Title: Salt in Scripture: Is It Good or Bad?

Topic: Word

Summary: A study of salt in both its positive and negative meanings; includes an exploration of Swedenborg's concept of "correspondences."

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Genesis 19:23
Exodus 30:35
Leviticus 2:12-13
Numbers 18:18-19
Deuteronomy 29:21-23
Joshua 3:14-end
Judges 9:44-45
2 Kings 2:19-22
2 Chronicles 13:4-5
Ezra 6:9; 7:22
Jeremiah 17:5-7
Ezekiel 16:1-4; 43:24; 47:11-12
Zephaniah 2:9
Matthew 5:13
Mark 9:49-50
Luke 14:34-35
Colossians 4:5-6

60. People who do not have an appropriate concept of spiritual and heavenly realities cannot grasp the fact that heavenly and spiritual realities are arranged and connected in this form and image. They think that the earthly and material elements that make up their outmost form really make them what they are, and that without them they would not be human. Let them know, though, that they are not human beings because of these elements but because they are able to understand what is true and will what is good. These are the spiritual and heavenly realities that make them human.

People do recognize that the humanity of every individual depends on the quality of his or her understanding and intentions. They can also realize that the earthly body is formed to serve them in this world and to perform useful actions in a suitable manner in this outmost sphere of nature. This is also why the body does not do anything on its own, but acts in complete obedience to the bidding of our understanding and intentions. This holds true even to the point that our tongue and mouth say whatever we think, and the body and its limbs do whatever we intend. The actor is therefore our understanding and intention, not the body on its own. We can see from this that matters of our understanding and intention are what make us human, and that these are in a similar form because they act into the very details of the body just the way an inner reality acts into an outer one. It is because of these facts that we are called inner and spiritual humans. Heaven is this kind of person in the greatest and most perfect form.