Luke 14:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But not only those who are gifted with the grace of teachers, but private individuals also He requires to become like salt, useful to those around them. But if he who is to be useful to others becomes reprobate, he cannot be profited, as it follows, But if the salt has lost his savour, where-with shall it be seasoned?

Thus it is stated, ‘Salt is valuable; however, if salt loses its flavor, with what will it be seasoned? It is cast aside,’ He remarks. He further instructs, ‘Let there be salt within you,’ referring to the sacred words that impart deliverance, which, if disregarded, become insipid, foolish, and entirely without purpose. The assembly of believers should reject such things, offering grace and love from Christ, our Redeemer, to whom and alongside whom God the Father receives glory and authority, with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever, Amen.

The salt that has lost its flavor is useless and must be discarded, trampled underfoot. When a monk stumbles, a priest intercedes on his behalf. Yet, who comes to the aid of a fallen priest in prayer?

Both the earth and the refuse are unsuitable for purpose. He refers to the disciples as the earth, nourishing and benefiting them, while He views the teachers as the refuse, also nourishing and aiding them. He asserts, therefore, that if the teaching is tainted by false doctrines, it serves no value, being unhelpful to both the learners and the instructors. It should be discarded as worthless. Let those who are receptive to the message take heed! This has been elucidated on numerous occasions.

He had said above that the tower of virtue was not only to be begun, but also to be completed, and to this belongs the following, Salt is good. It is a good thing to season the secrets of the heart with the salt of spiritual wisdom, nay with the Apostles to become the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:14.) For salt in substance consists of water and air, having a slight mixture of earth, but it dries up the fluent nature of corrupt bodies so as to preserve them from decay.

The Lord communicated the essential truth regarding the necessity of absolute self-denial to the people, emphasizing the importance of this message in light of the Pharisees' opposition and the tendency of the common folk to follow their own misconceptions about the Messiah. Anyone unwilling to forsake all familial bonds in pursuit of the gospel and to take up their cross for the sake of Jesus cannot claim to be His disciple. Just as one evaluates their resources before embarking on a campaign, weighing their capacity before commencing a task to avoid abandonment, so too must individuals consider their readiness to make the necessary sacrifices for the kingdom of the Messiah. The Lord recognizes only those who are prepared to make such commitments as His true disciples.

This passage, following the historical introduction, begins with a clear teaching directed at the people regarding self-denial. It then presents two parables: one about a builder planning a tower and another about a king preparing for battle. Finally, it concludes with a remark concerning salt. The direct counsel is echoed in a similar manner in the Gospel according to Matthew during the instructions given to the apostles as they were sent to evangelize. Since the audience for this instruction varies among the Evangelists, it is likely that Christ reiterated before the multitudes what He had previously communicated to the apostles.

Before Him gathered individuals who were both humble and weary, simple laborers, uneducated men speaking a little-known tongue, fishermen, and tax collectors. These were the ones destined to share His teachings across the entire world and to bring the nations under His authority. He instructed them on the kind of character they needed to embody, not just to enter the kingdom of heaven but also to guide others toward it. He spoke of the trials they would encounter along the journey and the resilience required to conquer every challenge, endure all trials, and achieve victory over the realm of darkness.

Jesus then provided the apostles with additional insight into their roles and significance in the world. He said to them, “You are the salt of the earth.” However, He questioned what happens if the salt loses its potency, referencing the salt found near the Dead Sea. If that occurs, how can it regain its flavor? It becomes worthless, fit only to be discarded and walked upon, much like the inferior salt that was disposed of in the temple, where it was scattered on the temple mount slopes to allow the priests and the congregation to walk more easily during wet conditions. Yet, the apostles hold a greater significance than merely being the salt of the earth; they are also described as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16).

“They cast it aside”: it serves no purpose. The significance lies in the context of the discourse: if my followers lacked the ability for moral abstinence and resembled the unwise, such as the builder who failed to finish the tower and the king who underestimated his opponent, what value would they hold for a world meant for their renewal? They would offer nothing. Hence, possess within yourselves the salt (Mark 9:50) — the strength of goodness, the strength of self-denial.

In the context of apostolic authority, the Lord emphasized to His disciples and all those who follow Him the vital role that the messengers of Christianity play in a world rife with moral decay and entrenched in profound misunderstanding. "Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its savor, wherewith shall it be salted?" Such salt becomes worthless, destined only to be discarded and trampled underfoot by people. Just as salt preserves food from decay and enhances its flavor, Christ’s followers are called to contribute to the well-being of humanity, disseminating the positive impact of their virtuous conduct and uplifting words in every corner of the world.