This week I learnt a couple of things. The most obvious lesson is that once you lay off writing for a while, it is very difficult to get back into the rhythm. You decide to write again, but unable to find the energy or inspiration to restart. Very soon a distraction or an excuse comes up, and you comfort yourself that there are other important things that need to be done. That explains the hiatus in this blog. Repentance and discipline is required.
This morning I preached about ordinary Christians being salt of the earth and light of the world. A part that I ostentatiously left out in an already-longer-than-intended sermon was on verse Matthew 5:13b: “But if the 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.” The reason I left this part out was that I felt it digressed from the direction of the sermon – which to view ourselves positively as light and salt.
There is the also the issue of how this part of the verse is best to be understood. There are a couple of questions that needed to be addressed, even if the main point is not in dispute.
First, the translation. All translations, including the very literal ones, do a work-around with the original Greek text. Literally, ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ, ἐν τίνι ἁλισθήσεται (ean de to halas moranthe, en tini halisthesetai*) should have been translated as “but if the salt has become foolish, with what shall it be salted?” This does not really make sense; hence, the verb (make foolish; show to be foolish) is translated as “lost its saltiness; lost its taste, lost its flavor, lost its savor, became insipid.”
The verb retained its normal meaning in Romans 1:22, “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools” (NIV) and 1 Cor 2:10, “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (NIV). Even though the modern translations are correct in their word choice, nowhere else has the verb been taken to mean “to lose its taste.”
Most likely, the choice of the verb was made because “salt” is sometimes used to symbolize “wisdom.” So for salt to lose its saltiness is equivalent to becoming foolish, if salt is meant to convey wisdom.
Others suggest that a play on words was involved, in which the Hebrew word for “be foolish” resembles the Aramaic word for “seasoned, salty.”
Newman, B. M., & Stine, P. C. (1992). A handbook on the Gospel of Matthew (p. 118). New York: United Bible Societies.
The other problem is, how can salt lose its saltiness? Salt is one of the most stable substances chemically. It can withstand intense heat. The most common explanation is that the salt in Palestine which probably comes from the Dead Sea area is not pure. It’s mixed with all kinds of other minerals. And if it is not stored properly, the “salt” leaks away, and the resultant substance is no longer “salt” and therefore totally useless for seasoning food.
Another possibility, of course, is that Jesus knew perfectly well that salt does not change, but that he simply used this unreal and surprising figure of speech in order to teach a lesson more effectively.
Newman, B. M., & Stine, P. C. (1992). A handbook on the Gospel of Matthew (p. 118). New York: United Bible Societies.
Personally, I find this latter explanation preferable. It is unthinkable that Christians should lose their identity as Christians. Salt doesn’t become non-salt; so Christians ought to maintain their “saltiness” or godly wisdom. They are meant to live their lives in such a way that they are a godly influence wherever they are.
Eugene Peterson translates the verse as follows:
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”
*I have no idea how to indicate long vowels in transliteration.
Generous Pentecostal 