and self-righteousness ( Luke 18:10-12).

Check carefully the preceding verses of Matthew 5:13 in Chapter 5:10-12 when Jesus our Lord was urging His believers to rejoice in persecution for their reward will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:12). They should rejoice when men revile them and say all manner of false things against them for His sake (Matthew 5:11).

Persecution can come in various forms and may not always mean bully or killing of the individual. Persecution can occur in the school, workplace and even within the family (Matthew 10:34-36; Mark 6:4 ).

The scribes and Pharisees where known to always trouble Jesus Ministry and His followers. They acted they have knew it all and not willing to know even better; they put on false righteous garment of holiness and love the praise of men when they call them Master, Rabi, Teacher etc.; hypocrisy is their lifestyle as they love to do things like giving alms and praying in the sight of men get the praise of men (Matthew 6:1-8 ).

The hypocrites and persecutors like the scribe and Pharisees are the salt Jesus was referring to have lost their savour and flavour. They were described as good for nothing who are already under the foot of men without them knowing it (Matthew 5:13).

Although, Jesus asked a
question of hope for the persecutors and hypocrites when he said " but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?" That is, if a salt is without a flavour how can it gain flavour and be fit for seasoning?

This was answered in Mark 9:50: "
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. "

Persecutors and hypocrites of the gospel can only regain flavour and savour when He or she stop the act of hypocrisy and persecution and embrace peace and for this reason it is written in the scripture that we should all follow peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14).

Anyone who dies a persecutor ( Hebrews 9:27) of the children of God will not see God but will be thrown in outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:27,28).

Have a great day everyone.


Written by FaithfulServant

It was posted here first in a topic I titled" Biblical Christian Quotes and Lessons by FaithfulServant ": https://www.nairaland.com/3768611/biblical-christian-quotes-lessons-faithfulservant

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