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FIRE AND SALT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Mark 9:49,50

Leviticus 2:13

 

“…salted with fire…

salted with salt.”

 

FIRE AND SALT
 
This is one of the most difficult verses in the Bible. Key to interpreting or understanding this text is the context. The difficulty here has to do with the use of salt and its connection with fire and with itself. A person salted with fire will be destroyed, but if he is salted with salt, it is a sacrifice unto God, and is good. As such, we see two concepts here involving fire and salt; the former speaks of destruction and the latter of salvation.
 
To be salted with fire is to be salted unto condemnation and destruction. Fire symbolises judgment—it points to hell “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43-48). Unbelievers who are dead in sin and living in sin, who have “their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim 4:2) are salting or seasoning themselves for the roasting they will get in the fires of hell. Beware your hands, your feet, your eyes—be careful what you do, where you go, what you see. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:16,17).
 
It is much better to be salted with salt. “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another” (Mark 9:50). Jesus said to all His disciples, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matt 5:13). In the Old Testament, the meat offering is seasoned with salt (Lev 2:13). It seeks to remind all believers to live a sanctified life. The Lord requires us to be holy as He is (Lev 11:44). “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:1,2).
 
THOUGHT: Be salted with salt not only within but also without.

PRAYER: (Pray the Lord to sanctify you by His Truth and by His Spirit.)

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