(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
What’s the significance of salt?
Intro:
The next few days we’ll be reading through the red words…almost entirely all red words…in some of the most famous stuff in the Bible: Jesus’ sermon on the mount. And today’s focus question — What’s the significance of salt? — is consistent with what we do here conversationally. Sometimes we explore theology or apologetics, and sometimes we just explore some nugget that brings out the richness of what we’re reading together. So..
New Testament segment:
Passage: Matthew 5
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 48
Words: ~1015
…The Bible’s writers made generous use of salt imagery, sprinkling references to its use and abuse throughout Scripture, particularly in the OT. Biblical writers are well aware of salt’s properties, associating it with images of seasoning, preserving and purifying—or with powerful images of death, desolation and curse.
References to salt’s positive qualities emphasize its seasoning, preserving and purifying properties References to the covenant of salt capitalize on salt’s preserving qualities as symbolic of a permanent indissoluble relationship between God and his people (Lev 2:13; Num 18:19; 2 Chron 13:5)…
There is also a connection between salt and new beginnings or separation. Newborn babies were rubbed with salt…Salt in the soil would inhibit the growth of food crops, but also it symbolized a break from the past…
Jesus contrasts salt’s positive and negative potential: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing any more” (Mt 5:13). The Salt Sea (Dead Sea), the Valley of Salt and the City of Salt all connote death, desolation, despair and deserts… (1) .
Old Testament segment:
Passage: 2 Kings 22:14-23:30
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 45
Words: ~1424
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Proverbs 12:1
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 1
Words: ~16
The bottom line:
Can you imagine what would happen if we took sin as seriously as King Josiah? Thank you Jesus for grace.
Go be the salt!
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Leland Ryken et al., Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 752