Mark 9:50

καλὸν τὸ ἅλας. A fine thing is the salt. Here τὸ ἅλας is passing in meaning from the Divine to the human; in the next clause it is wholly human. Nihil utilius sale et sole (Plin. H.N. XXXI. ix. 45. 102). In LXX. and N.T., τὸ ἅλας is the common form, with τὸ ἅλα (cf. γάλα) as v. l. in good MSS. In class. Grk ὁ ἅλς prevails.

ἄναλον. Here only in N.T. and LXX. Apostles without the spirit of devotion and self-sacrifice, selfish Apostles who wrangle for the first place, are as worthless as savourless salt. We have a similar saying in the Testaments (Levi xiv. 4); “What will all the nations do, if ye are darkened in ungodliness?”

ἀρτύσετε. The verb means “prepare,” and especially “prepare and flavour food” (Colossians 4:6).

ἐν ἑαυτοῖς. See on Mark 13:9.

εἰρηνεύετε. see on 2 Corinthians 13:11. In LXX. it is freq. Elsewhere only in Paul. The fruits of the Spirit are ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη (Galatians 5:22). Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:3.