Matthew 5:13 - You are the salt of the earth

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.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

Matthew 5:13

Commentary

The primary value of salt was not as a flavoring but as a preservative. Disciples are to hinder the world's corruption. The salt deposits along the Dead Sea contain not just sodium chloride but a variety of other minerals as well. This salt can become good for nothing when the rain washes out its saltiness over the years.

Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). Reformation study Bible, the : Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture : New King James Version. Includes index. (Mt 5:13). Nashville: T. Nelson.


Did you know?

Jews called the law the salt of the earth. Jesus claimed that His disciples exerted this influence.

The Open Bible : New King James Version. 1998, c1997. Includes indexes. (electronic ed.) (Mt 5:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.