The Parable of the Lamp

Mitch Marlowe

The Parables of Jesus from Mark's Gospel • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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Introduction

Jesus finishes His discussion about the sower and continues to teach HIs disciples with the Parable of the Lamp.

Mark 4:21–25 NIV84

21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

There are four things we should take from this parable. We will look at the lamp, the listening, the learning and the lesson.

The Lamp (vs. 21)

Tradition holds that most houses had an oil lamp that was used to bring light into the home. In the tabernacle, that light was set on a stand so that it would be brighter.

The Light of the Lamp

Let’s look at the light of the lamp. The purpose of light is to diminish darkness. The literal translation for the light means “to show the way to go.” No wonder we see the connection to not only what Jesus has said, but what Jesus said about Himself!

John 1:5 NIV84

5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 8:12 NIV84

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has shared that the light had been revealed. When the light is revealed, it is not revealed to be put under a bowl or bed.

The Lamp Under a Bowl

When the lamp is put under a bowl or under a bed, the light goes away. Jesus is saying here that the intention of the light is to shine, not be hidden. What have you done with the light of Jesus? Have you hidden it? Jesus had some strong words about hiding the light which ultimately denies Him.

Matthew 10:33 NIV84

33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

The opposite of putting the lamp under a bowl or a bed is to put it on a stand.

The Lamp on a Stand

This statement may have been prompted from the law of the Old Testament and the emphasis of light in the Tabernacle.

Exodus 25:37 NIV84

37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.

The idea of setting them up was putting them on a stand so the light could shine brighter and further. Mark is emphasizing here the imagery of Jesus. God’s purpose is to enlighten and reveal through Jesus. Theologian James Edwards wrote, “The very humanness of Jesus governs the glory of God from overwhelming and blinding the world, and invites people to discover the Kingdom by experience.”

Jesus is emphasizing that His followers should be listening and not hiding what is said.

The Listening (vs. 22-23)

Verses 22-23 emphasize this through three laws or facts.

The Law of the Hidden

First, we see the law of the hidden. Basically, it says whatever is hidden, it cannot be really hidden as it will ultimately become unhidden. The ultimate purpose in hearing the stories Jesus tells is not to hide it, but to reveal it. We are all in a spiritual battle against evil. Some will be destroyed in the battle, yet God will win! The emphasis goes from the law of the hidden to the law of the hearing.

The Law of Hearing

Mark 4:23 (NIV84)

23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

This is not saying if you have ears hear the noise. It is saying to listen in a way that you can understand and perceive what is being said. We must hear our way into the Kingdom of God. Does that mean a deaf person cannot enter the Kingdom of God? Absolutely not. It means that anyone who gets into the Kingdom of God must hear with understanding. Luke 11:28

Luke 11:28 NIV84

28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

We need to hear the Word of God and make good use of it.

James 1:22 NIV84

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

This leads us to the third law of listening and that is the law of the heard.

The Law of the Heard

What keeps you from listening to the Word of God as Jesus reveals it like He did here? I am sure we could come up a list with many distractions. In fact, on your outline I have asked that question to ponder this week.

Jesus’ words declare we are responsible for the light or the knowledge we receive. As the lamp is not hidden, knowledge… based on the Word of God, cannot or should not be hidden.

When something is heard, learning then takes place.

The Learning (vs. 24-25)

Learning takes place when something is considered carefully. Funny how we have those exact words in this passage. Verse 24 says, “Consider carefully what you hear.” Every great teacher knows that whatever is considered carefully and learned, it can be measured.

It is Measured

The greatest teacher of all reminds us here that how we hear His commands will be measured by the standard we set.

Mark 4:24 NIV84

24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.

Interestingly here, the word measure is in this sentence twice and they mean two different things. The first measure means a rule of judgment. The second measure is space of distance determined by a measure’s rule. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary states, “The more one listens to the word of Jesus with spiritual perception and appropriates it, the more the truth about Jesus will be revealed.”

The more you can measure its worth, the more meaningful the learning will be.

It is Meaningful

The learning is meaningful when you carefully pay attention to it and allow it to change your life! What you get from it depends on what you put in to it! A fruitful response depends on a pre-existing capacity to receive the word. It reminds me of the parable of the sower and the summary found in Galatians 6:7

Galatians 6:7 NIV84

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Not only is it meaningful, but it is memorable.

It is Memorable

One will never forget how the light has changed their lives, especially when it reveals the dirtiness of our sinful ways! Jesus gives a warning here is verse 25.

Mark 4:25 NIV84

25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

In other words, we must use it or lose it! Parables that are heard with proper understanding and response will bring a rich reward that will change one’s life forever!

So what is the lesson of this parable of the lamp?

The Lesson

Hear the Words of Jesus

First and foremost, we must hear the words of Jesus. We must study them well! We must look at their meaning. We must ask questions. Remember the words of Jesus, Matthew 7:7

Matthew 7:7 NIV84

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

We need to hear the words of Jesus.

Heed the Words of Jesus

We need to heed the words of Jesus. We need to pay attention to what you hear from Jesus and act on it! We cannot just merely hear the word and so deceive ourselves as we have already seen in James. We must do it! We must act on it!

Hope in the Words of Jesus

Finally, we can put hope in the words of Jesus. We can trust Him and His words. Jesus will never fail us!