Mark 9:50

[KingsGambit]

I have to admit I have no idea what Mark 9:50 refers to.

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

I looked the passage up in one commentary and the author only said that he had no idea what it meant himself.

[Cow Poke]

One of my favorite comments is by David Guzik who says....

"This passage has led to many different interpretations."

[mikewhitney]

I have to admit I have no idea what Mark 9:50 refers to.

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

I looked the passage up in one commentary and the author only said that he had no idea what it meant himself.

Those who ostensibly are of God, that is, the salt that heals and is a desirable spice -- when they become judgmental and they keep the true message from going forward, they have lost the benefits of being the salt. The solution is to make sure your message is consistent with God's purpose -- shared in humility savored with intent to promote peace.

[One Bad Pig]

It depends to some extent on v. 49, which appears to be attached to the previous verses. Unfortunately, there are variants in v. 49 which make things more difficult.

Source: Mk 9:49 NKVJ (Majority Text)

For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

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Source: Mk 9:49 NRSV (NU Text)

For everyone will be salted with fire.

© Copyright Original Source

Source: Mk 9:49 NRSV (footnote)

[For] every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

© Copyright Original Source

[One Bad Pig]

Those who ostensibly are of God, that is, the salt that heals and is a desirable spice -- when they become judgmental and they keep the true message from going forward, they have lost the benefits of being the salt. The solution is to make sure your message is consistent with God's purpose -- shared in humility savored with intent to promote peace.

That's a good sentiment, but how does one get that from the context of vv. 43-47[48]?

[Sparko]

Wow you guys don't know what it means? That's funny. I know exactly what it means. I could tell you but that would be a spoiler. Yeppers.

[mikewhitney]

That's a good sentiment, but how does one get that from the context of vv. 43-47[48]?

One should start with 42.

The passage talks about surviving a cleansing or purification through fire (vs 49) -- through a specific trialsome period. The temptation to overcome (for which to cut of one's hand, analogically speaking) was that of sharing a false message that caused young ones to stumble (and a message that went against peace in Christ). This passage was directed especially to a first-century Jewish context where their message had fallen away from the goals in scripture.

Edited comment:
verses 43-48 are interpreted in light of verse 42. Also, in the broader context of the gospels, we see that the message promulgated by the Jewish leaders did cause people to stumble.

We can see that within 43-48 there is an analogy where the body parts represent the cherished traditions of the people which in fact are sinful and are salt without flavor. These were traditions that caused the young to stumble -- where only the young were mentioned in this context even though, in the broader sense, all adherents to the message were stumbling.

[Teallaura]

I have to admit I have no idea what Mark 9:50 refers to.

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

I looked the passage up in one commentary and the author only said that he had no idea what it meant himself.

Salt was then, as now, obtained from two primary sources, salt water and mines. The problem was they didn't necessarily refine salt to the degree we are used to - it wasn't that easy a process to start with, hence the great value of salt in the ancient world.

Salt was rarely as pure as what we have on our tables. And yes, if it was allowed to get too wet, it could simply seep out the salt, leaving only the contaminants. 'Salt' would then cease to be salty.

[DesertBerean]

Salt was then, as now, obtained from two primary sources, salt water and mines. The problem was they didn't necessarily refine salt to the degree we are used to - it wasn't that easy a process to start with, hence the great value of salt in the ancient world.

Salt was rarely as pure as what we have on our tables. And yes, if it was allowed to get too wet, it could simply seep out the salt, leaving only the contaminants. 'Salt' would then cease to be salty.

Wow....we could get too diluted to be any good....

[lee_merrill]

A quote follows from the People's NT commentary...

Source: PNTC, Mark

must

© Copyright Original Source

Blessings,
Lee

[KingsGambit]

Salt was then, as now, obtained from two primary sources, salt water and mines. The problem was they didn't necessarily refine salt to the degree we are used to - it wasn't that easy a process to start with, hence the great value of salt in the ancient world.

Salt was rarely as pure as what we have on our tables. And yes, if it was allowed to get too wet, it could simply seep out the salt, leaving only the contaminants. 'Salt' would then cease to be salty.

So would this imply a teaching similar to Hebrews 6:4-6 that once you fall, you can't return?

[mikewhitney]

Salt was then, as now, obtained from two primary sources, salt water and mines. The problem was they didn't necessarily refine salt to the degree we are used to - it wasn't that easy a process to start with, hence the great value of salt in the ancient world.

Salt was rarely as pure as what we have on our tables. And yes, if it was allowed to get too wet, it could simply seep out the salt, leaving only the contaminants. 'Salt' would then cease to be salty.

That helps show some world-focused context for the original listeners to see the saltlessness as something normal in their world.

[Jedidiah]

So would this imply a teaching similar to Hebrews 6:4-6 that once you fall, you can't return?

This is not what Hebrews 6:4-6 teaches.

While I do not pretend to unravel the Mark 9:50 analogy what it teaches is pretty clearly a call to live like Christians.

[Teallaura]

So would this imply a teaching similar to Hebrews 6:4-6 that once you fall, you can't return?

No.

[hedrick]

I have to admit I have no idea what Mark 9:50 refers to.

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

I looked the passage up in one commentary and the author only said that he had no idea what it meant himself.