Luke 8:16-18
16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Questions:
ReplyDelete1. v16 - What it look like to cover our lamps, and how does this mesh with telling parables in stead of the plain truth?
2. v17 - When will all the secrets be revealed?
3. v18 - What does one have that it will be taken away or added to? Why?
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2017/06/mark-421-25-21-he-said-to-them-do-you.html says:
ReplyDeleteFirst, we are called to receive the light. . . Second, once we have received the light then we are called to walk in the light. . . Third, we are called to reflect the light.
darkness distorts reality. . . Light reveals things as they really are. . . We cannot live light-filled lives in our society without standing out, without having people notice us. They may not like us, and they may reject us; but they will know that we are there.
Jesus said two things would happen when you shine your light: 1. Men will see your good deeds. . . A watching culture sinking into the hopeless, despairing abyss of its own unchecked desires could not help but notice these Christians had something they needed. . . 2. They give God the credit. . . .That’s how much influence we have. We can point men to God. We can lead them out of dark-ness into the light.
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"As "salt", the Christian is to counteract the power of sin. As "light" we are to illuminate or make visible. . . It is important, however to know that it is not our light, but the reflection of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ Himself, that people will see in us.
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So, we are the salt of the earth to:
1. Take care of and respect His creation because He made it, even though He's going to destroy it soon.
2. Respect the people He created to earn an audience so that we can be light.
3. Respect the people He created just because He created them.
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The Gospel is a message of salvation, but it is also a message of confrontation. It is a message that reveals the darkness of the human heart. People are like insects and other creatures of the night, they flee light when it shines upon them. Why? Jesus said it was because “their deeds are evil”, John 3:16-21.
When the light of the Gospel shines into a person’s heart, it reveals all the darkness contained in that heart. That is a painful experience for the lost sinner. Yet, when the darkness is exposed to the light, the darkness will have to flee and salvation will be the result. The first step in coming to Jesus to be saved is having your sins exposed to the light.
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The person who hears the truth and passes it on will see his ability to receive truth expanded. As this kind of person hears the truth and gives it away, the Lord continually reveals more truth to him. He grows in the things of God in ways he could never have imagined. That is the promise to the person who gives away the light!
The person who rejects truth will see his ability to recognize truth diminished. Not only will this kind of individual receive less truth, they will eventually lose their grasp of the truth they once had.
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2017/06/mark-421-25-21-he-said-to-them-do-you.html continued:
ReplyDeleteMy 2 cents on the questions:
What should we be sharing? God is light. When we come to Him and submit ourselves to Him, His light shines in us. This is what we should be sharing - this light in us. This leads to the next question: What does sharing this light look like? I believe it's a life filled with thankfulness to God, glorifying God in everything we do. It's living a life that is responding to God's light in us. It spans everything good. That's why there is such diversity between Christians. This light shines in a multitude of ways.
Traditionally, some Evangelicals have limited shining light to Evangelism. Evangelism (done by and through Christ) is shining light. But to limit it to that is to devalue all the other ways people shine light.
Question 2 dealt with things we should not be sharing. When I formulated the question, I was thinking about truth (which is what I speculated seeds were). I am not sure if "seeds" and "light" are exactly the same thing. In the case of light, I believe that it is not defined as God's truth, but instead God's "being" (or presence or Spirit). It's what invades us when we are saved. God's light is something we should always be reflecting back to Him in praise. That light people will see and respond to.
We always reflect God's light, but we don't always share every truth without consideration of the receptor of truth. That's why I think that light and truth are not synonymous. Truth is something we use (by the guidance of the Holy Spirit) strategically - like Jesus did. Shining God's light is something we do all the time, without regard to people around us.
This answers the question as to how Jesus could constantly shine light but obscure the truth in parables.
4. Is Jesus describing Karma here? Who is doing the measuring out back to us?
5. Does this mean Jesus does not believe in the distribution of wealth? Does Jesus believe in the rich getting richer?
Jesus is making a conclusion to the parable of the sower. If we consider God's truth - if we listen carefully - God will reveal His truth to us, and we will get richer. Those who do not consider God's truth will not know the truth and they will be poor (in probably the only way that counts). This is not karma, this is God's Law. He gives good gifts to those who are ready and willing to receive them. He (in most cases) will not give His gifts to those who are not ready to receive them.
