In metaphoric context, the phrase “salt of the earth” provides an insight into the role of “salt.” Salt in its natural crystalline form known as the rock salt has become one of the human essentials for life. Can saltiness occur in this vast naturally occurring salt mineral? Or, can salt lose its essence due to human activities? Or, this phrase is just a common English expression? If so, how concerned are we about its importance?
According to Etymology, the Latin word for “salt” is “salary,” since Roman Legions were paid in salt. In addition, I noticed the significance of salt also in world major religions.
For example, in the Old Testament God says “season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings (Lev.2:13 NIV).” “Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD for both you and your offspring (Num. 18:19 NIV).” “Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt (2 Chr.13.5 NKJV)? “You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy (Ex. 30.35 NKJV.” “ 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 (Ez.16.4 NKJV).” “Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness (2 Kings 2:21 NKJV).”
As we may know that in nature “salt,” that is, sodium chloride is stable and cannot lose its saltiness or flavor. And in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ tells his followers as the “salt of the earth” Is there any direct correlation between natural salt’s characteristics and His followers’ moral obligation? If so, as He stated “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 (Mt.5:13 NKJV).”
I think as His followers, we need to make all efforts to not lose the moral responsibilities. As natural salt does not lose its saltiness so also His followers should be! We know that the tasteless salt is worthless. As great spiritual leaders passed on this message through our forefathers to us, whom we admire, let us focus on passing it to the next generations, who don’t know Him. “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another (Mk.9.50 NKJV).”