Introduction
Who is Christ referring to when He says “salt is good?” – Job 6:6, 2 Kings 2:20 – Salt was known to be good for flavoring. 2 Kings 2:21 salt is known to have healing properties. Salt represented healing and purifying qualities. Salt was used for cleansing. A newborn baby they would rub salt on the baby. Salt was good for worship. Salt was used in making covenants – 2 Chronicles 13:5.
Who is the salt that becomes useless? It could be the false leaders and the false teachers. It could include the pharisees or the unbelievers in the crowds following Him. Maybe it’s also a warning to His disciples as a warning. But it could refer to the immediate context in chapter 14.
Matthew 5:13 (NKJV) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Almost identical to Luke in this context the “you” means the disciples. He is challenging what their thoughts are on what it means to follow Christ.
Christians are to be a salt to the world. Faithful disciples are good for the world. He has designed it to keep the world from corruption.
Matthew 5:14-15 (NKJV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house.
Mark 9:50 (NKJV) “Salt [is] good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) [Let] your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
James 3:12 (NKJV) Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Any reference to salt is related to disciples. Salt is good is true discipleship who have forsaken all to follow Him. True discipleship through Christ and the gospel is good salt.
Hebrews 6:4-6 (NKJV) 4 For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put [Him] to an open shame.
Repent and believe the Gospel!
Luke 14:34-35 (NKJV) 34 “Salt [is] good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 “It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, [but] men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”