As far as the distribution of wealth goes, God freely distributes wealth (His truth) to those who are ready to receive it. He does this impartially. Anyone who is ready gets it. That's the part that is "fair". It's also "fair" to give truth to whoever is ready. It would make more sense to accuse God of being "unfair" if He withheld truth from those who are ready for it (as opposed to waiting for everyone to be ready before He gave truth universally).
Our readiness for truth creates the haves and have-nots in His Kingdom. That's the way it is - and I believe that it's the most "fair" way.
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-8-commentary says:
ReplyDeletethe fact that He has just been speaking privately to His disciples (see Lk 8:9+) would support the premise that He is still addressing the disciples.
Light reveals what we cannot otherwise see. The Word of God reveals truth about God we could otherwise not see. The Gospel reveals the way into the Kingdom of God which we could otherwise not see. The word also brings to light the secret things in people’s hearts (cf "reproof" in 2 Ti 3:16+). When a disciple hears the truth of the Word of God, the Gospel, he should not seek to hide it from others, nor to hide from it himself! Instead he should seek opportunities to proclaim it to those in darkness. He should also respond to any area of evil in his heart that has been exposed by the light! Why would Jesus tell this story at this time? I think John MacArthur is correct when he says "The fact that Christ taught mysteries in parables was not to suggest that His message was meant for elite disciples or that it should be kept secret." The point is that Jesus' teaching (whether in parables or not) should not be hidden, but should be displayed so that it can benefit others.
I agree with Steven Cole's explanation that "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 (Lu 8:17). Therefore, we must take care how we listen, so that we respond obediently to Jesus’ teaching, rather than shrink from it because it convicts us of sin. If we respond obediently, we will receive more light. If we shrink back, what light we think we have will be taken from us. Since God’s truth is revealed in Jesus, we must listen carefully and obediently or His teaching ultimately will judge us. Thus verses Lu 8:16 and Lu 8:17 make the point that God’s truth is revealed in Jesus. Verse Lu 8:18 applies it by stating that we must listen carefully or that very truth will some day judge us.
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-8-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteWiersbe - The disciples were perplexed because Jesus taught in parables, so they asked Him for an explanation (Luke 8:9–10; also see Matt. 13:10–17). His reply seems to suggest that He used parables in order to hide the truth from the crowds, but just the opposite is true, and Luke 8:16–18 makes that clear. His teaching is a light that must be allowed to shine so that sinners may be saved....A parable starts off as a picture that is familiar to the listeners. But as you carefully consider the picture, it becomes a mirror in which you see yourself, and many people do not like to see themselves. This explains why some of our Lord’s listeners became angry when they heard His parables, and even tried to kill Him. But if we see ourselves as needy sinners and ask for help, then the mirror becomes a window through which we see God and His grace. To understand a parable and benefit from it demands honesty and humility on our part, and many of our Lord’s hearers lacked both.
So what is the light? In context of the parable of the sower/soils it would seem to be another metaphorical picture of the Word of God. First Jesus said it was a seed to be planted in soil and now He says it is a light to shine into dark places. NET agrees writing that "Jesus is comparing revelation to light, particularly the revelation of His ministry. (cf Lk 1:78-79+)"
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?
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-8-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteFor God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Eccl 12:14)
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. (1 Cor 4:5)
But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. (Lk 12:2-3)
J C Ryle - The application of these words and their connection with the context are not quite clear. Their primary sense appears to be that the disciples must not suppose that our Lord’s instructions were intended to be kept secret, and reserved from the world. They were not to be confined to a few favored hearers, like the lessons of the heathen philosophers, but to be published, proclaimed, and made known to all mankind. In this way the light given to the apostles would be “placed on a candlestick,” and not covered and hidden. Some think that the words point to the day of judgment, and the account which will then be taken of the use which all who have seen the light of the Gospel have made of it.
