Living Abroad from the KINGdom (1)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Greeting
Announce text: Matthew 5:1-16
Key Text: Matthew 5:1-16
Review
play BP video: https://bibleproject.com/playlists/the-hard-path-of-peacemaking/
So, that video serves as a review for what was the third and final triad, as we closed out the Beatitudes last week.
Review of KOG & Intro to SOTM
Where we have been looking at blessed states
powerless, grieving, marginalized, etc.
JESUS says surprisingly those are blessed states
causes us to be completely dependent on GOD
really, what choice do we have?
could try on our own, but we have seen in series past - Hezekiah, Abraham - where that leads?
we’re meant to lean into the loving arms of the FATHER in every moment of our life
it’s a return to the Garden of Eden
it’s a fulfillment of our partnering with HIM in doing HIS will
taking what HE started & making something better - like gardening, forestry example
so, those finding themselves in state of lacking, are promised a future blessing when we patiently wait in dependence upon the FATHER
we get glimpses of that here and now
but sin and evil are still present
so, we are not untouched by it
Announce text again: Matthew 5:1-16
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the hillside, and sat down. His disciples came to him.
2 He took a deep breath, and began his teaching:
3 “How good is life for the powerless, because theirs is the kingdom of the skies.
4 “How good is life for those who grieve, because they will be comforted.
5 “How good is life for the unimportant, because they will inherit the land.
6 “How good is life for people who hunger and thirst for God’s justice! You’re going to be satisfied.
7 “How good is life for those who show mercy, because you will be shown mercy.
8 “How good is life for the pure in heart! You will see God.
9 “How good is life for the peacemakers! You’ll be called God’s children.
10 “How good is life for people who are persecuted on account of doing what is right, because theirs is the kingdom of the skies.
11 “How good is life for you, when people slander you and persecute you, and say all kinds of wicked things about you falsely because of me!
12 Celebrate and rejoice: there’s a great reward for you in heaven. That’s how they persecuted the prophets who went before you.”
13 “You’re the salt of the earth! But if the salt becomes tasteless, how is it going to get salty again? It’s no good for anything. You might as well throw it out and walk all over it.
14 “You’re the light of the world! A city can’t be hidden if it’s on top of a hill.
15 People don’t light a lamp and put it under a bucket; they put it on a lampstand. Then it gives light to everybody in the house.
16 That’s how you must shine your light in front of people! Then they will see what wonderful things you do, and they’ll give glory to your father in heaven.
16 That’s how you must shine your light in front of people! Then they will see what wonderful things you do, and they’ll give glory to your father in heaven.
Prayer for added blessing to the reading of the Word
Message
Message
Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to another element. Chlorine, on the other hand, is the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride--common table salt--the substance we use to preserve meat and bring out its flavor. Love and truth can be like sodium and chlorine. Love without truth is flighty, sometimes blind, willing to combine with various doctrines. On the other hand, truth by itself can be offensive, sometimes even poisonous. Spoken without love, it can turn people away from the gospel. When truth and love are combined in an individual or a church, however, then we have what Jesus called "the salt of the earth," and we're able to preserve and bring out the beauty of our faith.
David H. Johnson.
INTRODUCTION
Big Idea: Believers, as salt of the earth, are called to actively engage in fulfilling God's covenant by living out their identity, creating a thriving community that reflects His love and preserves His truth in an ever-changing world.
Let’s read JESUS’ concluding verses to HIS introduction in context:
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
JESUS concludes HIS introduction to the SOTM using three metaphors presented in two groupings of images that are the kind of people JESUS envisions HIS followers to be in the world. These images provide two promptings or reminders to us who are believers of our role as participants in the KINGdom of GOD. So, there are two imperatives (or commands) that can be inferred from JESUS’ words in vv.13-16. We will look at the first one today.
Two Imperatives from the KING:
Stay Salty!
Now, I’m having a little fun with both of these commands, and hopefully, the humor will help solidify these in your mind. Both this and next week’s commands will be a play on words, using modern vernacular to emphasize an ancient truth.
The other day, Bill Colson had a shirt that contained a Brady Bunch sort of quadrant displaying images of Grouchy - one of the Smurfs. The quadrant was framed with a caption that read, “Current Mood: Grouchy.” Here it is:
This is sort of the image that comes to my mind when I think about someone being “salty.” They’re a little bit “prickly” perhaps. In fact, Grok (Elon Musk’s AI) had this to say when I asked for a modern definition of someone said to be salty:
In modern slang, describing someone as "salty" means they are acting bitter, irritated, or upset, often in response to a perceived slight, disappointment, or unfavorable situation. The term conveys a sense of being overly sensitive, sarcastic, or passive-aggressive, typically with a sharp or resentful attitude. It’s commonly used in casual contexts, especially among younger generations or on social media.
