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Text: Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt looses its saltiness, how will it be make salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trnmpled under foot by men.
What does this mean? Salt had three main uses at that time.
1. As a preservative and flavoring. This is the most obvious meaning in this passage. We are to preserve and make palatable this earth. Notice the use of the word "earth" rather than world. The world is fallen society. We cannot save human society, we can only save humans. But we make the earth palatable both to God and to mankind.
2. As a medium of exchange, i.e. money. Salt was a universal medium up until the 1900's. Explain "salary" and "worth his salt". It was often used as a gift denoting friendship. When someone would come into your house, you would offer them bread, wine, and salt. Numbers 18:19 says that God established a eternal covenant of salt. We are indeed purchased with a price and we become an extension of the "salt" that He extended to the world as we continue the minstry of Jesus to the world.
3. Purification. Salt is an almost universal solvent. Because of this, it can purify many things. Explain "salt mines" Mark 9:49 say that all things will be purified by fire. This is the opposite effect of leavening. We are to be an influence for righteousness on each other and in the world. This is not a call to war. Mark 9:50 Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. Explain the difference between power and influence. we give up power in order to gain influence. Use chemistry of salt to explain.
The danger of losing your "saltiness". We are called to be useful to our God. There is nothing sadder than the one who makes it without any fruit, as if through fire. And there is nothing more wondrous than to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant"
What does this mean? Salt had three main uses at that time.
1. As a preservative and flavoring. This is the most obvious meaning in this passage. We are to preserve and make palatable this earth. Notice the use of the word "earth" rather than world. The world is fallen society. We cannot save human society, we can only save humans. But we make the earth palatable both to God and to mankind.
2. As a medium of exchange, i.e. money. Salt was a universal medium up until the 1900's. Explain "salary" and "worth his salt". It was often used as a gift denoting friendship. When someone would come into your house, you would offer them bread, wine, and salt. Numbers 18:19 says that God established a eternal covenant of salt. We are indeed purchased with a price and we become an extension of the "salt" that He extended to the world as we continue the minstry of Jesus to the world.
3. Purification. Salt is an almost universal solvent. Because of this, it can purify many things. Explain "salt mines" Mark 9:49 say that all things will be purified by fire. This is the opposite effect of leavening. We are to be an influence for righteousness on each other and in the world. This is not a call to war. Mark 9:50 Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. Explain the difference between power and influence. we give up power in order to gain influence. Use chemistry of salt to explain.
The danger of losing your "saltiness". We are called to be useful to our God. There is nothing sadder than the one who makes it without any fruit, as if through fire. And there is nothing more wondrous than to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant"