Needs More Salt

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…Colossians 4:6

Seasoned with salt is a curious addition to grace. Jesus also used the phrase ‘seasoned with salt.’ Mark 9:49: For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. (Note: not all translations include the phrase in the latter half of verse 49.) Nonetheless, the phrase gives us more understanding of both statements, by Jesus and by Paul.

The phrase ‘seasoned with salt’ comes from the Old Testament; Leviticus 2:13 and Ezekiel 43:24. Both Jesus and Paul are referring back to “the salt of the covenant.” Stated briefly, the covenant of salt involves the command to season every sacrifice with salt, Leviticus 2:13. 

Jesus refers to this command in the context of the worm that does not die, Mark 9:46, which is a reference to judgment. Jesus has more to say about salt, Verse 50: Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another. Paul puts Jesus’ comments into practical terms, Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt. 

Under the Old Covenant only certain people could be priests. The priesthood was limited to the Levites. God changed that under the New Covenant: all believers are saints and priests. As such, we are to let our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt. We are to treat what we say to others be a living sacrifice to the Lord; holy.

The covenant of salt is an everlasting covenant. It has been transferred from sacrifices made to God on the altar, to everything done and said by believers under the new covenant. The covenant of salt was transferred from the Levitical priesthood to the new priesthood under Jesus, our High Priest and King. Remember, our words need more salt!