Of course, this is exactly the opposite of what I’m saying about this command from the KING which is exactly the point. This is a pun - a play on words to infuse a little humor meant to help us remember the real meaning of this imperative, and I am about to provide the definition of what I mean here. So, the title you saw earlier - Living Abroad from the KINGdom - is for the overarching theme of the conclusion of the introduction to the SOTM. The sub-title or title for today’s message is:
The Salt of the Covenant: Living Out Our Divine Identity
The Salt of the Covenant: Living Out Our Divine Identity
I always feel like I have this internal dilemma going on regarding “letting the cat out of the bag” before I have an opportunity to build up to that point, but I think I might be changing my perspective on this a bit because this is has to do with the big idea of the entire message. I guess if it’s what I think HOLY SPIRIT is highlighting as important, then I want to reinforce it like I do with the reviews. So, we have heard the the main takeaway a couple of times already, and now, we will proceed to the details supporting this theme.
When you think about salt, you might consider the number of applications for salt throughout recorded history, and when you look at salt in the Bible, you might not be too surprised to see this fact reflected in the Scriptures, also. Biblical scholars have recorded as many as 11 applications for salt in Scripture.
So, what did JESUS mean when HE compared HIS followers to salt?
This morning, I want to give you three guiding principles for living out our divine identity.
Three Guiding Principles to Stay Salty:
1. Preserve Purposeful Presence
1. Preserve Purposeful Presence
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
The Beatitudes express truth about GOD and HIS reign, whether it is reversal of plight for the meek and poor or reward for the merciful in the future. At the same time, the Beatitudes manifest KINGdom ethics - the ethics of JESUS - in the present. Life under GOD’s reign results in transformed lives characterized by humility, purity, and peace as well as welcome for the oppressed and marginalized. In light of this, Jesus declares that his disciples are salt of the earth.
Salt, in the ancient world, had many functions including as a source of flavor, but it was primarily valued as a preservative, essential for keeping food edible over long periods, thus sustaining life. This preservative quality made salt a powerful symbol of endurance and permanence, particularly in the context of GOD’s covenant with Israel. In addition to endurance, salt also had symbolic significance in purity linked with GOD.
34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each.
35 “With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.
36 “You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you.
Here we see salt linking purity and holiness with GOD’s Presence. Salt was also linked with the purification process as we can see in 2 Kings 2:19-22. To provide a little context here, just prior to this passage, Elijah had just been carried off to heaven. Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle both literally and figuratively or spiritually. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho witnessed Elisha part the waters of the Jordan and cross over to the other side, and after an unsuccessful search for Elijah, they turn their attention to a problem they want Elisha to address.
19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”
20 He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.’ ”
22 So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
Notice the purity elements here: a new jar to be used as a container for the salt. So, this jar was clean - not previously used for food or drink - to keep contaminants from getting into the salt - to keep it pure. Then Elisha goes to the source and throws the salt in, so that the water is purified for drinking and for watering their crops. If that wasn’t miraculous enough, we read about the permanence of this purifying act.
This is why JESUS says HIS followers are to be the salt of the world. The metaphor of salt underscores the lasting nature of GOD’s covenantal relationship, and when you and I are living out the ethics of JESUS in this world, we are preserving the life of Creation by preserving the enduring covenant between GOD and man - we are preserving GOD’s KINGdom values - the Beatitudes - in a decaying world. So, JESUS calls HIS believers - you and I - to be the salt of the earth, urging us to preserve and enhance HIS divine truths in the world. We are a symbolic representation of GOD's enduring covenant.
This metaphor comes with a warning, however. As salt loses its flavor, so can we lose our effectiveness if we conform to worldly standards.
Are you maintaining your distinctiveness and influence by staying true to CHRIST’s teachings?
We will look more at the covenant and warning elements in a few minutes. For now, let’s move on to the second guiding principle.
