You will be inspired and motivated by this powerful insight from the Sermon on the Mount. It is a poetically beautiful and metaphorically rich symbol for God’s people.
The Foundation Scripture
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? It is from then on good for nothing but to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men” (Matt. 5:13).
Five Characteristics of Salt (Symbolic of Our Role)
- Agent of change.
- Flavor enhancer.
- Antiseptic, a disease inhibitor.
- Preservative.
- Cleansing agent.
The last is true only when salt is broken down into its elements through the process of electrolysis/sodium is used for soap and chloride used for chlorine.
Old Covenant Symbol
“You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not fail to use the salt of the covenant of your God on your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt” (Lev. 2:13).
Because salt does not normally lose its flavor, it represents a permanent covenant commitment on our part toward God, represented by this Old Testament stipulation concerning sacrifices.
New Covenant Symbol
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone” (Col. 4:6).
Symbolic of the Discipleship Mandate of ‘Forsaking All’
“So likewise, any of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good. But if the salt has lost its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure pile. So men throw it out. ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear'” (Luke 14:33-35).
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