For every one shall be salted with fire: and every victim shall be salted with salt.
οπου ο σκωληξ αυτων ου τελευτα και το πυρ ου σβεννυται
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He declares that all shall be “salted with fire,” meaning that each person will face trials, akin to Paul's assertion that everyone will undergo testing through fire (1 Cor. 3:13). Furthermore, Jesus refers to the command from Leviticus, stating, “every sacrifice shall be salted with salt” (Lev. 2:13). Thus, we are called to season our offerings with the salt of God. This implies that our sacrifices should not be feeble or deficient, but rather robust and vigorous.
All individuals shall be seasoned with fire, and every offering shall be seasoned with salt. Prior to this, the Lord stated that we must be prepared for all forms of sacrifice and self-denial if we wish to remain on the righteous path. Even if these sacrifices are as precious to us as our own eyes or as essential as a right hand, we must present them without reluctance. For if we hesitate to make such offerings and allow ourselves to stray from the path of righteousness, we will inevitably face eternal suffering in the life to come. Therefore, it is wise to endure a painful and sorrowful sacrifice in this life to evade torment in the next. Without experiencing the purifying fire here, one cannot escape the eternal flames.
Anyone seeking salvation must be refined by fire, undergoing a process of purification. Each of us, by the divine order of creation, is called to sacrifice ourselves to God; however, all of us are tainted. Thus, it is imperative for us to cleanse ourselves so that we may become an offering acceptable to the Lord. This process of purification requires us to wrestle with and remove our passions, which may feel as agonizing as being burned by fire. The act of internal purification is akin to the fire that refines metal. Metal, devoid of sensation, would simultaneously endure both the refining and the burning if it were capable of feeling; this reflects the experience of an individual undergoing self-purification. After enduring this process, it seems as though they are wholly scorched by fire. The refining fire penetrates every part of them, just as salt infiltrates the flesh of the offering being seasoned. Only those who experience this transformation become true sacrifices that are pleasing to God. Therefore, it is essential for everyone to be seasoned with fire, just as every offering in the Old Testament was salted before being presented as a burnt sacrifice.
Indeed, such offerings can be painful. However, the Lord reminds us that every sacrifice is seasoned with salt. It is essential; we must confront the heat of affliction. If one does not wish to endure it here, they will surely face it there. Just as every offering in the temple is seasoned with salt for the Lord, so too must each person who presents themselves as a living sacrifice to God infuse their spirit with this sacred essence; otherwise, they risk being consumed by their own desires. Those chosen to be the salt of the earth must be particularly vigilant in this regard. - Salt is valuable, but if it loses its flavor, how can it be restored? - Thus, the Lord concluded this teaching by instructing us to possess and maintain the essence of salt for our own benefit and that of others. Additionally, He emphasized the importance of harmony among one another, urging us to avoid disputes and irritation that might lead to animosity.
Everyone will undergo the refining fire. The term "for" serves to explain the prior call to self-denial, connecting this verse with verses 43-48. The use of "everyone" indicates that this does not refer solely to the fire of Gehenna, as the righteous are exempt from it, while only the sinners are subject to such judgment. The essence of this passage conveys that due to the sinfulness present in the world, each individual must be refined through salt, either voluntarily by enduring the trials of temptation and self-denial, or involuntarily through the fire of Gehenna if they choose not to resist temptation.
And every offering must be seasoned with salt. The conjunction cannot be interpreted as a mere comparison, thus the overall message transcends such an interpretation regarding sacrifices in the Old Testament. It introduces a crucial aspect of spiritual self-sacrifice: every act of self-denial, to be deemed acceptable by God, must be infused with the salt of genuine Christian wisdom and a true understanding of the spirit of the Gospel of Christ. Not every unfavorable circumstance resulting from a Christian's actions guarantees divine reward.
Salt is valuable; however, if the salt loses its taste, how will it be restored? In a similar context in Matthew 5:13, the apostles are described as the salt of the earth. This saying also pertains to them. Christ concludes His discourse here, relating all previous content to the Apostles, emphasizing that they, as the salt of the earth, must first experience the refining fire of self-denial and sacrifice, executed in accordance with the true spirit of the Gospel.
Maintain the salt within yourselves, and foster peace among one another. Cultivate the spirit of authentic Christian self-denial (a negative aspect) while also nurturing peace among yourselves (a positive aspect). The final instruction highlights that Christ's address has continuously acknowledged the personal contexts from which it began.
Just as every offering is seasoned with salt for its sanctification, every soul must undergo purification by fire or possess a cleansing essence to prevent corruption. In order to emphasize the importance of maintaining this mutual harmony, which had been disrupted, and to remind them that regardless of the severity of God's anger towards the tempters, they should not harbor hatred even for those who have wronged them, the Savior provided detailed guidance on how to treat one another and how to address a brother who has transgressed (Matthew 18:15-22).
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS