Jesus offers strong words in today’s passage. He cautions the listener to attend to behavior and speech. We could quail in the face of these challenges and assume that going to hell is a given. Yet Jesus, using the colloquial patterns of his culture, loves to overstate in order to make a point.
I am a native Texan, and my own regional sayings have something of this flavor. My grandmothers would say, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.” Or, “Bite your tongue before you say that.” I knew they weren’t being literal. I also knew they were trying to make a point. Colloquial speech doesn’t beat around the bush.
Jesus desires our awakening from collective slumber. He wants us to notice how we wound one another with unthoughtful speech. Jesus senses that we have fallen into a spiritual narcolepsy. He believes we need strong metaphors. Such serious and yet playful speech can stir our hearts, clear our minds, and kindle our spirits.
After all, we need to have salt in ourselves. As any cook will tell you, a bit of salt brings forth the flavors of a dish. Too much, and you taste only salt. Having a little salt—even through hyperbolic warnings—in the dish of life helps us remember that God created us to live with love, joy, gentleness, kindness, self-control, patience, generosity, compassion, and faithfulness.
Wake up! Be kind! Care for yourself and one another! For heaven’s sake, live like you’re alive! God calls us to choose life.