Salt of the Earth

Salt of the EarthMatthew 5:13

Humans can so easily be influenced.


“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Prov 27:17, ESV).



“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (1 Cor 5:6, ESV).




“Do not be deceived: „Bad company ruins good morals‟” (1 Cor 15:33, ESV).




“Do not be deceived: „Bad company ruins good morals‟” (1 Cor 15:33, ESV).

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pt 2:12, ESV).


In this morning‟s text, Jesus speaks of our influencing others.


In this morning‟s text, Jesus speaks of our influencing others. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how

can its saltiness be restored. It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people‟s feet” (Mt 5:13, ESV).


In this morning‟s text, Jesus speaks of our influencing others. Mt 5:13.

The parables of light & darkness are transitional in the Sermon on the Mount.



The parables of light & darkness are transitional in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, Jesus talks about the blessings of his disciples.



The parables of light & darkness are transitional in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, Jesus talks about the blessings of his disciples; but,

in these parables, Jesus speaks of the blessings his disciples give the world.



The parables of light & darkness are transitional in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, Jesus talks about the blessings of his disciples; but,

in these parables, Jesus speaks of the blessings his disciples give the world.

Furthermore, in the rest of the Sermon, Jesus speaks of what it means to be salt & light.


We want to talk about how we can be the SALT OF THE

EARTH.


YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH


This parable is not the first transition in the Sermon on the Mount.


This parable is not the first transition in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus frames the first 8 Beatitudes in impersonal terms:

“Blessed are those who . . . .”


This parable is not the first transition in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus frames the first 8 Beatitudes in impersonal terms:

“Blessed are those who . . . .”

V 11: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (ESV).


There is a distinct difference between “Blessed are thosewho . . . .” & “Blessed are you . . . .”


There is a distinct difference between “Blessed are thosewho . . . .” & “Blessed are you . . . .” Jesus “warms up” his audience by speaking impersonally.



Jesus then “lowers the hammer” & says, “I‟m not talking about everyone else. I‟m talking about you.”



Jesus then “lowers the hammer” & says, “I‟m not talking about everyone else. I‟m talking about you.”

It‟s easy to listen to a passage of Scripture & see how it applies to everyone else.


But, we need to see how Scripture applies to us.


Jesus pays his disciples a compliment & says: “You are the salt of the earth.”


Jesus pays his disciples a compliment & says: “You are the salt of the earth.” In Jesus‟ day, salt was quite valuable.



A soldier‟s wages were often paid in salt.



A soldier‟s wages were often paid in salt.

“He‟s worth his salt.”


What value do we bring to the world?


Salt adds flavor.


Salt adds flavor. “Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there

any taste in the juice of the mallow?” (Job 6:6, ESV).




Salt‟s adding flavor to food says much about the Christian‟s relation to the world.




Salt‟s adding flavor to food says much about the Christian‟s relation to the world. In order for salt to add flavor to food, it must be different from the

food.




Salt‟s adding flavor to food says much about the Christian‟s relation to the world. In order for salt to add flavor to food, it must be different from the

food.

If we are to add “flavor” to the world, we must be different from the world.


“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you” (2 Cor 6:17, ESV).


“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you” (2 Cor 6:17, ESV).

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph 5:11, ESV).




Salt‟s adding flavor to food says much about the Christian‟s relation to the world. In order to flavor food, salt must be in the food.









Likewise, as the salt of the earth, we must be in the world.


Jesus was in the world.


Jesus was in the world—when Jesus went into the home of Zacchaeus, the people said, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Lk 19:7, ESV).


Jesus was in the world—when Jesus went into the home of Zacchaeus, the people said, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Lk 19:7, ESV).

“Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house” (Mt 5:15, ESV).


Salt also preserves.


Salt also preserves. We are a preservative in this world.


Salt also preserves. We are a preservative in this world.

We delay the Lord‟s Second Coming.


God has delayed the Second Coming out of his patience (2 Pt 3:9).



But, God has a long history of delaying judgment because Christians are in the world.



But, God has a long history of delaying judgment because Christians are in the world. When the Lord revealed to Abraham that he was about to

judge Sodom, Abraham intervened.




judge Sodom, Abraham intervened. “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep

away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?” (Gn 18:24, ESV).




judge Sodom, Abraham intervened. “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep

away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?” (Gn 18:24, ESV).

God replies: “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake” (Gn 18:26, ESV).




judge Sodom, Abraham intervened.

“There will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Mt 24:21-22, ESV).


Salt also has the ability to create thirst.


Salt also has the ability to create thirst. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can‟t make him

drink.”



drink.” Try adding some salt to the hay!



drink.” Try adding some salt to the hay!

As salt in this world, we can create a thirst for the Word.


YOU CAN BE THE SALT OF THE PATH


“If salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people‟s feet” (Mt 5:13, ESV).


How can salt lose its taste?


The salt we know doesn‟t lose its taste—it is pure salt.



The salt the people hearing Jesus would have known would have been a result of evaporation from the Dead Sea.



The salt the people hearing Jesus would have known would have been a result of evaporation from the Dead Sea. Sand, dirty, & other impurities were often mixed with that

salt.




salt.

Over time, some of the sodium chloride would dissolve or evaporate, and the resulting mixture wasn‟t good for much.




salt.

Over time, some of the sodium chloride would dissolve or evaporate, and the resulting mixture wasn‟t good for much.

In fact, the chemical qualities of the Dead Sea would invariably “eat up” some of the sodium chloride that was in it.


IF WE LOSE OUR DISTINCTIVENESS, WE AREN’T

GOOD AS “SALT” IN THE WORLD.

The point is:


Many Christians have lost their “taste.”


Many Christians have lost their “taste.” Think of Simon the sorcerer.



Can you imagine the salt Simon was when he believed?




He had caused the people of Samaria to believe he was something special.




He had caused the people of Samaria to believe he was something special:

“There was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, „This man is the power of God that is called Great.‟ And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic” (Acts 8:9-11, ESV).




He had caused the people of Samaria to believe he was something special:

“There was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, „This man is the power of God that is called Great.‟ And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic” (Acts 8:9-11, ESV).

But, Simon gave up that magic, believe the preaching of Philip, & was baptized.




But, when he saw that the miracles Philip performed was obtained through the laying on of the apostles‟ hands, he, too, wanted that power!





He knew he had seen a “trick” like none he had ever performed.






He just had to have that power.






He just had to have that power.

Can you imagine what the Samaritans thought?


George Gallup once said, “We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously . . . . The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups.”


How different are we?


If salt no longer has saltiness, it is good for nothing but be thrown out & trampled under people‟s feet.


If salt no longer has saltiness, it is good for nothing but be thrown out & trampled under people‟s feet. Ancient farmers had large fields & they sowed different crops

in different parts of their fields.




They would have paths to different parts of the field.





Salt that had “lost its taste” wasn‟t good to eat, but it could destroy the fertility of the ground.





Salt that had “lost its taste” wasn‟t good to eat, but it could destroy the fertility of the ground. Thus, this salt was “sown” to make paths.


The image here is obviously one of judgment.


The image here is obviously one of judgment. Christians who become no different than the world face the

judgment of God.


Jesus “put another parable before them, saying, „The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weedsamong the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” So the servants said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he said, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn”‟” (Mt 13:24-30, ESV).


Are you wheat or weed?


ARE YOU THE SALT OF THE EARTH OR THE SALT OF THE

PATH?

Are you wheat or weed?

Spiritual

Salt of the Earth