The Salt of the Earth

 

Now that we have finished our look at the Beatitudes it seems only fitting to explore the rest of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  What did our Lord have in mind when he said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth”?  In the context these seem to be words of encouragement and support.  Matthew Henry seems to think this statement was directed more toward the apostles than the general multitude.  Jesus had just told them they were going to be persecuted, insulted and falsely accused for his sake.  He compared them to the prophets of old who were in fact the salt of the land of Canaan.  They were to “go into all the world” proclaiming the message of God’s salvation.  They were few in number and the task must have seemed daunting.  But here he tells them the manner in which they are to act: as salt.

Salt is powerful, yet subtle.   A very small amount will season an entire dish if it is finely disbursed.  In larger quantities, when properly applied, salt is an excellent preservative.  But too much salt too fast can ruin, destroy and kill.  The same is true of the gospel.  When God’s word is planted and allowed to grow it will blossom in the heart.  But when it is forced upon men they reject it and even fight against it.  Both salt and the gospel must be handled with care.

Jesus was telling his disciples, and us, to act as salt.  The early church was very small yet in less then forty years Paul was able to say the gospel was bearing fruit in all the world (Colossians 1:6).  Jesus has established his kingdom and it has been spread over the entire world.  This was not accomplished by force at the edge of the sword but peacefully, as a sprinkling of salt works almost unnoticed. 

Thomas Sneed

Pond Church of Christ