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Mar_9:50. Καλὸν … ἀρτύσετε ] a maxim of experience drawn from common life, in which τὸ ἅλας is to be taken literally. Then follows with ἔχετε κ . τ . λ . the application, in which the spiritual meaning of the salt (wisdom, see on Mar_9:49, and Buxtorf, Lex. Talm. p. 1208) emerges. The connection with what precedes is: In order to experience in yourselves on the establishment of the kingdom the truth: πᾶσα θυσία ἁλὶ ἁλισθήσεται , ye must—seeing that salt, which in itself is so excellent a thing, when it has become insipid, can in no wise be restored—preserve in your hearts the salt of true wisdom[131] and withal be peaceful one with another. Against both the disciples had sinned by their dispute about precedence (Mar_9:34), from which the entire discourse of Jesus, Mar_9:35 ff., had started, and to which He now again at the close points back. This contest about precedence had been foolish (opposed to the ἅλας ) and unpeaceful.
ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας ἄναλον κ . τ . λ .] Comp. on Mat_5:13.
ΑὐΤῸ ἈΡΤΎΣΕΤΕ ] wherewith shall ye restore it? so that it shall again be provided with saline efficacy (comp. on Col_4:6).
ἔχετε ] emphatically placed first: keep, preserve, which is not done, if the analogue of the ἄναλον γίνεσθαι sets in with you.
ἘΝ ἙΑΥΤΟῖς ] in yourselves, correlative to the subsequent ἐν ἀλλήλοις (reciprocally). Comp. Bengel: “prius officium respectu nostri, alterum erga alios.”
ἍΛΑ (see the critical remarks) from Ὁ ἍΛς . See Lobeck, Paralip. p. 93.
καὶ εἰρην . ἐν ἀλλ .] The annexing of this exhortation was also suggested by the conception of the salt, since the salt was symbol of a covenant. Hence the course of thought: And—whereof ye are likewise reminded by the symbolic significance of salt—live in peace one with another.
[131] Comp. Ignat. ad Magnes. 10 : ἁλίσθητε ἐν αὐτῳ ( Χριστῷ ), ἵνα μὴ διαφθαρῇ τις ἐν ὑμῖν .