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Our blessed Saviour here compares Christians in general, and his ministers in particular, unto salt, for a double reason.
First, Because it is the nature of salt to preserve things from corruption and putrefaction, and to render them savoury and pleasant. Thus are the ministers of Christ to labour and endeavour by the purity of their doctrine, to sweeten putrifying sinners, that they may become savoury unto god and man, and be kept from being flyblown with errors and false doctrines.
Secondly, Because salt has an acrimony, a piercing power in it, which subdues the whole lump, and turns it into its own nature. Such a piercing power is there in the ministry of the word, that it subdues the whole man to the obedience of itself; Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another; that is, let all persons, especially ministers, retain a seasoning virtue in themselves, that they may sweeten and season others, even all that they converse with; and as salt has an uniting power, and knits the parts of the body salted together, so the upholding of union and peace one with another, will declare that ye have salt in yourselves.
Learn hence, That it is the duty of all Christians, but especially of the ministers of the gospel, to maintan brotherly concord and agreement among themselves, both as an argument of their sincerity, and an ornament to their profession.