Select Page
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”  

 

Jesus now gives two metaphors or similitudes (salt and light) that depict those who represent the kingdom. Jesus now turns to the calling and position of His disciples in the world.

5:13

You are the salt of the earth,

The word “you” is emphatic. Jesus wanted to make it abundantly clear that every believer is a representative of the kingdom. Jesus emphatically declared that His followers are to be (1) salt and (2) light to the world. Believers have a duty to the world.

“Salt” creates thirst when it comes to eating. Its saline quality seasons and makes food tasty.

The phrase “of the earth” refers to the sphere of ministry of Jesus’ disciples.

but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?

When salt loses its ability to enhance flavor, it loses its effectiveness. It is insipid, flat. “Lost its taste” is literally defiled. Pure salt maintains its flavor but, ironically, some followers of Christ lost their saltiness. The only way for pure salt to lose its flavor is to mix it with other chemicals. It still looks like salt but it has lost its saltiness. We lose our testimony in the world if we mix the truth with other elements. God’s truth is always mutually exclusive.

It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Salt that loses its effectiveness is worthless. It can neither preserve nor provide taste. It is a worthless agent of change.

PRINCIPLE:

Christians have a duty to the world.

APPLICATION:

No believer can live in separation from the world. We are not of the world, but we are in it. The purpose of a salty Christian is to make an effect on others. Many individuals and churches have lost their appeal to non-Christians. The church has lost its pungency to the non-Christian world, for God designed them to touch society. Christians cannot live in isolation, cocooned from society. God designed them to reach out and touch.

Share