Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, chapters 5-7) was radical for those who first heard it, because in this sermon Jesus was bringing to an end the centuries-old, well-established way of living according to the Law, and ushering in a brand-new way of living according to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Over and over in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus states, “You have heard it said …” (then He quotes the Old Testament Law). In each instance, Jesus then follows up with brand new instructions, “But I tell you …”.
It is significant that Jesus’s immediate teaching after The Beatitudes was: “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt was a key component when it came to worshipping God according to the Old Testament Law!
* Salt was required as part of the Grain Offering: “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.” -Leviticus 2:13
* Salt was part of the provision God established for the priests (and their families) who served God in the Temple: “Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the LORD, I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD for both you and your offspring.” -Numbers 18:19
* Salt was required as part of the Burnt Offering: “… you are to offer a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect. You are to offer them before the LORD, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the LORD.” -Ezekiel 43:23-24
Jesus completely fulfilled the Law! Jesus was the perfect Sacrifice! We no longer are required to offer sacrifices of grain or lambs or salt.
When Jesus states: “You are the salt of the earth” what He is meaning is that our very lives, lived wholly devoted to Him, are now taking the place of that Old Testament salt offering. Our lives, lived for Him, are our offering of worship to Him.
“You are the salt of the earth.” -Matthew 5:13
