Sermon on the Mount – You are the Salt of the Earth • FOUNDED IN TRUTH

The Foundation of Following Yeshua

In this teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els explores Jesus’s powerful message in the Sermon on the Mount, specifically the declaration, “You are the salt of the earth.” This statement, delivered early in Jesus’s ministry to his newly chosen disciples, is presented not just as a simple instruction but as a foundational principle for all who seek to follow Jesus. It serves as an “employee handbook” for discipleship, setting the stage for the more challenging aspects of faith, such as carrying one’s cross.

The context of this teaching is crucial. Jesus is speaking to individuals who are blessed amidst persecution, insult, and false accusations because of their commitment to him. During the Roman era, merely worshipping a particular god was generally inconsequential; however, following Yeshua and his teachings meant potentially facing societal opposition and even death for not conforming to the prevailing norms. These early followers were being told that despite the hardships, they held a significant role: they were the salt of the earth.

The Multifaceted Meaning of Salt

The phrase “salt of the earth” held profound meaning in the first century, extending beyond its common use as a flavor enhancer. Matthew Vander Els elaborates on several key purposes of salt during that time:

• Flavor Enhancer: Just as salt enhances the taste of food, followers of Yeshua are called to bring the “flavor of God” to the world. This involves going into stagnant, sinful, and dark places and demonstrating what true power, peace, safety, healing, and forgiveness look like. It’s not just about introducing people to Jesus but showing them the tangible impact of his presence. This means engaging with those marginalized and demonstrating a different way of life, one that offers hope and meaning where the world offers none.
• Preservative: Salt was vital for preserving food in the absence of refrigeration. In a similar vein, believers are called to be a preservative for people, particularly their inherent value as beings created in the image of God. The world constantly seeks to strip people of their value through judgment, shame, and societal pressures. Followers of Yeshua are to actively counter this by reminding individuals of their worth, strength, and the unconditional love of God. This involves stopping our own tendencies to judge and devalue others, recognizing that everyone, regardless of their background or mistakes, holds immense worth in God’s eyes.
• Medicine: Salt had medicinal uses in the ancient world. This suggests that followers of Yeshua are also called to bring healing to a broken world, tending to the wounds of those afflicted. This healing can manifest in various forms, from offering emotional and spiritual support to demonstrating compassion and care.
• Covenant: All offerings to God required salt, symbolizing a covenant. This implies that the lives of believers are to be a living testament to their covenant relationship with God, marked by dedication and faithfulness.
• Fertilizer: Interestingly, salt mixed with manure was used as fertilizer to help flowers grow. While seemingly counterintuitive, in arid regions, small amounts of salt helped the soil retain moisture, destroy weeds, and make stubborn soils workable. This interpretation, supported by Dr. Anthony Bradley’s work, suggests that followers of Yeshua are like fertilizer, bringing the necessary nutrients to barren places so that life can flourish. This might involve entering uncomfortable situations and engaging with people who are considered outcasts, not to condone their actions, but to create a safe space where they can encounter God and experience transformation. The seemingly “unclean” or “undesirable” aspects of life, when approached with the “salt” of the Gospel, can become the very means through which new life emerges.

Jesus does not explicitly state which single purpose of salt he intends, suggesting that perhaps he meant for his followers to embody all these qualities.

The Warning of Lost Saltiness

Within this calling is a stark warning: “But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty again? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” This implies that followers of Yeshua must be careful not to lose their distinctiveness and effectiveness. Just as salt that has been mixed with impurities like gypsum becomes useless, so too can believers become ineffective if they conform too much to the world’s values and lose their commitment to the teachings of Yeshua. If they lose their “flavor,” their ability to preserve value, and their capacity to bring life, they become worthless to the kingdom.

Living as the Salt of the Earth: Practical Applications

• Preserve Value: Actively work against the world’s tendency to devalue individuals. See others through God’s eyes, recognizing their inherent worth as his creation. Challenge your own judgments and criticisms of others.
• Show True Flavor: Demonstrate the love, peace, forgiveness, and healing of Jesus in your interactions with others, especially those in difficult or marginalized situations. Be a tangible representation of God’s character.
• Bring Life to Barren Places: Step into uncomfortable situations and engage with people who are struggling or feel far from God. Be a source of encouragement and hope, offering the “nutrients” of the Gospel where they are lacking. This could be through acts of service, genuine connection, or simply being present with those who are hurting.
• Maintain Distinctiveness: Be mindful of the world’s influences and strive to live according to the teachings of Yeshua, even when it is difficult. Don’t compromise your faith for the sake of fitting in or seeking worldly approval.
• Embrace Vulnerability and Trust God: Recognize that true power comes from trusting in God, not from force or manipulation. Like Yeshua, be willing to embrace humility and vulnerability, allowing God to work through you.
• Pray for God’s Will: Prioritize prayer as a powerful means of engaging in the battles that affect the world. Don’t diminish the importance of prayer in seeking God’s will and working towards his kingdom.
• Love Your Enemies: Follow the difficult teaching to love those who persecute you. Respond to hostility with love and forgiveness, reflecting the character of God.

Conclusion

Being the salt of the earth is a comprehensive calling that demands a transformation in how believers see themselves and interact with the world. It requires actively preserving the value of others, demonstrating the transformative “flavor” of God’s love, and bringing spiritual life to desolate places. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, when Jesus calls his disciples salt, he transfers his vocation on earth to them, inviting them to participate in his work of healing and restoration. Ultimately, this teaching calls individuals to step out of their comfort zones and be agents of God’s kingdom in a world desperately in need of his light and life.

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References

• Matthew 5:11: https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-11.htm
• Matthew 5:13: https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-13.htm
• Luke 14:34: https://biblehub.com/luke/14-34.htm