Mark 9:49-50
According to Cranfield1 and Evans2, the two verses - Mark 9:49-50 - are most probably independent sayings that were placed there due to the word "fire" present in the preceding passage. Nevertheless, in my opinion, due to their presence in this passage, both v.49 and v.50 must be interpreted in context.
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 Salt is good,
but
if it loses its saltiness,
how can you make it salty again?
Have salt
in yourselves, and
be at peace
with each other.
Salt: one word; different meanings
v49: Salted with Fire
Although verses 49 and 50 go together, the word "salt" in these two verses don't necessarily mean the same thing.
Verse 49 - "Everyone will be salted with fire" - could possibly have a positive meaning — such as being purified through "fiery" trials and persecution, as suggested by R.H. Stein.3 However, its close association with the "fire" of hell in the preceding verses gives me the impression that the connotation is negative. It could well be a continuation of Jesus' description of hell, where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. (9:48).
Verse 50a: The Flavor of Salt
"Salt is good!" This declaration reminds us of Jesus' statement regarding his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth."4 How can salt be without saltiness. According to Stein, who agrees with Hooker,
In Palestine “saltless [ἄναλον, analon] salt,” often a mixture of salt and impurities such as gypsum, was mined from the Dead Sea and frequently appeared as perfectly good salt. 5
Verse 50b: Have Salt in yourselves
The concluding statement is a good example of parallelism in which the second part explains or amplifies the first part. To "have salt in yourselves" is to "be at peace with each other."
Context is king!
The meaning of being "at peace with each other" is best understood in the light of the literary context of 9:33 to 9:48.
Be free from strife stemming from personal ambition (9:33-37):
When Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Capernaum, the disciples were discussing among themselves as to who was greatest among them. Jesus promptly addressed that issue after they arrived in Capernaum.
Be at peace with other groups that use Jesus' Name (9: 38-40):
In other words, do not claim a monopoly over Jesus' name. John reported to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us." (9:38) Jesus corrected John's outlook. He taught his disciples to be at peace with anyone who was not against them. "For whoever is not against us is for us." (9:40)
Do not cause others to sin:
"If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea." (9:42)
Do all you can to resist sin (9:43-48):
A three-fold repetition of Jesus' warning to stay out of hell and to enter "life" or the "kingdom of God" shows us how important it is to resist sin. The command to remove one's offending eye/hand/foot is certainly not to be taken literally. "No sin is worth going to hell for."6
Therefore, to "have salt in yourselves" means to be at peace with all Christians and with oneself, free from sin and offense.
1 C.E.B. Cranfield,
The Gospel according to Saint Mark. Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1959. p. 315.
2 C. A. Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20. Word Biblical Commentary 34B. Nashville: Nelson, 2001. p.72.
3 Robert H. Stein, Mark, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2008. p. 450.
4 Matthew 5:13.
5 M. D. Hooker, The Gospel according to Saint Mark. Black’s New Testament Commentary. London: Black. 1991. Cited by Stein, Mark, 2008. p. 450.
6 Stein, Mark, 2008. p. 449.
