GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY
MODULE 59
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
THE SALT OF THE EARTH
JESUS KNEW HIS DAYS ON EARTH WERE NUMBERED. So he continued preaching steadfastly, even though nightfall began to near.
The Master told the crowd, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Gospel of Saint Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 13-16).
Even today we compliment another's solid worth and sincerity with the words, "People like that are the very salt of the earth."
In the ancient world, salt was highly valued.
Some of the rations of Roman soldiers was paid in prized salt.
Salt is a pure condiment, bringing irreplaceable seasoning to food.
Salt also acts as preservative, preventing food from spoiling. Salt may be used as antiseptic agent and healer.
Jesus was pointing out that disciples have a role on earth.
As salt flavors the meal, heals and prevents denature, so disciples are to flavor society with their strength of faith and ardent preaching of the message of Christ.
Light of the world
In ancient Palestine, the oven was typically situated outdoors.
Built of stone on a base of tiles, the hearth provided the background to preparation of meals. In order to retain the heat of the stove, a thick bed of salt was laid under the tiled floor.
Eventually the salt would perish, upon which the tiles would be taken up and the salt thrown away. Sometimes the salt would be disposed of on the road outside the doorway of the home. 1
Jesus would possibly have seen His mother Mary carrying out this homely task of ensuring good meals for her family.
As a little boy He would have noticed that once the power of the salt to retain heat within the oven had perished, it was no longer fit for any purpose but to be thrown away and sometimes trampled upon.
In similar fashion, if a disciples loses faith: if strength of belief fails and witness falters, that very characteristic which made the disciple so effective - so 'salty' with faith ' - is no more.
The disciple is no longer imbued with love for Christ, lacks the ability to effectively witness.
The disciple may prove derelict in duty, and evince failure to follow God's call to action.
The disciple has lost that essence of discipleship - much as the salt in the old-fashioned ovens lost their savour.
The believer who has lost belief and passion for the call of God is as little use in the work of the mission of the heavenly kingdom as salt which has failed.
Jesus thus emphasized how important it is that we, as disciples, maintain our integrity: pursue our passion, for the kingdom of God.
If we lose our motivation, we risk losing the very essence of our being.
To follow God is the very breath of the disciple.
Once vigorous discipleship is lost to malaise and the embrace of worldly values in place of that which is Christ-like, we become as failed salt - no longer fit for the mission of discipleship with which we were entrusted.
1. E.F.F. Bishop: Jesus of Palestine - Explanation of Miss F.E.Newton
With thanks to youtube
The Master told the crowd, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Gospel of Saint Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 13-16).
Even today we compliment another's solid worth and sincerity with the words, "People like that are the very salt of the earth."
In the ancient world, salt was highly valued.
Some of the rations of Roman soldiers was paid in prized salt.
Salt is a pure condiment, bringing irreplaceable seasoning to food.
Salt also acts as preservative, preventing food from spoiling. Salt may be used as antiseptic agent and healer.
Jesus was pointing out that disciples have a role on earth.
As salt flavors the meal, heals and prevents denature, so disciples are to flavor society with their strength of faith and ardent preaching of the message of Christ.
Light of the world
In ancient Palestine, the oven was typically situated outdoors.
Built of stone on a base of tiles, the hearth provided the background to preparation of meals. In order to retain the heat of the stove, a thick bed of salt was laid under the tiled floor.
Eventually the salt would perish, upon which the tiles would be taken up and the salt thrown away. Sometimes the salt would be disposed of on the road outside the doorway of the home. 1
Jesus would possibly have seen His mother Mary carrying out this homely task of ensuring good meals for her family.
As a little boy He would have noticed that once the power of the salt to retain heat within the oven had perished, it was no longer fit for any purpose but to be thrown away and sometimes trampled upon.
In similar fashion, if a disciples loses faith: if strength of belief fails and witness falters, that very characteristic which made the disciple so effective - so 'salty' with faith ' - is no more.
The disciple is no longer imbued with love for Christ, lacks the ability to effectively witness.
The disciple may prove derelict in duty, and evince failure to follow God's call to action.
The disciple has lost that essence of discipleship - much as the salt in the old-fashioned ovens lost their savour.
The believer who has lost belief and passion for the call of God is as little use in the work of the mission of the heavenly kingdom as salt which has failed.
Jesus thus emphasized how important it is that we, as disciples, maintain our integrity: pursue our passion, for the kingdom of God.
If we lose our motivation, we risk losing the very essence of our being.
To follow God is the very breath of the disciple.
Once vigorous discipleship is lost to malaise and the embrace of worldly values in place of that which is Christ-like, we become as failed salt - no longer fit for the mission of discipleship with which we were entrusted.
1. E.F.F. Bishop: Jesus of Palestine - Explanation of Miss F.E.Newton
With thanks to youtube
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