Three Guiding Principles to Stay Salty:
1. Preserve Purposeful Presence
1. Preserve Purposeful Presence
2. Promote Peaceful Unity
2. Promote Peaceful Unity
I’m curious … Has anyone ever heard of these phrases: “eating salt with someone” or “sharing salt with someone”? Apparently, these are phrases associated with friendship. One scholar believes these phrases have been shortened over time to become “sharing a meal” in which an expression like, “Hey, pass the salt,” is akin to meaning, “let’s be friends.” In Ezra 4:14, we read:
14 Now since we eat the salt of the palace and the dishonor of the king is not proper for us to see, we send and make this known to the king,
In ancient Near Eastern idiom, "eating someone's salt" meant receiving support or provisions from them, creating a binding obligation of loyalty. So, those who “eat the salt of the palace” cannot be witnesses against the king. This became a sign of loyalty and of friendship. It is also a reflection of the “salt of the covenant.” This is why in the Gospel of Mark, where we find Mark’s version of JESUS’ words from today’s text, JESUS associates salt with peace.
50 “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
JESUS is addressing believers in this verse - HIS disciples - and HE is instructing them to live peaceably with one another. This is likely to address an argument the disciples had moments before in v.34:
But they were silent, because they had argued with one another on the way about who was greatest.
Hasn’t this at times been a picture of the church today? Fighting for position, thinking one has a corner on theology and doctrine, dogma, judgementalism, etc - all of this leads to in-fighting, and is a poor reflection of what the church is supposed to be. When we behave like that, what kind of impact do we have in the world around us? Are we preserving the ethics of JESUS? Have we lost our saltiness?
What if the lack of peace in the church leads to a lack of peace in the world? It certainly doesn’t help. If Christians can’t live peaceably with one another, how are we going to make peace in the world?
This is why Paul instructs us in his letter to the Ephesians, to be diligent ...
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
As follower’s of JESUS, we have HIS SPRIIT living within us. When we are seeking HIM with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and when we are loving our neighbors as ourselves, HIS SPIRIT transforms us from the inside out. No longer will we live for our own selfish desires, but we will live for - or do right by GOD and do right by others. Paul picks up on the words of JESUS in Mark’s text and repeats them in ...
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
“So far as it depends on you ...” We aren’t responsible for how others behave. Remember, we’re to enter areas of conflict to work toward peace. Some will reject our efforts, and that will at times lead to persecution - to difficulties in this life. Sadly, those areas of conflict might include the church. Yet, we are only responsible for our own actions, and we’re given this imperative to live peaceably toward others.
11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
“… be made complete ...” We are being fashioned into the Image of CHRIST as we grow with HOLY SPIRIT. It is HE who does the transformative work in our lives.
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
This inner transformation will lead to communal harmony rooted in CHRIST's peace.
13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
This work of the SPIRIT is aided by the WORD of GOD. When we memorize and meditate on GOD’s WORD, we are enabled and empowered by HOLY SPIRIT to exude love and unity in the church, reflecting the peace JESUS established through HIS covenant.
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
Do we demonstrate the power of GOD within us as we work to make peace in our world?
Let’s take a look at the third and final guiding principle.
Three Guiding Principles to Stay Salty:
1. Preserve Purposeful Presence
1. Preserve Purposeful Presence
2. Promote Peaceful Unity
2. Promote Peaceful Unity
3. Pursue Covenant Commitment
3. Pursue Covenant Commitment
This is going to be sort of a tie-together to our first point, as we already saw that the preservative quality in salt made it a powerful symbol of endurance and permanence, particularly in the context of GOD’s covenant with Israel.
In biblical texts, such as Numbers 18:19, GOD instructs that all Israel’s sacrificial gifts be salted, signifying an “everlasting covenant of salt” with the people and their descendants.
19 “All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you.”
Salt was used as a seasoning in grain offerings, again signifying the “salt of the covenant.”
13 ‘Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Similarly, in the Chronicle scroll, GOD’s promise to David of a forever-ruling descendant is described as a “covenant of salt,” emphasizing its enduring nature.
5 “Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?
So, this is the foundation for the metaphor of what JESUS was saying when comparing HIS followers to salt. Yet, there’s a potential problem with this analogy, and JESUS addresses it immediately. Here’s Luke’s version of our text:
34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
“… but if even salt has become tasteless ...” As I was preparing for this message, a question formed in my mind. How does salt lose it’s flavor? I did some research on this, and discovered that in the ancient world, particularly in first-century Palestine, "salt" was not always the pure sodium chloride we use today. Here’s how such salt could lose its flavor (i.e., its saltiness or effectiveness):
1. Dilution by Impurities:
Naturally sourced salt was often harvested from natural sources like the Dead Sea or salt marshes. Because of this, salt was often a mixture of sodium chloride and other compounds such as gypsum, sand, or other minerals. This mixture meant the salt could contain impurities that would render the remaining "salt" bland and ineffective for seasoning or preserving.
