Mark 9:50

Context

Mark 9:33–50 records teaching that Jesus gave to the twelve disciples in Capernaum. The teaching begins with the disciples' dispute on the road over "who should be the greatest" (9:34). Jesus speaks in turn about receiving a little child, about John forbidding another man who was casting out demons in Jesus' name, about the sin of causing a little one to stumble, and about cutting off the hand or foot, or plucking out the eye, that causes one to sin. He then says, "For every one shall be salted with fire" (9:49), and closes the entire teaching with this verse. The verse therefore serves as a conclusion addressing the rivalry and quarreling among the disciples.

Interpretation

• As the character of the disciple: Just as salt gives flavor to food and prevents decay, disciples must not lose their distinctive character and devotion. Many commentators add that salt in ancient Palestine was not always pure, so that moisture could sometimes dissolve it until its saltiness was gone and only residue remained.
• As sacrifice and purification: This reading connects the verse with the immediately preceding phrase in 9:49, "salted with fire." Taking as its background the ordinance in Leviticus 2:13 requiring salt on the grain offering, it understands the verse to mean that disciples are purified through trials and become an offering to God.
• As covenant and friendship: In the ancient Near East, eating salt together signified the establishment of friendship and covenant, and the Old Testament speaks of "a covenant of salt" (Numbers 18:19). Against this background, "Have salt in yourselves" is paired with "have peace one with another," and the verse is read as speaking of covenantal bonds within the community.

Questions of Application

Interpretation of this verse does not differ markedly among denominations. Nevertheless, several questions are regularly discussed.

• The Greek expression rendered "in yourselves" can be read either as "within each of you" or as "among you." The former emphasizes the inner life of the individual; the latter emphasizes relationships within the community.
• There is a textual variant at 9:49. Some manuscripts include the additional clause "and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt." Because of this variant, scholars differ on how much weight to give a reading grounded in the background of sacrificial offerings.
• The figure of salt also appears in Matthew 5:13, in the Sermon on the Mount, and in Luke 14:34–35. It is often noted that, whereas those two passages generally speak of the disciple's role in the world, Mark connects the figure with peace within the community.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the figure of salt is cited chiefly in the form of Matthew 5:13, "the salt of the earth." Mark 9:50 is used as a text urging reconciliation in sermons addressing conflict within the church and the fellowship of believers.

Related Passages

• Matthew 5:13
• Luke 14:34–35
• Colossians 4:6
• Leviticus 2:13
• Numbers 18:19