13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
Matthew 5:13
Salt was incredibly valuable in the ancient world—so much so that it was often called “white gold.” There were many uses of salt. Some you may know but a few may surprise you:
- Preserving Food. Before refrigeration, salt was essential for preserving meat, fish, and even some vegetables.
- Flavouring Food. Universally used to season food, just as today. See Job 6:6.
- Purification and Cleansing. In 2 Kings 2:20–21, Elisha uses salt to purify a spring of water. Symbolically, it represented holiness and covenant purity.
- Covenant Symbolism. In the ancient Near East, sharing salt was a sign of friendship and fidelity. A“salt covenant” or “covenant of salt” represented enduring agreement and loyalty. See Leviticus 2:13 and Numbers 18:19.
- Economic Value. Salt was so valuable it was sometimes used as currency. Roman soldiers were occasionally paid in salt—giving rise to the word “salary.”
- Warfare. Used to “salt the earth” of conquered cities—scattering salt over land to ruin agriculture and deter future habitation (see Judges 9:45). A symbol of total destruction and curse.
- Medical and Healing. Salt was used for cleaning wounds, reducing infection, and even in early antiseptic mixtures.
- Cosmetic and Hygiene Uses. Used in scrubs, baths, and oral hygiene.
So, when Jesus is telling his disciples that they are to be salt of the earth. He is using a metaphor for something that was incredibly valuable and useful. Without salt, the world would perish. Without salt, sickness would spread. Without salt, the flavours of the world would be muted. The humble way that he describes in the Beatitudes is not merely a nice way to live but an essential service to the world.
Can you imagine his new disciples at his feet? Just a few days before all they cared about was fishing and getting food on the table. Now, Jesus is opening up their eyes to a greater vision for their lives than they could have possibly imagined. They are to be the salt of the earth. Through remaining meek, righteousness, peacemaking, etc, they will be able to protect, nurture and heal the world. Jesus ties their spiritual formation to the deepest needs of the world.