2. Contamination:
Mixing with dirt, dust, or other substances (e.g., during storage or transport) could dilute the salt’s effectiveness. In ancient households, salt was sometimes kept in open containers, making contamination likely.
If the salt became so mixed with non-salty substances, it would lose its distinct taste and utility.
3. Evaporation or Leaching:
In hot, humid climates, the sodium chloride in impure salt could partially dissolve and evaporate or wash away, especially if exposed to rain or moisture, leaving behind a less salty residue.
In such a state, salt would become useless, as JESUS states in our texts:
35 “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out ...”
Matthew adds a little more detail ...
13 “... It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
As we’ve learned, in JESUS’ time, salt was precious, used for seasoning, preserving food, and even in religious rituals. If it lost its saltiness, it was useless for these purposes and was discarded, often thrown onto paths or roofs where it was "trampled underfoot" as a kind of gravel.
JESUS uses salt as a metaphor for HIS disciples’ - you & I, our - role in the world, emphasizing our transformative influence through living out the Beatitudes’ KINGdom ethic (e.g., peacemaking, righteousness, mercy - everlasting love and forgiveness). Without these qualities, we would cease to be who we are called to be, thereby rendering us ineffective and becoming useless. Losing saltiness represents a failure to fulfill this calling.
This is also why JESUS’ identification of the problem concludes with a warning ...
35 “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The warning is for us. We can lose the effectiveness and distinctiveness of our testimony, if we take for granted JESUS’ calling and instructions, and we lose commitment to GOD’s purposes. Losing our saltiness equates to disregarding our role in the divine covenant.
How does this happen in our lives as believers?
Compromise with the world. We lose our “saltiness" when we conform to worldly values (e.g., the Sadducees’ collaboration with Rome or the Pharisees’ hypocrisy) instead of embodying JESUS’ teachings. This dilutes our distinctiveness, much like impurities dilute salt.
Neglecting KINGdom ethics. Failing to live out the Beatitudes—such as not pursuing peacemaking (Matthew 5:9) or righteousness despite persecution (Matthew 5:10–12)—renders us ineffective, like salt that no longer seasons or preserves.
Hypocrisy or wrong motives. If our actions lack the pure motives and generous mercy JESUS calls for, our influence becomes tasteless, like contaminated salt.
Spiritual apathy. Apathy or disengagement from GOD’s mission (e.g., not investing in the "new creation") causes us to lose our transformative power, becoming useless for GOD’s purposes, akin to salt thrown out.
We must remain committed and vigilant in our discipleship, embodying CHRIST's teachings in action. Diligently engaging with Scripture and actively participating in GOD's mission, reinforces our divine identity.
So, pj … What’s the point?
Conclusion
Conclusion
In modern slang, being "salty" means being bitter, resentful, or sarcastic, often over trivial matters. This contrasts sharply with JESUS’ metaphor of salt as a positive, life-giving force. A "salty" disciple in the modern sense—marked by bitterness or pettiness—loses their KINGdom saltiness by failing to reflect CHRIST’s love and mercy.
In all Scripture, JESUS fulfills the covenant through HIS sacrifice and establishes believers as salt bearers in a broken world. HE demonstrates how a life flavored by grace builds a community that reflects GOD's promise of redemption and restoration.
As the salt of the earth, we are called to embody JESUS’ KINGdom ethic, blending love and truth to preserve GOD's covenant and enhance the world around us. Just as sodium and chlorine combine to form life-sustaining salt, our lives must unite CHRIST’s love with HIS truth to reflect our divine identity. By preserving a purposeful presence, promoting peaceful unity, and pursuing covenant commitment, we avoid losing our saltiness through compromise, hypocrisy, or apathy. Let us remain vigilant in living out the Beatitudes, actively engaging in GOD's mission with humility, mercy, and peace. As we do, we become a thriving community that glorifies our FATHER in heaven, ensuring our testimony endures as a transformative force in a decaying world, until the new creation is fully realized.
Stay salty!
Closing prayer & benediction
24 The Lord bless you, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’
Scripture records the following words in v.27:
“So whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them.”
So, receive and go with the blessings of YAHWEH!
