Luke 8: 16 – 18 The Parable of the Lamp

Luke 8: 16 – 18 The Parable of the Lamp

"No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp-stand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away."

Wow! These three short verses are packed with meaning. First the lamp under the bushel basket verse. What is this all about? Of course no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bushel basket. That would defeat the purpose. But what does Jesus mean? What or who are the lamps, and what is the light? Is he speaking strictly to his followers? Are they the lamps, and the knowledge and the spirit they’ve been given the light? Or is it for all of us and everything both spiritual and material we have been given – to gather and display the power and reality of our gifts and share them with the world. What do you think? Then comes the next verse about light. It comes across as a sort of warning that nothing we do will remain hidden from the light. In the first case, the light has the power to illuminate, to guide, to keep away the darkness. In the second case, the light exposes, reveals what was thought to be hidden. The final verse in this short passage sounds a warning - “To the one who has, more will be given, and he who has not, will lose what little he has”. Seems kind of harsh, especially as a stand- alone statement. But if it is put in the context of the preceding statements about light and its uses, and also in the context of the Parable of the Sower, some conclusions come to mind. Those who have spiritual and material gifts are urged to share them. But in order to receive those gifts, you must be open (as in the Parable of the Sower to the Word, work to retain it, and then let it bear fruit in you. Those who are closed miss out – on God’s Word, on the spiritual gifts, on becoming light in the world. And if you keep your gifts hidden through selfishness, laziness, greed, etc. then you will be exposed as such and truly lose out.