21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Devotional
In the first part of Jesus’ exhortation He is comparing His gospel with that of a lamp, which is not brought out to be put under a basket, or placed under a bed, but on a lampstand (vs. 21). Now in Jesus' sermon on Mount, Jesus says something very similar when people are in relationship with Him “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:15-16
In the sermon of the Mount Jesus is talking about believers good works which bring glory to God. Here in this parable though Jesus is referring to the Kingdom of God and its declaration, in essence evangelism (vs. 21-23). For the Gospel is not to be hidden from people. It is to be shared openly and without partiality. For what the Lord Jesus Christ said and did, He did publically. He never tried to conceal His purposes. He came forth from God as the Light of the World and His Word is not hidden from those who accept it and obey it.
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4:3-6
Therefore Jesus’ Words in verse twenty two “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light." May be construed as meaning all of Scriptures mysteries will be revealed in their time. Jesus then concludes His exhortation by saying “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Vs. 23
Now in verse twenty four and five Jesus says: “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
These verses are linked to God’s revelation that He brings forth through Christ. Jesus Christ is not only God Incarnate in the flesh as a Man. He is the Living Word of God who not only declares it, but also brings to life by God’s Spirit all who repent and believe in Him through it. The importance then of how ones hears Him through His Word cannot be overstated! That is what the Lord Jesus is emphasizing in verse twenty four and five. Those then who hear the Lord Jesus Christ and do not harden their hearts to Him, and thus measure Him according to what God says of Him, will likewise be measured appropriately as belonging to Him, and thus more revelation of God in Christ will be given them. But those who do not, who do not believe, or ascribe to the Lord Jesus Christ something less than who He is will likewise be measured by that same judgment, and with that they cannot be said to belong to Him. For you cannot lesson the Person of God’s Son and declare yourself as having faith in God! The Lord Jesus concludes by saying: “…to you who hear, more will be given” 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
Devotional
In the first part of Jesus’ exhortation He is comparing His gospel with that of a lamp, which is not brought out to be put under a basket, or placed under a bed, but on a lampstand (vs. 21). Now in Jesus' sermon on Mount, Jesus says something very similar when people are in relationship with Him “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:15-16
In the sermon of the Mount Jesus is talking about believers good works which bring glory to God. Here in this parable though Jesus is referring to the Kingdom of God and its declaration, in essence evangelism (vs. 21-23). For the Gospel is not to be hidden from people. It is to be shared openly and without partiality. For what the Lord Jesus Christ said and did, He did publically. He never tried to conceal His purposes. He came forth from God as the Light of the World and His Word is not hidden from those who accept it and obey it.
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4:3-6
Therefore Jesus’ Words in verse twenty two “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light." May be construed as meaning all of Scriptures mysteries will be revealed in their time. Jesus then concludes His exhortation by saying “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Vs. 23
Now in verse twenty four and five Jesus says: “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
These verses are linked to God’s revelation that He brings forth through Christ. Jesus Christ is not only God Incarnate in the flesh as a Man. He is the Living Word of God who not only declares it, but also brings to life by God’s Spirit all who repent and believe in Him through it. The importance then of how ones hears Him through His Word cannot be overstated! That is what the Lord Jesus is emphasizing in verse twenty four and five. Those then who hear the Lord Jesus Christ and do not harden their hearts to Him, and thus measure Him according to what God says of Him, will likewise be measured appropriately as belonging to Him, and thus more revelation of God in Christ will be given them. But those who do not, who do not believe, or ascribe to the Lord Jesus Christ something less than who He is will likewise be measured by that same judgment, and with that they cannot be said to belong to Him. For you cannot lesson the Person of God’s Son and declare yourself as having faith in God! The Lord Jesus concludes by saying: “…to you who hear, more will be given” 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
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