When Jesus calls His disciples the salt of the earth, He draws upon a substance that was familiar, useful, and valuable in everyday ancient life.
Jesus in Context
Salt in the Ancient World
Salt was an indispensable ancient commodity used for seasoning and preservation and associated with biblical worship.
Introduction
Historical and Cultural Context
Ancient salt was not necessarily the highly refined product familiar today. Salt could occur mixed with other minerals and earthy material. If soluble salt were leached away by moisture, an apparently salt-like residue could remain while possessing little of salt's useful character. Salt also had biblical religious associations, including its required use with offerings in Leviticus 2:13.
Why It Matters
This background helps explain Jesus' warning about salt becoming useless. The illustration depends upon salt retaining the properties that make it valuable and distinctive.