“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that Jesus isn't just talking about losing flavor; he's highlighting an irredeemable state. If salt itself, the very substance meant to preserve and flavor, becomes useless, there's no further remedy – it's good for nothing but being discarded. This underscores the immense spiritual danger of those who, meant to bring life and holiness to the world, lose their own vital connection to God.
“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has been teaching about the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that true followers must prioritize Him above all else, even family. After a parable about counting the cost of building a tower and waging war, He directly addresses His listeners, calling them the "salt of the earth" and warning about the consequences of losing their spiritual potency. This warning immediately precedes His parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, illustrating God's relentless pursuit of the lost.
We use salt every day for taste and preservation. But in Jesus' time, its value went even deeper. What exactly did 'salt' represent to Jesus and His listeners?
Salt in the ancient world was incredibly valuable, not just for flavor, but as a powerful preservative and disinfectant.
When Jesus calls His followers the 'salt of the earth,' He's saying they are essential for preventing the world's spiritual decay and bringing a purifying influence.
Imagine a salt shaker that's lost its saltiness. It looks the part, but it fails at its one essential job. What does this say about our faith?
Jesus’ question, 'how shall its saltiness be restored?' is rhetorical. There is no remedy for salt that has lost its savor.
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Understand the original words
halas · Greek Noun
A mineral substance used in the ancient world as a preservative, seasoning, and symbol of covenant. It represents the influence, purity, and preserving power that believers are called to exert in a decaying world.
ous · Greek Noun
A figure of speech—often connected to the capacity for spiritual perception—used by Jesus to urge the audience to grasp the deeper, divine truth behind His words. It calls for active obedience and divine revelation rather than mere hearing.
Jesus' warning about salt losing its savor wasn't just a general observation; it was a pointed message to his followers about the vital necessity of maintaining their spiritual integrity and usefulness in the world, especially in light of Israel's impending judgment.
c. 27 AD— this verse
Jesus teaches in Galilee
Jesus delivers the parable of the Great Banquet, emphasizing the importance of genuine commitment and warning against those who make excuses. The verses leading up to this one speak of the cost of discipleship and the need for a wholehearted commitment.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
Jesus uses various metaphors, including salt, to illustrate spiritual truths. The sayings about salt appear in parallel accounts in Matthew and Mark, often linked to discipleship, purification, and the consequences of spiritual compromise.
c. 60-62 AD
Paul writes to the Colossians
The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of being 'seasoned with salt' in his letter to the Colossians, encouraging their speech to be gracious and edifying, reflecting the purity and wholesomeness that true faith imparts.
c. 70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman legions conquer Jerusalem and destroy the Second Temple, an event that symbolized a profound loss of spiritual distinctiveness for many Israelites. This historical tragedy serves as a stark backdrop to Jesus' warnings about spiritual uselessness.
This passage directly parallels Luke's teaching, with Jesus telling His disciples they are the 'salt of the earth,' highlighting their vital role in preserving and flavoring the world with His truth.
Here, Jesus commands His followers to 'Have salt in yourselves,' echoing the need for an inner savor that comes from God, which can then be shared with others, much like the unusable salt is cast out.
Paul urges believers to let their 'speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,' showing how the quality of Christian influence, like salt, should enhance and preserve interactions.
Leviticus 2:13This Old Testament law required that all grain offerings be seasoned with salt, signifying the enduring covenant of God and the necessity of His presence and flavor in worship and life.
vincentLuke 14:34: "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?"
Have lost its savorSee on Matthew 5:13.Shall it be seasonedSee on Mark 9:50.
calvinLuke 14:34-35: "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?"
- Ye are the salt of the earth: but if salt shall become tasteless, [372] with what shall it be salted? [373] It is good for nothing farther, than to be thrown out and trodden down by men. 14. Ye are the light of the world: a city placed upon a mountain cannot be hid. 15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it upon a bushel but upon a candlestick, and it gives light to all who are in the ho…
What's easy to miss is that Jesus isn't just talking about losing flavor; he's highlighting an irredeemable state. If salt itself, the very substance meant to preserve and flavor, becomes useless, there's no further remedy – it's good for nothing but being discarded. This underscores the immense spiritual danger of those who, meant to bring life and holiness to the world, lose their own vital connection to God.
Jesus has been teaching about the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that true followers must prioritize Him above all else, even family. After a parable about counting the cost of building a tower and waging war, He directly addresses His listeners, calling them the "salt of the earth" and warning about the consequences of losing their spiritual potency. This warning immediately precedes His parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, illustrating God's relentless pursuit of the lost.
Jesus has been teaching about the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that true followers must prioritize Him above all else, even family. After a parable about counting the cost of building a tower and waging war, He directly addresses His listeners, calling them the "salt of the earth" and warning about the consequences of losing their spiritual potency. This warning immediately precedes His parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, illustrating God's relentless pursuit of the lost.
"“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”" — What's easy to miss is that Jesus isn't just talking about losing flavor; he's highlighting an irredeemable state. If salt itself, the very substance meant to preserve and flavor, becomes useless, th…
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Last reviewed October 2026