Those who come in can see the light
Luke 8:16 - Are you sharing the Light of Jesus through the way you live your life?
“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”
Luke 8:16 NIV
Today’s verse from the Gospel of Luke comes from the words of Jesus. This parable is repeated in the other synoptic gospels, attesting to the importance of what He was teaching His disciples.
In the time of Jesus, all interior lighting at night came from either torches (for large spaces) or lamps fueled with vegetable oil like the one in the image above. The lamps were known in Ancient Greek as λύχνος (lychnos), and Scripture is full of references to lamps as a way to “enlighten” a room. As a small oil lamp would have a limited illumination, they were often placed on a lamp stand - a lychnía - to extend the reach of the light to more of the room.
Like all parables, this is a statement conveying a meaning indirectly by the use of analogy. Jesus was, of course, not making an offhand remark about the effective use of oil lamps in lighting — He was making a point about not hiding the truth of the Word of God from others, but instead finding opportunities to pass it on to those still in darkness.
From Precept Austin comes this explanation from Steven Cole about this particular parable:
"The flow of thought seems to go back to verse Lu 8:10+, where Jesus explained that the purpose of His parables was both to reveal truth to the spiritually responsive and to conceal truth from the spiritually superficial. Jesus does not want His disciples to think that His main purpose is to conceal truth. Thus He gives the illustration of the lamp being set on the lampstand, not hidden under a container or bed, to show them that the main purpose of His teaching is to illumine the truth, not to hide it. But, at the same time, light serves two functions: it illumines, but it also exposes. Jesus’ teaching not only illumines the truth, it also exposes the evil that lurks in the dark corners of the human heart.”
The website also cites this commentary from David Guzik:
“If you have the truth of God, you have a solemn responsibility to spread that truth in whatever way God gives you opportunity, even as someone who has the cure for a life-threatening disease has the moral responsibility to spread that cure. God didn’t light your lamp so that it would be hidden. One must either spread the word itself, or spread the influence of God’s word by bringing others to a place where they will hear it; and you really should be doing both.”
And this final word from J C Ryle, also found on Precept Austin:
We learn, firstly, from these verses, that spiritual knowledge ought to be diligently used. Our Lord tells us that it is like a lighted candle, utterly useless, when covered with a bushel, or put under a bed,—only useful when set upon a candlestick, and placed where it can be made serviceable to the wants of men. When we hear this lesson, let us first think of ourselves. The Gospel which we possess was not given us only to be admired, talked of, and professed,—but to be practised. It was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, and memories, and tongues,—but to be seen in 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. (John 12:35.) But let us not only think of ourselves. Let us also think of others. There are millions in the world who have no spiritual light at all. They are without God, without Christ, and without hope. (Ephes. 2:12.) Can we do nothing for them?—There are thousands around us, in our own land, who are unconverted and dead in sins, seeing nothing and knowing nothing aright. Can we do nothing for them?—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 truest charity is to endeavor to share with others every spark of religious light we possess ourselves, and so to hold our own candle that it may give light to every one around us. Happy is that soul, which, as soon as it receives light from heaven, begins to think of others as well as itself! No candle which God lights was ever meant to burn alone.
Simply said, this parable is a call for those of us who have received God’s truth to “enlighten” others who are still living in darkness. Are you sharing the Light of Jesus through the way you live your life?
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Your love and Word is a lamp for our lives, shining the light of Your love so brightly that we often can’t fathom how all-encompassing it is. Your light is eternal, shining through the darkness of doubt, cruelty, and sin. Help us to place Your light high on a pedestal through our witness and kindness to others. We pray this in the name of Jesus, AMEN.