Matthew 5:13

Salt Is A Preservative Most salt today is used for this purpose. 95% of all salt mined today is for this purpose.

Salt Is A Preservative  As Christians, we are to preserve the world. Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (NKJV) Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.

Salt Is A Preservative  As Christians, we are to preserve the world.  God destroyed the world because of a lack of salt (a lack of preservative.) Read Genesis 6:5-8, 11-13

Salt Can Destroy  The example of Carthage.  God promised to destroy the land of Israel, if the people rebelled against them. Read Deuteronomy 29:22-23

Salt Can Destroy  The example of Carthage.  God destroyed the world because of a lack of salt (a lack of preservative.)  The example of Shechem destroyed by Abimelech. Judges 9:45 So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

Salt Can Destroy  The example of Carthage.  God destroyed the world because of a lack of salt (a lack of preservative.)  The example of Shechem destroyed by Abimelech.  Are we the kind of salt that destroys or preserves?

Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. (NKJV)

Salt In the Old Testament  All sacrifices were to be salted. Leviticus 2:13 And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt. (NKJV) Maybe this is why Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth. We are to be living sacrifices.

Salt In the Old Testament  All sacrifices were to be salted. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

Salt In the Old Testament  All sacrifices were to be salted.  The Jews rubbed newborn infants with salt. Ezekiel 16:4 As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. (NKJV)

Salt May Be Deceiving  Refined salt is similar in appearance to sugar, yet they are almost opposites.  Many people may appear to be the salt of the earth, yet they are not. They are hypocrites.  Hypocrite defined: A person who pretends to be other than he is and better than he is; one who pretends falsely to be virtuous or pious. However, there is a new hypocrisy today, where people pretend to be worse than they are.

Salt May Be Deceiving  Jesus had much to say about hypocrites. Read Matthew 23:23-30

Am I Worth My Salt?  This question does not refer to the amount of salt in our bodies.  Are you worth your salt? This means, “Are you worth your salary?” Because of its scarcity and value, Roman soldiers were, on many occasions, paid in salt. The Roman word for salt is salarium, from which we get the present day word of salary. The expression, “Are you worth your salt?,” is a way of saying, “Are you worth your salary?”

Am I Worth My Salt?  Are you worth your salt? This means, “Are you worth your salary?”  We are not to be slothful in business. Romans 12:11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; Luke 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Am I Worth My Salt?  Are you worth your salt? This means, “Are you worth your salary?”  We are not to be slothful in business. Colossians 3:22-25 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men- pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. (NKJV)

Am I Worth My Salt?  Are you worth your salt? This means, “Are you worth your salary?”  We are not to be slothful in business.  Some take things from employers. Titus 2:9-10 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. (NKJV)

Refined Salt Is White As Snow Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. NKJV

Refined Salt Is White As Snow  Jesus washes away our sins and makes us pure. Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

Refined Salt Is White As Snow  Jesus washes away our sins and makes us pure.  How do we apply the blood of Christ to wash away our sins? Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (NKJV)

Are you the salt of the earth? Are you a preserving influence on a world of wickedness? Are you a hypocrite, pretending to be something you are not? Are you worth your salt? Are you worth your salary?

If you are not a Christian, you are not the salt of the earth.