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Colossians, part 14, Are You Seasoned?

Colossians 4:2-4 says,

² Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving, ³ praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; ⁴ that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

It is not clear if Paul was still instructing slaves or if he was now addressing the entire church. Yet the principle applied to the entire church, even beyond the Colossian church, extending even to believers today. Paul himself no longer needs God to open doors for him, but the need continues to the end of the age. Hence, we ask you to pray for us as well, that God would provide open doors for the word of reconciliation and the gospel of the Kingdom to be preached.

My personal request is that the word may be spoken with clarity. The law was given to Moses in the Passover Age, and the law was prophetic. Yet it was obscured by its form—types and shadows, a silhouette of the truth. The New Testament was written with greater clarity under the anointing of Pentecost, but many questions and disagreements yet remain which have fractured the believers into many denominations.

As we come into the Tabernacles Age, more clarity will be given—and is already being given to us. For this reason, we desire more open doors for the gospel of the Kingdom, so that “the people who walk in darkness will see a great light” (Isaiah 9:2).

The Salt of Grace

Colossians 4:5, 6 says,

⁵ Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Paul was recommending godly wisdom, not the wisdom of this world that God destroys by the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18, 19). The “outsiders” are the unbelievers in the darkened world. The instruction is not to be defensive or combative, but strategic, thoughtful, and honorable in dealings with those outside the faith. Thus, Paul calls for a wise demeanor that reflects well on Jesus Christ.

“Making the most of the opportunity” is more literally: “redeeming the time” (exagorazomenoi ton kairon). Recognize moments when conversation may open a door for witness (Colossians 4:3), buying up opportunities as a merchant buys valuable goods before anyone else, and actively taking the initiative rather than being passive. Paul does not tell them to force opportunities but to seize them when God presents them.

Their “speech” should not compromise the truth but should be spoken with the right tone that is “seasoned with salt.” Numbers 18:19 commands that every sacrifice and offering in the law was to be seasoned with salt.

¹⁹ All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you.

Again, the prophet Abijah said in 2 Chronicles 13:5,

⁵ Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?

A salt covenant was made in those days when two parties exchanged grains of salt from the bag of salt that they carried. The idea was that this covenant could be broken only if those grains of salt could be returned to the original owner.

So we read again in Leviticus 2:13,

¹³ Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering, with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

Ezekiel 43:24 clarifies this by extending the salt requirement to “burnt offerings” as well. To season with salt extended God’s salt covenant to the sacrifices and offerings. Salt is a preservative, so it suggests an enduring covenant that cannot be broken. So also in Colossians 4:6 Paul equates salt with “grace,” which is based on the immutable promise of God.

Salt of the Earth

Jesus said in Mark 9:49, 50,

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

Jesus tells us that salt indicates being “at peace with one another.” To be at peace points back to the peace offerings, which the New Testament explains in terms of reconciliation. Sin offerings dealt with sin; peace offerings dealt with reconciliation. Both were accomplished by Jesus’ death on the cross, because, as the supreme Sacrifice for sin, He Himself was seasoned with salt in order to reconcile all of creation to Himself. As members of His body, we too “are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13).

Hence, our speech and the tone of our words ought to reflect Christ’s character. Being God’s salt agents, we are the reason the earth is preserved. With Paul, we have been entrusted with “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18) who bring peace to those who are hostile to God.