Salt In The Bible
In today’s society, salt is a bad thing. Consuming salt is terrible for your health. If someone says they are salty, it means they are angry. Salt is mentioned all throughout the Bible. The gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke all share the same tale concerning salt in periscope 132 of the gospel parallels. After reading the salt verses, one may become inherently confused given the seasoning’s reputation in today’s society. Jesus wants us to be salty? Knowing the importance of salt in Jesus’ time allows us to better understand the parallels between Mark 9:49-50, Matthew 5:13, and Luke 14:34-35.
In order to understand the periscope, one must understand what salt was in Jesus’ time. The seas surrounding Jesus’ lands were vastly abundant …show more content…
Although each gospel’s verbiage is slightly different, it is likely the gospel of Mark was the source for the parallel. The gospel states, “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:49-50). The Jewish community would even season the meat of the sacrifices to the Israeli God. Therefore, knowing that salt is a good thing, one can better understand this passage by replacing “salt” in verse 50 with “good” in most instances and tie in burnt offerings to verse 49. “For everyone will be salted (or prepared to be consumed) with fire (the holy spirit). Salt is good, but if good has lost its goodness, how can you spread it? Have goodness in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” The metaphor becomes a little clearer as to what Jesus’ message …show more content…
The gospel of Matthew states, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot” (5:13). By using the same algorithm from the above paragraph and applying it to this verse as, “You are the good of the earth; but if good has lost its taste (goodness), how can its goodness be restored?” Matthew then differs from Mark in the last part of the verse. Matthew says that if one loses his or her goodness, you cannot get it back and you will be cast out. It is an ominous difference from Mark’s peace
In order to understand the periscope, one must understand what salt was in Jesus’ time. The seas surrounding Jesus’ lands were vastly abundant …show more content…
Although each gospel’s verbiage is slightly different, it is likely the gospel of Mark was the source for the parallel. The gospel states, “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:49-50). The Jewish community would even season the meat of the sacrifices to the Israeli God. Therefore, knowing that salt is a good thing, one can better understand this passage by replacing “salt” in verse 50 with “good” in most instances and tie in burnt offerings to verse 49. “For everyone will be salted (or prepared to be consumed) with fire (the holy spirit). Salt is good, but if good has lost its goodness, how can you spread it? Have goodness in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” The metaphor becomes a little clearer as to what Jesus’ message …show more content…
The gospel of Matthew states, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot” (5:13). By using the same algorithm from the above paragraph and applying it to this verse as, “You are the good of the earth; but if good has lost its taste (goodness), how can its goodness be restored?” Matthew then differs from Mark in the last part of the verse. Matthew says that if one loses his or her goodness, you cannot get it back and you will be cast out. It is an ominous difference from Mark’s peace