Dr Tom Hover
March 9, 2025
Matthew 5:13
THE SALTY SAINT
THE SALTY SAINT
Text: Matthew 5:13
Introduction: Jesus calls his Saints the “Salt of the earth”. We get our English word “salary” from the root word for salt. Salt has been a precious commodity since ancient times. Salt was often traded ounce for ounce for gold. The early Chinese used coins made of salt for currency. In many areas around the Mediterranean Sea, salt cakes were used as currency. Now you see why we have the expression “worth one’s salt”. Salt is a wonder. People in general do not realize the importance of salt in maintaining the life and health of their bodies. An exact percentage of it is always present in our bloodstream, and any great deviation from this amount can result in sickness and even death. As a preservative, it retards spoilage. Also, it is a splendid condiment, adding zest and savor to our food. Salt is composed of two poisonous substances; yet, salt is necessary for life. (About 120 grains are required daily by an adult just to keep the system in order.) Salt is composed of Sodium and Chlorine, either of which if taken individually will kill you; yet, without salt in our bodies, we would die. Salt is something for which there is no substitute. Salt is a thing on its own - a thing without a substitute. You do not compare salt to anything else, but other things must be compared to it. You may say, “That is salty”, but if you say, “That is salt,” you are immediately understood. So, Christ desires it to be so with His disciples. Christians, are ye salty?
I. THE POWER OF PURE SALT
Today, salt is cheap and common; yet, we cannot afford to think lightly of it because we cannot live without it, and Jesus said; “Ye Are the salt of the earth.” Not, “You ought to be the salt of the earth.” Nor, “It would be nice if you were” But “Ye ARE” Mark 9:50 Note, the importance of salt:
1.) SALT SEASONS. Job 6:6, Colossians 4:6
2.) SALT CREATES THIRST. John 7:37-38
3.) SALT PRESERVES AND PROTECTS. Proverbs 14:34
4.) SALT CLEANSES. 2 Kings 2:19-22 - Elisha cleansed the waters at Jericho with salt. In ancient times. Newborn babies were washed in salt to cleanse their bodies. Ezekiel 16:4 Every meat offering was to be made with salt - Leviticus 2:13. We are to offer our lives as an offering to the Lord, Romans 12:1-2.
5.) SALT HEALS. Doctors used a saline solution for many purposes. Elijah used salt to heal the polluted waters of Jericho in
II Kings 2:18-22.
6.) SALT BURNS AND IRRITATES. Mark 9:49
7.) SALT PENETRATES. (The early church was Salty Saints –
Acts 8:1, 4; Acts 17:6.) We must not separate the salt from society. We need to get the salt to the source.
8.) SALT POISONS Salt kills some things! (Abimelech, in Judges 9:45, took a city and the sowed the city with salt to prevent the ground from being used to grow crops. He killed the fields with salt.)
II Corinthians 5:17
II. THE POISON OF POLLUTED SALT Matthew 5:13
It is a sad day when Christians become tainted and polluted. For salt to do good, it must be in its proper place. Salt becomes useless if it loses any of its properties. Salt must have savor to do any good. Polluted salt is: BITTER, VALUELESS, HARMFUL
III. THE PUSH FOR PENETRATING SALT Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth:” No salt would be of any value unless shaken out, touching, and penetrating the intended source. If there is ever a time for the salt to work, it is now! We can have revival in America today if the Salt will work. II Chronicles 7:14 We become Saints and Salt of the earth through the chemistry of the Cross. IT IS TIME FOR THE SALT TO WORK!