Steven Cole - You may wonder, why wouldn’t everyone want God’s light to illumine their lives so that they can see how to avoid the holes and dangers of the dark? Jesus explained, “Men loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed” (Jn 3:19-20). This shows us a secondary purpose of Jesus’ teaching is to expose all that is hidden in the human heart (Lk 8:17). There also is debate about the meaning of this verse. Some think it refers to God’s truth that will be made obvious through the apostles’ teaching. But the warning in the next verse to hear carefully fits better with the view that God’s light exposes the sinfulness of human hearts. But therein lies the danger: we all are inclined to hide from the light rather than to allow it to expose the foulness of our hearts.
John MacArthur interprets Lk 8:17 in a slightly different sense - the true condition of the heart will eventually be revealed. Generally speaking, time and truth go hand in hand. Given enough time the truth comes out for men to see. It is, of course, never hidden from God....Jesus’ words evidently are a warning against hypocrisy, as an examination of the parallel statement in Luke 12:1-2 suggests.
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-8-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteLuke 8:18 "So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."
Ryle - Let it be remembered, in reading such sayings as these, that the bulk of mankind in all ages are peculiarly dependent on oral teaching.
Ryle's comment reminds me of the fact that "Incredibly 80% of the world, cannot or does not prefer to learn from reading." So one way to take the Gospel to them is orally.
For whoever has to him more shall be given - The question is "Has what?" In context it is the Word of God, specifically Jesus' teaching. Practically, Jesus says if you hear and you obey, you will understand. But if you disobey, you will not understand what He is saying. Beware of listening to the Word of God superficially! God's Word is not like a human writing. It deserves our utmost attention and our appropriate Spirit enabled response! Guzik says more shall be given is a reminder from Jesus reminds "that spiritual growth follows momentum, positive or negative - when we have the godly habits of receiving the word and living it, more is built on to that. When we lose those godly habits, they are extremely difficult to get back.
Steven Cole - Listening carefully to God’s Word involves several elements:
First, listening carefully means taking the time to read the Word and meditate on its meaning.
Second, listening carefully means always looking for Christ in the Word.
The third way to listen to God’s Word carefully: Listening carefully means always seeking to apply the Word to my own heart and life.
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-8-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteTHOUGHT - This principle applies to all mankind who hold their possession which end up possessing them, but in the end their possessions will all be taken away from them.
Steven Cole applies this passage to all of us - Because there is this element of self-deception, we must be very careful here. It’s easy for spiritual pride to slip in, where our knowledge of the Bible fools us into thinking that we are spiritually mature because we know so much (cf 1 Cor 10:12). We must constantly confront ourselves with the standards of Scripture applied to our thoughts, attitudes, and behavior, especially as seen in our relationships at home. Is my thought life pure? Do I deal with my grumbling, unbelieving, ungrateful spirit? Does my family see the fruit of the Spirit in my dealings with them? If I put on a good front at church, saying, “Lord, Lord,” but I don’t practice His Word in private and at home, I will be shocked some day to hear Him say, “Depart from Me, I never knew you, who practice lawlessness.” (Mt 7:23+)
NET Note on what he thinks he has - The phrase what he thinks he has is important, because it is not what a person thinks he has that is important but whether he actually has something or not. Jesus describes the person who does not heed His word as having nothing. The person who has nothing loses even that which he thought was something but was not. In other words, he has absolutely nothing at all.
Barclay - This is just another way of saying that there is no standing still in life. All the time we are either going forward or going back. The seeker will always find; but the man who stops seeking will lose even what he has.
MacArthur on listening - Frankly, good listeners make good company. Good listeners make good friends. Good listeners make good learners. And good listeners then make good teachers. Good listeners make good counselors. On the other hand, poor listeners who only want to hear themselves talk and even while forced to listen are only planning what they're going to say as soon as you take a breath are usually cheated out of the best relationships in life. Just from a human standpoint, learning how to listen is important. It determines an awful lot about our relationships to others. Far more important, however, than how we listen to others is how we listen to the Lord. How good are we at listening to God? What kind of listeners are we?...The kind of listener you are, the kind of hearer you are will tell you your spiritual condition....That will reveal to you whether you're the good soil or not. It's all about hearing.
