(16) No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but pits 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. Take care then how you hear…
– Luke 8:16-18
What is being taught here? Well, it’s important to notice that this series of “mini-parables” directly follows the parable of the sower and its explanation in which Jesus highlights the fact that various soils (hearts) receive seed (His word) in various ways, and only the soil that bears fruit (the heart that obeys) has truly received the seed/word.
In light of this parable and explanation, Jesus’ words in verses 16-18 seem to make a bit more sense, He is explaining what right hearing of the word–what fruit bearing–looks like.
The lighting of the lamp is parallel to the receiving of seed. Seed has not been truly received if their is no fruit, and in the same way, a light has not truly been lit if there is no light in the house (since no one lights a lamp to hide it under a jar).
If someone says, “I’ve lit a lamp” But there is no light, then we suspect them of lying. I think verse 17 continues this line of thought. The “for” indicates that it is supporting Jesus’ statement in verse 16 about a lamp lighting the entire house, which leads me to read it as essentially saying, “There is nothing hidden inside if their is nothing manifest outside”. In other words, there is no light in that house if you see no light coming out of it…to say something is present but to give no evidence of its presence is to be exposed as a liar–or self deceived.
Jesus follows this up by warning His hearers to “take care” how they hear. If we have truly heard Jesus’ words (i.e., received the seed, lit a lamp, have his word hidden in us), then it will be evidenced by the obedience of love (i.e., bearing fruit, giving light, becoming manifest). If there is no obedience/fruit/light manifest outside in the practical sphere of our daily lives, then there is no reason to believe that there is faith/received seed/lit lamp inside.
The frightening part is that Jesus says, in verse 18, that for the one who has not (which I take to mean, who does not have true faith), “even what he thinks he has will be taken away.” To be self deceived is a terrifying thought…what can we do? Throw ourselves on the mercy of God in Christ, ask for hearts open to His word, and feast on the gospel of the crucified and risen Son….because it is only by abiding in Him that any fruit will be borne in our lives (John 15:5).
