"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness (savour, KJV), how is it to be salty again? it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13

Salt- it was used to season food and was mixed with the cattle's feed (Isaiah 30:24).

All meat-offerings were seasoned with salt (Lev.2:13)

To eat salt with someone was to partake of his or her hospitality. He who did so was bound to look after his host's interests. Ezra 4:14 reads, "We have maintenance from the king's palace" (KJV) or "We share the salt of the palace." (NRSV)

A "covenant of salt" was a convenant of perpetual obligation (Num.18:19; 2 Chron.13:5). Newborn children were rubbed with salt (Ezek.16:4).

In the opening text, disciples are likened to salt. This is in reference to its cleansing and preserving uses.

It has been argued that on scientific grounds that the term "salt" was used in a generic sense to stand for "asphalt" or "petroleum". Thus in Gen.19:26 it would read, "pillar of asphalt"; and in Matthew 5:13 it would refer to petroleum, which loses its essence by exposure, as salt does not. The petroleum then becomes asphalt, from which pavements are made.

Someone who is referred to as the "salt of the earth" is known for his or her basic, fundamental goodness. This phrase can be used to describe any good person.

You don't have to twist yourself into asphalt contortions to make sense of the Biblical passage. In the Middle East they take salt that is no longer salty and build roads with it.

HEY GAIL

IF salt was used to preserve things
then as JESUS disciples maybe we are to
preserve the bible truths

dgrimm60

I didn't contort it myself- that was an actual argument that came up. I thought it interesting enough to note it.

Yes, Doug- that is a good way to use your "saltiness"!!