“You are the salt of
the earth. If the salt has lost its flavor wherewith shall it be
salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be thrown out and
trampled underfoot."
Salt in the ancient
world
Because of the extreme value of salt in the ancient world (1) for
healing and cleansing; (2) for preserving food; (3) for flavoring food;
and (4) for sustaining moisture in humans in very dry climates, salt was
a prized possession. It was often used to pay soldiers’ wages.
Christians are called the “salt of the earth” because of their
penetrating and preserving power in a lost world. “You” is PLURAL and
emphatic like v. 14. Believers are salt (cf. Mark 9:50). It is not an
option. The only choice is what kind of salt will they be. Salt can
become adulterated and useless. (1)
“You are the light of the world”
Light has always been a biblical metaphor of truth and healing. It
was used by Jesus to describe Himself (cf. John. 9:5). The question is
not, “Will you be the light of the world?” As a believer, you are the
light of the world (cf. Phil. 2:15). The only real question is, “What
kind of light will you be?” All that some people know about God, they
know from you and your life! “You” is PLURAL and emphatic like v. 13.
(2)
Questions:
-
How are we salt in the lives of the people around
us?
-
What does it look like to let our light shine?
-
What does it look like to loose saltiness or to
hide our light?
-
What does it mean to be trampled underfoot?
________________
(1) Dr. Utley; Free Bible Commentary;
http://freebiblecommentary.org/pdf/EN/VOL06.pdf,
p. 55
(2) c.f.
