Jesus’s teaching of “You are the salt of the earth” was recorded in three of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke), and in each instance, Jesus’s teaching emphasizes the fact that if the salt is no longer salty, then what good is it??
* Matthew’s account in The Sermon on the Mount states: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” -Matthew 5:13
* Mark, states: “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” -Mark 9:50
* Luke’s account states: “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.” -Luke 14:34-35
The point is simple … if we are followers of Jesus Christ, our lives should be having an impact on the world around us!
The Old Testament book of Ezra offers an interesting case study on this very idea.
Two different powerful reigning monarchs of their time clearly recognized what worship of the One True God looked like … and interestingly, they each specified salt as being included for worship of God … according to the Old Testament Law.
* “In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: … Whatever is needed – young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt … so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven.” -Ezra 6:3, 9-10
* “Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you – up to a hundred talents of silver, … and salt without limit. Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven.” -Ezra 7: 21-23
How did the ruling monarchs of the time know what the worship of the One True God looked like … down to the inclusion of salt as part of the offerings?
* … this Ezra … was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. … Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. -Ezra 7:6, 10
So what about us? Are our lives having impact like Ezra?
Can those around us see what worship of the One True God looks like?
Are we well-versed in God’s Word?
Do we devote ourselves to study and obeying God’s Word?
And do we share God’s Word with the people whom God has placed in our lives?
How are we doing when it comes to being “salt”?
