Matthew 5:13 question?

Question

I was studying last night and I for some reason picked up a KJV Bible (I normally study on my Bible computer program). I began to read Matthew 5 because a friend of mine said she had read it the other day and I like that chapter anyway. So I am reading and I come across verse 13 where it talks about Christians being the salt of the earth. I don't know why but I meditated on this verse and prayed for understanding for about an hour and a half. I know what it means but I don't know why I spent that long on one verse. I have prayed and asked God to reveal why He laid that scripture on my heart but I am still not sure. Anyway do you all have any thoughts or comments about this or Matthew 5:13 in general?

Uncle Al I know you didn't just damn an all powerful God. Not a good thing and I will pray for you. From everything that I have read in the Bible it has never worked out so well for guys like you in the end.

Answer 1

You are the salt of the earth - you may be near to or about to be tempted to forsake your beliefs or they may be about to be tested. Stand strong - the Lord leads us in the ways we should go if we but listen. He is always there with us - this may have been a strengthening for you. Draw close to God and He will draw closer to you .
May you wear His armor proudly and may you always walk with God - without it and without Him this world has become similar to cities of sin described in the old testament. Without the salt of God what would this world be?

Answer 2

Most commentaries on Matthew 5:13 will speak of salt’s use as a flavoring agent and as a preservative. They’ll say that Christians are to be like salt in the world, flavoring and preserving. I want to throw a couple of other things out there as well. One of the interesting things about salt is that when it is used it loses itself. You do not see salt in your food because it makes its contribution and is gone. Salt can only lose its flavor when it has been contaminated by an outside source.

Another thing to consider is that nothing was known about refining salt in those days. It was difficult to tell the difference between the salt and the sand on the shores of the sea so this substance which they called salt was really a mixture, sometimes more salt than sand. When it was more sand than salt, it had “lost its savor” and therefore was good for nothing but to be “cast out and trodden under the foot of man.” Jesus said to His followers: “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, it is good for nothing except to be thrown out and trodden under the foot of men.” When Jesus says "You are the salt of the earth", He was saying to those He was preaching to that they were special to God and that they were a precious possession to God!

Answer 3

Pure salt maintains its flavor. In Israel, some salt was mixed with other ingredients, and exposed to other elements, the salt would be "leached out". Such salt was used for coating pathways.

Salt is both a preservative and a flavor enhancer. No doubt its use as a preservative is what Jesus mostly had in mind here. Pure salt cannot lose its flavor or effectiveness, but the slat that is common in the Dead Sea area is contaminated with gypsum and other minerals and many have a flat taste or be ineffective as preservative. Such mineral slats were useful for little more than keeping footpaths free of vegetation.

Keep your thoughts and life pure and do not mix with stuff that makes it hard to be pure again.

Answer 4

Basically it means that "True" Christians stand for Jehovah even in the face of ridicule and death. But if they stop standing for what is true and righteous then they become saltless losing their strength, non-usable, vunerable to the wicked ones in the earth---to be trampled on. A few verses before and after Matthew 5:13 can enlighten your comprehension of this very scripture. When you take a stand for Jehovah God and his higher standards, the angels rejoice in heaven and give exhaulted reports back to Jehovah. They rejoice and there is a huge rumbling in heaven. Did you know this? See the scriptures below including Matthew 5:13.

Matthew 5: 10 - 16
“Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.

“Happy are YOU when people reproach YOU and persecute YOU and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against YOU for my sake. Rejoice and leap for joy, since YOUR reward is great in the heavens; for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to YOU.

“YOU are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its strength, how will its saltness be restored? It is no longer usable for anything but to be thrown outside to be trampled on by men.

“YOU are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid when situated upon a mountain.  People light a lamp and set it, not under the measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, and it shines upon all those in the house. Likewise let YOUR light shine before men, that they may see YOUR fine works and give glory to YOUR Father who is in the heavens.

What do you think about that? Awesome, huh? When you do good and stand up for Jehovah and his perfect instruction and guidance, the world may hate you (mere imperfect humans), but the angels make a grand report to Jehovah about you and there is a mighty rumbling in heaven because you are loved and appreciated for your good works...good from the heart without badness.

Answer 5

It means we should have an influence for good in the world. That is the salt.

As light, we should share the Word of God in one way or another. This does not mean quoting Scripture all the time but cultivating some person, and graciously introduce them to a Bible-believing Church or radio program etc.

Answer 6

Salt adds flavoring, acts as a preservative, melts coldness, and heals wounds. This is a very appropriate description of the believer in his relationship to the world in which he lives.

This "Salt of the Earth" teaching by Jesus comes between the Beatitudes and basically Christ's defining of the law. He clearly tells us that He didn't come to destroy the law or the words of the prophets but to fulfill. He promises that all the prophesies will be fulfilled.

The Beatitudes show us the characteristics of those who are saved. Poor in spirit is the opposite of the proud or haughty in spirit. Jesus told us to "seek ye first the kingdom of God."

I believe God is preparing us for severe persecution and for being falsely accused by people who hate Christians. More than once I've seen on this forum people who hate the religious and accuse the religious for all the wrongs in the world. In this world it is hard to keep our eyes on the eternal glory which lies ahead, but this we must do. And always shine as a light in the world and salt of the earth.

Answer 7

I love the way the bible explains itself, don't you?
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, then it cannot be made salty again. Salt is good for nothing, if it loses its salty taste. It must be thrown out and people walk on it. Food without salt is bland..so the earth, without the gospel is also without flavor..useless and bland.
A Christians who is fervent for God..is salty and he has an effect on everything he touches..if he becomes "like the world" he no longer can effect the world.

Answer 8

I think that that verse is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible as it pertains to our Christian living. Let's look at salt -
*it cannot regain its flavor if it loses it (we are encouraged to use what we have, cause once we lose it, its gone). We are encouraged to work while and where we are called to work, cause when out season for that time and thing is up, its up!
*it is a perservative, it helps to keep thing palatable and good for using. (we are encouraged as believers to help preserve people, for the Kingdom of God and for His purpose. We are also encouraged to make the Chrisitan life palatable, instead of making it seem like a list of things people can't do, we should make it a list of things people can do!)
I believe this verse is most important to our walks as believers because it admonishes us to remember that regardless of whatever other titles we may have had or get, our main focus should be to 'season' those around us with the word of God.

Answer 9

3"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.


it means if person truly believe in GOD he/she will follow Christ footsteps. (doing good things)

and when non -believers will see that person is not FAKE and truly follow the CHRIST he/she will start believing as well

Answer 10

In order to understand this, you must understand to whom He was really speaking. He was addressing His Father's Chosen People, chosen because they would be the most difficult for Christ to perfect. At Mount Sinai the descendants of Jacob (specific: Jacob) were blessed with a special blessing: they were set apart to be His "peculiar people". See Exodus 19:3-6. At Mount Sinai the Tribes of Jacob-Israel were set apart to be the "salt of the earth". The true Israel today is scattered to the four corners of the earth, fulfilling bible prophecy. We are the descendants of those who crossed the Caucasus Mountains to populate Europe and into England and beyond. We are Israelites who today have lost our identity and falsely believe ourselves to be the "gentiles" when we are not. Perhaps GOD laid that scripture on your heart because He is trying to "wake you up" to your true identity, so you can begin to learn the REAL truth and return to Him by continuing your spiritual development through the teachings of His Son, Jesus Christ.