Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount (8)
Pray Psalm 24.1, 2.
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
Sing Psalm 24.1, 2
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
The earth is the LORD’s, as is all it contains; the world and its peoples He daily sustains.
He founded it fast on the seas long ago, and bid gentle rivers throughout it to flow.
Read Matthew 5.1-13; meditate on verse 13.
How many uses can you think of for salt?
Prepare.
1. To what does Jesus liken His followers?
2. What are they supposed to do?
Meditate.
Jesus says that citizens of the Kingdom, who have as their aim growing in righteousness, are like salt. We are the salt of the earth. We have been invested with a value and a power as citizens that can only result in one of two outcomes. Either we “season” the earth, or we will be “thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” There’s no middle ground.
The primary application Jesus makes here is salt as a savory seasoning (the meaning of the Greek verb, be seasoned). Salt brings out the flavor of things, making them taste even better. Believers are the salt of the earth. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. He made it all good, but at present, it groans and travails under a burden of sin (Rom. 8.20-22). Everything on the earth and in it has rich potential for good, for expressing that which refracts and reflects the very character of God. But the environment groans as does much of human culture. These have potential for good; but they are becoming unpalatable to God and should be to His people as well. Our calling is to salt these areas—the whole earth and everything in it—with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, so that beauty, goodness, and truth might once again flourish throughout the earth.
Salt had another use in Jesus’ day. It was a preservative for meats. Thus, not only does salt bring out the inherent goodness of things—a goodness put there by the grace of God—it also preserves the goodness that exists, so that it will not quickly decay. We are the salt of the earth. You are the salt of your Personal Mission Field. Further, like the salt that accompanied every sacrifice in Israel, we are the sign of God’s covenant to the world (Num. 18.19).
We are the salt of the earth! And because we have neglected “the earth and its fullness” as a proper focus of our Kingdom-and-glory calling (1 Thess. 2.12), all its fullness is falling to the decay of sin, it groans and travails, and we, as useless salt, are in danger of being trampled underfoot and thrown out by men. Let’s make sure that, as far as we are able, the salt of the Lord doesn’t lose its savor, its decay-preventing power, or its covenant witness.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And every offering of your grain offering
you shall season with salt;
you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God
to be lacking from your grain offering.
With all your offerings you shall offer salt” (Lev. 2.13).
In all that we do—we are to offer and be salt.
But how does salt lose its flavor?
Even artificial intelligence (i.e., Search Assist) knows how this dastardly change occurs:
Salt can lose its flavor primarily due to exposure to moisture, which can lead to clumping and dilution, or when it is mixed with other substances that alter its chemical composition. Additionally, impurities in ancient salt could cause it to become tasteless over time, while modern refined salts generally maintain their flavor unless additives degrade.
Apparently, anything in addition to salt, will cause this tasteless change: moisture, other substances, impurities, and additives. Hmmm.
Sounds a lot like what can happen to a lackadaisical believer, who is not dressing for the battle (Eph. 6.10-18).
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10.12).
Wisdom says,
“Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life, and
Obtains favor from the LORD…” (Prov. 8.34, 35).
And remains very salty! By keeping your mind in and on the Word.
The Holy Spirit—and everything He brings our way—is the only safe additive which we can be put into our salt—everything else is damp, altering, impure, and degrading. Causing a bad case of tastelessness.
However salt, God’s way, “brings out the inherent goodness of things…and preserves the goodness” that He has created… “we are that salt of the earth!”
Preferrable, by far, to being mushy, soggy, granules that get stuck in someone’s shoe.
Therefore, be mindful and careful of what gets mixed in with your salt “of the covenant of your God.”
Reflect.
1. Why is salt such a good metaphor for the Christian life?
2. How do other “additives” get into our soul to compromise our saltiness?
3. How can we keep those “additives” from making our salt tasteless?
Why must you be salt? Jesus says in effect: “You are accountable not only for your own life but also for that of the entire world. I am sending you not to one or two cities, nor to ten or twenty, nor even to one nation, as I sent the prophets. Rather, I am sending you to the entire earth, across the seas, to the whole world, to a world fallen into an evil state.” For by saying, “You are the salt of the earth,” Jesus signifies that all human nature itself has “lost its taste,” having become rotten through sin. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 15.6
Pray Psalm 24.3-10.
God takes care of His earth by the clean hands and pure hearts of His saints. Pray that He will use you as salt in your Personal Mission Field today.
Sing Psalm 24.3-10.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
Oh, who may ascend to the LORD’s holy place? And who may appear to His glorious face?
All they who are clean in their hearts and their hands and true in their souls with the Savior shall stand.
A blessing all they from the LORD shall receive who seek Him and on His salvation believe.
For these are His people, the children of grace, who earnestly, eagerly seek for His face.
O lift up your heads, all you gates of the soul, for the Savior would enter and render you whole!
The LORD strong and mighty in battle draws nigh; He rules in His glory above us on high.
O Who is this King, Who approaches our gate? His might is before us, His glory is great!
This King is the LORD of all glory above, Who comes to indwell us in mercy and love!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues our readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is studying the Church as Jesus envisions it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
