In Mark 9, the disciples of Christ had been arguing over which of them were the greatest. A handful of them could have made such a claim for various reasons. To calm the discussion, Jesus took a child and put him in His arms, and told His adult followers: “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me” (verse 37).
In the same context, John had come across some who were casting out demons in the name of Christ and he forbid them. But, Jesus corrected John and the other disciples, saying, First, “there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.” and second, “For he who is not against us is for us” (verses 38-39).
So, the rest of chapter 9 deals with interpersonal relationships among Christ’s followers and how important unity and humility are. He concludes the discussion with these words: “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” (verse 50).
Let me suggest a correlation that you might not have considered. Salt was a vital commodity as much in biblical times as in ours. How many of you could eat completely without salt? Not many.
Under the law of Moses, salt was even added to sacrifices. Consider Leviticus 2:13: “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.” Now please observe that phrase, “the salt of the covenant of your God.”
The association between salt and the covenant, besides salt as an ingredient, results from the fellowship (covenant) that occurs when two eat together (enjoy “salt.”). In Ezra 4, the enemies of the Jews sent a letter to King Artaxerxes warning him about the “dangers” involved in allowing the Jews to proceed with their plan to restore worship in Jerusalem. They try to “butter up” the king by telling him, in verse 14, that they “eat the salt of the palace” (ESV; a more literal rendering).
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Covenants were frequently ratified through sharing a meal – i. .e, eating salt. Salt (as a preservative) could also have been symbolic of the enduring nature of the covenant. In appointing the priests to their role, God said, “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” (Numbers 18:19).
David also referred to the covenant God had made with him as a “covenant of salt’ (2 Chronicles 13:5).
As followers of Jesus Christ and His new covenant, the reference to salt, then, in Mark 9:50 may be a reminder to all of us that we live in a covenant relationship with each other as we are in that covenant relationship with Christ.
“Have salt among yourselves.” Remember, you are in a covenant with one another. Treat each other accordingly.
–Paul Holland
