"You are the salt of the earth..." Matthew 5:13

You, beloved, are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes bland and loses its saltiness, can anything make it salty again? No. It is useless. It is tossed out, thrown away, or trampled. Matthew 5:13 (VOICE)

Salt in the ancient world was utilized as a reward or a means of benefit.  The clue is in Ezra 4:14 (KJV) where it says: 

“Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king”

The word “maintenance” means salt, ("We are SALTED with the SALT of the palace") from the King's palace." This context established that the King was sending money (like our welfare system) to keep those people alive.

"Eating the SALT of a man means, to derive one's sustenance from him, to take pay from him, or to be hired by him." (Jewish Encyclopedia)

Webster's Dictionary says, "In addition to being a condiment for food, SALT is substance for the support provided as by a host or employer: food, hospitality, Keep.   

SALT is used often in the phrase, 'to be worth one's SALT.'" Most everyone has heard, "…He's not worth his SALT."

YOU ARE THE SALT/REWARD OF THE EARTH  Was JESUS thinking of REWARD when He called us the SALT OF THE EARTH? He sure was! He said, "Great is your REWARD." (Matthew 5:12) one verse before He called us the SALT of the earth. REWARD is the subject of the whole text. In fact, all the beatitudes are about REWARD.

God placed believer’s in different cities and neighborhoods in order to REWARD the people of that place. You are GOD's REWARD/SALT, to your own city. The people in your city did something good sometime in the past. Now, our GOD is paying them for their goodness – by sending you to live with them. Now you know why our GOD placed you in your neighborhood.

We must stay SALTY to keep our VALUE.

"Salt is useless if it loses its salty taste. It will be thrown out where people will just walk on it." (Matt 5:13 ERV)

Do you Know of any Christian ministries that have recently lost their VALUE to their community due to their inflated ideas and actions? Well, pray that they will be restored to their former SALTINESS - restored to their former VALUE. To Keep being SALTY we must Keep on being a valuable REWARD to the community in which we live. If a Christian loses his VALUE it is because he backslides by allowing other things rather than Christ to occupy their headspace.

Here is a story of the REWARD/SALT for the bad guys. "If one of these little children believes in me, and someone causes that child to sin, it will be very bad for that person. It would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be drowned in the sea." (Mark 9:42 ERV)

Was JESUS thinking about REWARD when He said the offenders would be SALTED with fire?  He sure was!  Just before that story is the one about giving a cup of water in JESUS name.

Concerning the good giver JESUS said, "I can assure you that anyone who helps you by giving you a drink of water because you belong to the Messiah will definitely get a reward.”  (Mark 9:41-50 ERV)

Remember, in the Bible, REWARD, and SALT go hand in hand.

"For everyone [of the offenders (v42)] such as:

1. the hand that offends (v43)

2. the foot that offends (v45) and

3. the eye that offends (v47)

shall be SALTED with fire, and every sacrifice shall be SALTED with SALT." (Mark 9:49)

The hand, foot and the eye are symbols of believers who are all different members of the body of Christ.  (1 Cor. 12:1-31)  JESUS was not telling us to amputate body parts, He was telling us to avoid bad people, even if they are Christians.  This is where discernment comes in.

JESUS told us why MOSES said that every offering must be SALTED with SALT. The act of SALTING an offering was a prediction of the time when every offender who is "cut-off” shall have his REWARD/SALT - FIRE. 

The Bible says that the Old Testament was a type and shadow of things to come. We Know that  JESUS was thinking about MOSES' command to SALT every offering when He taught about SALTING the offense with fire because He put them together.

Here is the way MOSES said it, "Also, you must put salt on every grain offering you bring. You must not forget to add salt, because it represents God’s agreement with you. Always put salt on these offerings.” (Lev. 2:13 ERV)

SALT is also a symbol of loving care in Ezekiel.  "… No one put salt on you and washed you to make you clean. No one wrapped you in cloth." (Ezekiel. 16:4 ERV)  Jerusalem was rejected and unloved from her birth - until the Lord found her. Also see Ezekiel 43:24.

JESUS surely was thinking about our GOD's loving care for Jerusalem, the city of PEACE, when he called us the REWARD/SALT of the earth. He wants to REWARD/SALT Jerusalem and the whole world with us. When He places (SALTS) believers in a city, it is a sign of His love for that place.

Also, remember that Jerusalem is the city of PEACE. SALEM, from JeruSALEM, is the Hebrew word for PEACE. That may be the reason JESUS said, "Have SALT in yourselves and have PEACE one with another.'" (Mark 9:50)

JESUS Knew what this story meant when He called you the SALT of the earth. You SALTY believer you. You are a great reward to your community. You are worth fighting for.

JESUS Knew all the details of the time when Elisha put SALT into the bad water in order to make it clean. "The men of the city said to Elisha, “Sir, you can see this city is in a nice place, but the water is bad. That is why the land cannot grow crops.”

Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.”  They brought the bowl to Elisha. Then he went out to the place where the water began flowing from the ground. Elisha threw the salt into the water and said, “The Lord said, ‘I am making this water pure! From now on this water will not cause any more death or keep the land from growing crops.’” (2 Kings 2:19-21)

When JESUS said that you are the SALT of the earth he meant that you would also cleanse the earth. When He placed you in your neighborhood it was to also cleanse the place to which you were sent.

Now we see that you are not only a REWARD/SALT to your city - you are also a CLEANSER/SALTER of the things that still need to be changed where you live.

A tale of a SALTY sailor:

With a stinging face and SALT crusted beard he stood lookout watch on the cold open bridge of the ship. Wind and icy SALT spray snapped at him as the ship sailed at full speed toward the home port and a three-day pass. Little did the sailor know that many years later he would again be in the SALTY service, but the Commander in Chief changed from the President to the King of Kings. And instead of getting SALTY from the stinging icy spray of the ocean he got SALTY from the loving, caring and warming words of JESUS. With memories like these, it's no wonder' that he wanted to find out what JESUS really meant when He said that “we are the SALT of the earth.”

HEAVE HO - YOU CAN DO IT

Heave lively, me lads

There is a stiff wind

And a strong wave

And a heavy oar

Till we berth.

But the King of Kings

Thinks we’re up to it, me lads

He said We're the SALT o' the earth.

You are really a very special REWARD/SALT.

You are the SALT of the earth.

You are the SALT.

You are,

You.

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett

A special thank you to a dear brother in Christ David Ebaugh who is now with the Lord, but during his time here on earth brought great insight into this and many other soul-stirring topics, I do miss you brother and your sweet spirit.