Being the Salt of the Earth

David W Palmer

(Matthew 5:1–2 DKJV) Observing the crowds, he (Jesus) went up to the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him. {2} and he opened his mouth, and began to teach them, saying:

When Jesus took his new apprentices to his mountaintop classroom, he began by commenting on observations of the crowds (See: Mat. 5:3–10). He then changed his focus to teaching and directing his disciples. What he said to them was at a much deeper level than what he said about the blessed crowds:

(Matthew 5:11–12 DKJV) “And blessed [happy and well-off] are you when people defame you, and persecute you, and say every kind of evil against you falsely on my account. {12} Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, because this is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Initially, Jesus had observed and pronounced blessing on the “crowds.” Now he is teaching, warning, and pronouncing the blessing on his disciples: “Blessed, happy, and well-off are you when people defame you …” We now notice, however, that he has added some conditions, qualifications, and promises.

After his clear predictive instruction, Jesus’s new apprentices would be left with no doubt that God’s intention for them was blessing, but also in no doubt as to what awaited them if they imitated their Master: defamation, persecution, lies, and evil. Thankfully, our blessed Lord gives a liberal promise to go with it: “great is your reward in heaven.” However, he also gives it wrapped up in a very important instruction: “Rejoice.”

Yes, Jesus makes it very clear to us that rejoicing is the proper and best response to persecution, defamation, and lies, etc.; it’s the only response he endorses. In truth, he is showing them (and us) the way into the blessing and promised heavenly rewards. Rejoicing is the Jesus-response to all of these things. Trying to find another way to go, or to justify an excuse to disobey this, is extremely dangerous and unwise. Jesus can only save, rescue, protect, and keep us safe—and indeed preserve our blessing and rewards intact—if we obey him:

(Hebrews 5:9 NKJV) “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation (rescue, safety, healing, deliverance, etc.) to all who obey Him.” (Parenthesis added for definition meaning)

Having established that the promised blessing is accompanied by opposition, and that the best response is rejoicing; what was the next point Jesus taught his new apprentices in their classroom sessions with him?

(Matthew 5:13 DKJV) “It is you who are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its qualities, with what will it be re-salted? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled on by people.

What are salt’s “qualities”? Salt preserves and flavors food. In some parts of the world, it is thrown onto ice to melt it—because mixed into water it lowers the freezing point. Jesus has designated us to be the “salt of the earth.” From this, we see that he wants us to keep society from going “off,” and he wants us to make it more palatable for God (through our rejoicing, praise, thanks, gratitude, and worship, etc.). Plus, he wants us to be able to keep believers fluid (and moving) who have grown so cold that they would otherwise become frozen, paralyzed, incapacitated, and fruitless.

Jesus clearly says that believers and disciples who lose their salt-like qualities are to be thrown out, and trampled on by people. In direct context, he is saying that it’s our rejoicing in response to persecution, defamation, and lies etc. that makes us salty. If we refuse to obey him in this, not only will we lose the blessing and rewards; but also, we will become un-salty—unsuitable for God’s purpose and “thrown out.” Does Jesus imply that he will throw us out? (See: Rev. 3:16.)

Jesus also says we will be “trampled on by people.” No one likes to be walked on. Here, our Lord is specific; if we don’t respond obediently as he instructs—thus releasing God’s glory and power along with angelic help—we will step out from under his protective covering; and our persecutors etc. will succeed in trampling on us. If on the other hand, we obey Jesus’s clear instruction to “rejoice and be exceedingly glad”; we will maintain the upper hand over the adversaries (both the physical ones and the spirits operating through them), and thus enjoy protection and blessing etc. despite their best efforts.

Where are you with this today? Are you truly salty salt, helping to preserve and flavor what’s around you? Are you reaching out to cooling believers, helping them to stay fluid and moving until they regain some heat? And importantly, are you absolutely committed to obeying Jesus in his clear instruction to “rejoice” when you are persecuted, or when people defame you or say “every kind of evil against you falsely on my account”? If so, Jesus says that you can be “exceedingly glad” because your reward in heaven is great, and because you are in very good company: “This is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”