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LET THE LIGHT SHINE!
The Parable of the Lamp
Luke 8:16-18
Lars Wilhelmsson
Although Jesus couched much of His message in parables, He intended that the disciples
make the truths known as widely as possible.
Jesus probably told this parable scores of times during His ministry. It's found in several
places: Luke 11:33; Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21-25; Gospel of Thomas 32-33 (apocryphal).
These verses form a practical application of the famous Parable of the Sower and the
Soils. They are intended to nail and clench in our minds the lesson which that parable contains.
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts
it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing
hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known
or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen.
Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks
he has will be taken from him." (8:16-18).
In Jesus' day, lamps were made from clay. They were simple, with a reservoir for the
olive oil and a "nozzle" on which the flax wick would rest. Household lamps were small enough
to be carried in the palm of the hand. The lamp which Jesus was probably most familiar with was
the "Herodian" lamp, made on a potter's wheel of thin, light-brown clay, distinguished from later
lamp models by its downward-sloping wick nozzle.
LIGHTS ARE NOT LIT TO BE HIDDEN (8:16)
Jesus points to the purpose of lights:
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he
puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light" (v. 16).
Jesus' statement is so obvious it shouldn’t need to be said. If you're going to light a lamp,
you do it for illumination, not to hide or conceal it. If that were your purpose, you wouldn't light
it at all.
The point of the parable is simple and rather obvious. When it was dark enough to light a
lamp, you set it on a shelf in the stone wall of your home or on a wooden lampstand in the center
of the room—high enough to illuminate everything around so everyone can see.
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THE LIGHT IS THE WORD OF GOD
The theme of the first third of chapter 8 of Luke (vv. 1-21) is hearing the Word of God.
This means the light of the lamp in verse 16 is the Word of God, the message of the Kingdom
that Jesus. This is the message that Jesus has been proclaiming all over Galilee. Some will hear it
and not understand, in others the Word will see a little growth, in others the growth of the Word
will be choked, but in still others the Word will produce a crop of obedience, a changed life and
a fruitful ministry.
NOTHING WILL BE HIDDEN (8:17)
It is the destiny of truth that it will be eventually told:
"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed
that will not be known or brought out into the open" (v. 17).
One day everything will be revealed. Later in chapter 12, Jesus warns:
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not
be made known.”
God, who is Light, will penetrate the darkness. Nothing hidden will fail to be made
known.
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LISTEN (8:18)
Then Jesus argues that since nothing will be hidden (v. 17):
"Therefore consider carefully how you listen” (v. 18).
This is very similar to what Jesus said previously in verse 8 contained in the Parable of
the Soils:
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (v. 8).
Notice how many times the word "hear" appears in the Parable of the Sower and the
Soils.
". . . though hearing, they may not understand" (v.10).
"Those along the path are the ones who hear . . ." (v.12).
"Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy
when they hear it . . ." (v. 13).
"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear . . ." (v. 14).
"But the seed on good soil stands for those . . . who hear the word . . ." (v. 15).
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Jesus' brother James warns against self-deception in his epistle:
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who
looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like" (Jas 1:22-24).
Jesus traveled from village to city "proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God"
stating that His true family are those who hear God's Word and do it (Lk 8:21).
APPLICATION
Spiritual knowledge is to be shared. Not to do so is like an unlit candle or one hidden in
a jar or put under a bed—utterly useless. A candle is only useful when set upon a candlestick,
and placed where it can be made serviceable to the wants of men.
The Gospel which we possess was not given us only to be admired, talked of, and
professed--but to be practiced. It was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, and memories,
and tongues--but to be seen is our lives. Christianity is a talent committed to our charge, and one
which brings with it great responsibility.
We are not in darkness like the heathen. A glorious light is put before us. Let us take heed
that we use it. While we have the light let us walk in the light (Jn 12:35).
There are millions in the world who have no spiritual light at all. They are dead in
sin, without God, without Christ, and without hope (Eph 2:12).
Can we do nothing for them?
It is the purpose of light to shine.
These are questions to which every true Christian ought to find an answer. We should
strive, in every way, to spread our religion. The highest form of selfishness is that of the man
who is content to go to heaven alone. The highest form of love is to seek to share with others
every spark of religious light we possess ourselves, and so to hold up our own candle that it may
give light to every one around us. No candle which God lights was ever meant to burn alone.
We learn, secondly, from these verses, the great importance of right hearing. The
words of our Lord Jesus Christ ought to impress that lesson deeply on our hearts. He says,
". . . consider carefully how you listen."
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How do we hear correctly? Like the believers at Thessalonica (1 Th 2:13), we hear with
reverence because it is God who is speaking. We also hear with faith by putting our trust in the
God who is speaking to us, believing implicitly that every word of God is true. We must hear
with prayer recognizing that two-way communication is critical—listening and speaking—
sharing your desires and thoughts with God, who understands better than anyone else.
This message of the Kingdom of God must not be hidden or just whispered in secret.
Rather, it must be proclaimed openly and clearly "so that those who come in can see the light,"
so that it will provide illumination and power. Jesus is instructing his disciples here--Don't stifle
the message of the Kingdom but proclaim it openly!
Why would we as Jesus' disciples be tempted to do otherwise?
Possibly because of fear.
Fear of persecution is hinted at earlier in Luke 8:13. Why did the disciples flee
when Jesus was being crucified? Fear of persecution. Remember Peter? Since
we’re known by the company we keep, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus or
the other disciples.
Fear of rejection—that they won't be accepted. Fear of being ostracized from
"respectable society," expelled from the central community institution, the
synagogue.
Fear of ridicule. Isaiah, being a prophet knew all about ridicule. Yet he wrote:
“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in
your hearts. Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their
insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will
devour them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation
through all generations” (Isa 51:7-8).
If we have been tempted to hide the light of the message of Jesus' Kingdom, Jesus is
speaking to us—you and me—asking, “What will we do about it?”
Why is this so important? Because
"Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks
he has will be taken from him" (Lk 8:18).
Those who call themselves "Christians" but do not follow Him because they do not put
His teachings into practice will hear our Lord and Master say one day,
"I never knew you" (Mt 7:21-23).
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There is a children’s song that expresses the importance of putting God’s teaching into
practice, that is, the specific teaching about letting our light shine:
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Shine all over [name of town],
I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over [name of town],
I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over [name of town],
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
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This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.”