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-8-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteHendriksen - With respect to men's responsibility in the matter of hearing or listening, three things are stressed in the Gospels:
a. That they should hear (Luke 8:8b), the emphasis being on hearing over against refusing to hear;
b. What they should hear (Mark 4:24), over against what not to hear; and
c. How they should hear (the present passage, Luke 8:18), attentively, judiciously, over against how not to hear...Some people listen hardly at all (Isa. 40:21).
Some listen merely to be entertained (Ezek. 33:31, 32).
Some listen in order to find fault (Mark 12:13; Luke 11:54).
Some listen in order to obtain true wisdom and to put it to good use (Acts 17:10, 11).
J C Ryle - We learn, secondly, from these verses, the great importance of right hearing. The degree of benefit which men receive from all the means of grace depends entirely on the way in which they use them. Private prayer lies at the very foundation of religion; yet the mere formal repetition of a set of words, when “the heart is far away,” does good to no man’s soul.—Reading the Bible is essential to the attainment of sound Christian knowledge; yet the mere formal reading of so many chapters as a task and duty, without a humble desire to be taught of God, is little better than a waste of time. ust as it is with praying and Bible reading, so it is with hearing. It is not enough that we go to Church and hear sermons. We may do so for fifty years, and “be nothing bettered, but rather worse.” Would any one know how to hear aright? Then let him lay to heart three simple rules. (1) For one thing, we must hear with faith, believing implicitly that every word of God is true, and shall stand. (2) For another thing, we must hear with reverence, remembering constantly that the Bible is the book of God. (3) Above all, we must hear with prayer, praying for God’s blessing before the sermon is preached, praying for God’s blessing again when the sermon is over. Here lies the grand defect of the hearing of many. They ask no blessing, and so they have none. The sermon passes through their minds like water through a leaky vessel, and leaves nothing behind. Let us bear these rules in mind every Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached. Let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if it mattered not in what way such work was done. Let us carry with us faith, reverence, and prayer. If these three are our companions, we shall hear with profit, and return with praise.
(3) Above all, we must hear with prayer, praying for God’s blessing before the sermon is preached, praying for God’s blessing again when the sermon is over. Here lies the grand defect of the hearing of many. They ask no blessing, and so they have none. The sermon passes through their minds like water through a leaky vessel, and leaves nothing behind. Let us bear these rules in mind every Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached. Let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if it mattered not in what way such work was done. Let us carry with us faith, reverence, and prayer. If these three are our companions, we shall hear with profit, and return with praise.
1. v16 - What it look like to cover our lamps, and how does this mesh with telling parables in stead of the plain truth?
ReplyDeleteCovering our lamps looks like being worried about what others will think of us. It's about self-preservation. Assuming we are not guilty of self-preservation, the Spirit may lead us to plant the seeds of the Gospel in various ways to various people. I may be wrong, but I think it's rarely good for people to hear all the truth at once, unless their soil has been prepared for it. People have to be ready for the truth, and we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit about how to plant seeds based on people's limited ability to hear the truth at a particular time.
Honestly, I'm still working through this. Jesus taught in parables and only to those who were really interested did He share more. I think we need to do something similar, but am not sure what that looks like yet. The Bible commands us to share the Gospel to all ends of the earth. I picture a person standing on a street corner yelling out the Gospel to whoever will listen. But, I don't think that's the best method for sharing the Gospel. I think that Jesus' example of teaching in parables is one we should consider carefully.
Finally, we need to examine ourselves for fear or self-preservation. If we have those, we have not fully submitted ourselves to Christ and need to repent. We cannot and should not be hiding the light that God has put in us.
2. v17 - When will all the secrets be revealed?
There's at least two possible answers. a. This may be talking about Judgement Day where it could be saying that everything we've ever done will be made plain. b. or, it may be saying that we can't put a lid on the Gospel. It will get out even if we try to keep it secret. The light within us will be discovered, if indeed we have that light within us.
I can't see why both of the above can't be true. I think Judgement Day will reveal everything, but this parable's context is in spreading the seed. That seed will be spread even if don't participate. If we truly are good soil, we will participate and produce fruit.
3. v18 - What does one have that it will be taken away or added to? Why?
Light and fruit. If we produce fruit, God will prune us to make us produce more. If we don't produce fruit, we are in sin, and what little good soil we have will return to dead soil.