You
are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
Matthew 5:13
Matthew 5 [11.] “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5 [13.] “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5 [17.] “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Meaning:
Right after the beatitudes, Jesus tells his disciples who they are. They are “the salt of the earth.” In the next breath he will call them “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16). Both pictures describe the influence God’s people are meant to have.
- “You are the salt of the earth”
Jesus does not say, “You should become salt,” but “You are.” In the ancient world salt gave flavor to food and, above all, preserved meat and fish from decay in a hot climate without refrigeration.
Salt also had a sacred meaning in Israel. Every grain offering had to be seasoned with salt: “You shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt” (Leviticus 2:13). Salt stood for the lasting faithfulness of God’s covenant. Jesus’ disciples, living in covenant with God, are to bring that preserving and purifying influence into a corrupt world.
- “If the salt has lost its flavor”
The salt used in Galilee was often gathered from the shores of the Dead Sea and was mixed with other minerals. When moisture leached out the real salt, what remained looked like salt but had no taste and no power. Disciples can become like this: still bearing the name, but making no difference. Mark records a similar saying: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50).
- “Cast out and trodden under the feet of men”
Useless salt was thrown out into the street, where people walked on it. A disciple who blends completely into the world loses the very thing that made him useful to God and to others. James makes a similar point about faith: “faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself” (James 2:17).
The Significance of Matthew 5:13
- Influence through character
Salt works by contact. Christians live within society in a way that slows moral decay and adds the flavor of grace, honesty and hope. Peter urged believers to have “good behavior among the nations,” so that others “may by your good works, which they see, glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12).
- Seasoned speech
Paul applies the image to the way we talk: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).
Cross-References:
Mark 9:50: "Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it?" Mark’s form of the saying.
Leviticus 2:13: "You shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your meal offering." Salt as a sign of the covenant.
Colossians 4:6: "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt," Salt applied to speech.
Conclusion: Matthew 5:13 tells Jesus’ disciples that they are the salt of the earth. Like salt that preserves, flavors and recalls God’s covenant, believers are to bring a wholesome influence into the world through their character, deeds and words. Jesus also warns that salt which loses its flavor is useless, calling his followers to stay close to him and keep the distinctive life he has given them.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible