SOTM-Salt

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="douglasjacoby.com/som-10-salt/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes foolish, how will it be salted? It is thereafter good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13). </strong></p><p><i>The next 2 podcasts are on salt and light—the stuff of Christian discipleship.</i></p><p><strong>Flavor, or function?</strong><br /> </p><ul><li>Whereas in modern times we usually associate salt with taste (something that enhances <strong>flavor</strong>), it was different in ancient times.</li><li>Back then salt was more <strong>functional</strong>. It was a common preservative, and even served as a disinfectant for wounds. In other words, salt was necessary for everyday life.</li></ul><p><strong>How are we to be salt?</strong></p><ul><li>Christians preserve the world through the power of their example, faith, outreach, and prayer.</li><li>In the later 300s, John Chrysostom writes, “For this is the nature of salt, which is what Jesus wants us to be. For salt not only preserves itself, but it also preserves all other objects with which it comes into contact.” <i>Homilies on Matthew</i> 18.2.</li></ul><p><strong>Salt becoming "foolish"?</strong></p><ul><li>Most English translations read, <i>if it loses its saltiness / taste. </i>Yet the original reads “if the salt becomes foolish" (Gk. <i>mōranthēi—</i>from<i> mōraíno</i>).</li><li>The metaphor refers to people, not literal salt.</li><li>Origen, writing in the first half of the 200s, explains: “If the reason in us sins and we do something foolish, then we must be fearful of that statement of the Savior which says, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes foolish, it is of value for nothing except to be thrown out and trampled on by men.’” <i>Homilies on Leviticus</i> 1–16. </li><li>Paul uses this same word (<i>emōránthēsan</i>) when describing how humans have turned away from God (<strong>