"R. Pierce Butler" <spamsucks@google.com>
Re: The Bible vs The Lack Of Faith. 6-13-2006.
"vivapadrepio@aol.com" <vivapadrepio@aol.com> wrote in
news:1150236379.406570.106170@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
Matthew 5: 13-16.
The Similes Of Salt And Light.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what
can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown
out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city
set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then
put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives
light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before
others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly
Father."
If salt loses it's taste, then it isn't salt anymore. I never heard anyone
complain that the salt in their shaker is weak. Does water lose it's
wetness?
Hello,
Are you aware that in different countries the "salt" they use can also
contain other ingredients? Just because they call it salt, doesn't
mean that it is 100% sodium chloride. (Even in this country, some
containers sold as "salt" also contain other substances when you read
the ingredients, such as to help it to flow freely) Notice some
details here:
"Salt is often used in the Bible figuratively. Jesus told his
disciples: "You are the salt of the earth," a preserving influence on
others, preventing spiritual putrefaction and moral decay. The good
news they carried would preserve life. However, he went on to say to
them: "But if the salt loses its strength, how will its saltness be
restored? It is no longer usable for anything but to be thrown outside
to be trampled on by men." (Mt 5:13; Mr 9:50; Lu 14:34, 35) One Bible
commentator remarks on Matthew 5:13: "The salt used in this country
[United States] is a chemical compound-muriate of soda-and if the
saltness were lost, or it were to lose its savour, there would be
nothing remaining. It enters into the very nature of the substance. In
eastern countries, however, the salt used was impure, mingled with
vegetable and earthy substances; so that it might lose the whole of
its saltness, and a considerable quantity of earthy matter remain.
This was good for nothing, except that it was used, as it is said, to
place in paths, or walks, as we use gravel. This kind of salt is
common still in that country. It is found in the earth in veins or
layers, and when exposed to the sun and rain, loses its saltness
entirely."-Barnes' Notes on the New Testament, 1974."
So when Jesus talked to people back then, he many times used things
that they were quite familiar with, one of which was the type of salt
they used; one full of impurities. Thus if something leeched out much
of the salt of that kind of salt (such as with rain), then Jesus'
words certainly hold true for the audience he was speaking to at the
time; the 'salt' lost its strength.
Sincerely, James
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