Why is salt required in every grain offering according to Leviticus 2:13? Scripture Focus – Leviticus 2:13 “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not let the salt of the covenant of your God be missing from your grain offering; you are to add salt to every offering.” Key Observations from the Verse • God commands salt on “all” grain offerings—no exceptions. • Salt is linked directly to “the covenant of your God.” • Omitting salt would render the offering incomplete and unacceptable. Covenant Significance • Numbers 18:19 calls the priestly provisions “a covenant of salt forever,” underscoring permanence and faithfulness. • 2 Chronicles 13:5 reminds Israel that the Davidic kingdom was granted “by a covenant of salt,” again highlighting enduring commitment. • Salt, therefore, marks offerings as tokens of an everlasting, unbreakable bond between God and His people. Symbolic Qualities of Salt in Scripture • Preservation – Salt prevents decay, picturing God’s power to sustain His covenant (cf. Isaiah 54:10). • Purity – Its cleansing properties mirror the holiness God requires (cf. Psalm 24:3-4). • Flavor – Salt brings out goodness, echoing the pleasing aroma God seeks in obedient worship (cf. Philippians 4:18). • Loyalty – Sharing salt in ancient Near Eastern culture sealed friendships; here it affirms Israel’s fidelity to the LORD. Christ-Centered Fulfillment • Jesus calls His disciples “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), showing that believers, by faith in Him, embody the preserving and purifying influence first pictured in the offerings. • Through His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10), Christ perfectly keeps the covenant, ensuring it can never “lose its saltiness.” • The grain offering pointed ahead to Jesus as the “bread of life” (John 6:35) seasoned with the faithfulness of God’s eternal covenant. Practical Takeaways for Today • Worship must not be offered on our terms but God’s; He still cares about the “salt” of sincere obedience. • Believers are called to live lives that preserve truth, display purity, and add godly “flavor” to a decaying world (Colossians 4:6). • Remembering that the covenant is everlasting gives assurance: God’s promises in Christ are as enduring as salt itself. |
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