Question
A Lamp on a Stand
Luke 8:16-21
Key Verse 16
“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.”
1. Read verse 16. Where does someone put a lighted lamp? Why should a lighted lamp be put on a stand? What might a lighted lamp represent? (16, John 3:19-21, 1 John 1:5-7)
2. Read verses 17, 18. What will happen to hidden things? How do you think this applies to your life? Why should we carefully listen? (18) What do you think can make it difficult for you to listen to God’s word?
3. Read verses 19 - 21. Who comes to see Jesus? (19, 20) What does Jesus say about who his family is? (21) What can we learn from how Jesus defines a spiritual family? (1 Peter 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Timothy 3:15) What does it mean to you to be a part of Jesus’ family?
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Message
Those who come in can see the light
Luke 8:16-21
Key verse 8:16
““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.”
In the previous passage Jesus taught the secrets of the kingdom of God. The secrets is the word of God. The kingdom of God is created as one hears the word of God and retains it and perseveres to the end. Then the word of God produces the kingdom of God. Jesus explained the word of God as seed. But he did not explain what happens to the word of God itself when a man hears it and retains it and perseveres. He did not tell what the word of God does in the heart of men in detail. Indeed to bring the kingdom of God through God’s word is invisible and mysterious work of God.
So today we want to know what happens to the word of God itself when a man of noble and good heart hears it, retains it, and perseveres. How does the word of God itself produce the kingdom of God in man’s heart? That is the question we want to think about today, and today’s passage gives the answer.
Part I. Therefore consider carefully how you listen (v.16-19)
Part II. My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice (v.20-21)
Part I. Therefore consider carefully how you listen (v.16-19)
Look at verse 16.
“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.”
This teaching is very plain. Who does not know if a man lights a lamp he does not hide it but puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light?
But why does Jesus say such a simple thing? He did it because he wants to reveal deep secrets of the kingdom of God in a simple way.
Now what can ‘the lamp’ refer to? Spiritually speaking, the lamp can stand for people like Jesus’ disciples. Now what does ‘the light’ stand for? “The light” can refer to ‘the light of the word of God’. And who lights the lamp? Who enlightens the word of God? God. So as one hears the word of God, accepts it, and perseveres, God lights the word in his heart.
Then the man suddenly sees that the word of God begins to shed deep spiritual light, and he will be able to see things under the wonderful light. He will say, “Wow! I never knew it. I never saw it.”
Most of all, the expression, “those who come in can see the light” is significant. Figuratively speaking, it may refer to those who enter into the Holy Place in the temple of God in the old testament period. When priests come into the Holy Place they can see the light from the golden lamp-stand during the night. As the night deepens, the brightness of the golden lamp light becomes greater. And indeed they see the light, the light from the golden lamp-stand when they come in. Before they come into the chamber, they cannot see the light. God’s secret room is the place where we can see the light of the word of God.
What does the word of God reveal when it is illuminated by the Holy Spirit? The word of God reveals Jesus.
It is true that God revealed Jesus through his word. John 17:7-8 reads, “7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”
Jesus revealed himself by giving the word of God to his disciples. When they accepted the words of God they could know with certainty that Jesus came from God, and God sent Jesus. When they heard the word of God and retained it, and persevered they could see Jesus who came from the Father and entered the world.
Indeed the word of God reveals Jesus as the man of noble and good heart hears the word, retains it, and perseveres.
And the Bible says Jesus is the light.
John 1:9 says, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
Jesus himself declared in John 8:12b “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
But the question is ‘how can we see Jesus, who is the light?’ Bible says ‘through the revelation of the word of God”. Here it is expressed as “those who come in can see the light.” Therefore to come into the room where God lights the word of God, where the word of God sheds spiritual light, is the key.
How can we enter into the room? By hearing the word with noble and good heart and retaining it and persevering. That is the way to come into the room where God lights the word of God.
2 Peter 1:19 says the same truth. “19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
When a man pays attention to the word of God until the day dawns and the morning star rises in his heart he will see the light of the word of God. The revelation of the word of God will lead him to see the true light, Jesus.
Surely, the kingdom of God will come in the hearts of men when they come into a room where the word of God is shining in its light.
Jesus’ disciples come into the room where Jesus lights the lamp when they hear the word of God, retain it, and persevere. But other people can also come into the secret chamber of God when they hear the word of God from Jesus’ disciples and retain it and perseveres to the end. God’s secret room where people can see the light of the word of God and experience the kingdom of God calls for those who are ready to hear the word of God with their whole heart.
The word of God also reveals every hidden and concealed things. Look at verse 17.
17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
Jesus used this verse to explain why those who come in can see the light. Why can they see it? It is because there will be no secrets.
What is the hidden and concealed things? They are the secrets of the kingdom of God. They are Jesus himself who is the suffering Messiah who will be raised on the third day. So far Jesus and his gospel and the kingdom of God have been hidden and concealed as secrets and mysteries. But now Jesus came, and he fully explained the secrets of the kingdom of God. So they are not secrets anymore. They are not hidden or concealed. They are brought out to open, and they are known to everyone who truly hears what Jesus says.
The truth is that the word of God reveals all other hidden and concealed things. Look at Hebrews 4:12-13.
“12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
The last sentence says, “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Do you know what it means? It means there is God’s judgment, and we cannot hide anything. Since we cannot hide anything, and we will be judged by God what should we do? We should live in the sight of God, and we should invest our lives in order to be rich in the sight of God.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20 “19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Look at Hebrews 4:12 again. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
The word of God is alive and active. It is the word of the living God. So it is alive and active. It is so sharp that it penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joint, and marrow. It even judges the thoughts and attitude of our hearts. Did you know your heart has attitude?
The deep things of us such as what is in our soul and spirit and the attitude of our hearts can be hidden and concealed that we may not know what is there. Even if we want to repent we may not be able to know what to repent. But as we hear the word of God with noble and good heart, retain it, and persevere, the word of God with its light will show what is there in our deep heart. Then we can repent our hidden and concealed sins.
That is how the word of God which is alive and active can create the kingdom of God in our hearts.
The word of God, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, also reveals the ultimate destination of men.
Look at 2 Timothy 4:1-2.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
In the end, the ultimate picture we see is God, Jesus Christ who will appear with his kingdom and judge the living and the dead. This is our ultimate future.
In view of Jesus appearing with his kingdom, Apostle Paul asked Timothy to preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season. Most of all he encouraged Timothy to be ready to meet Christ Jesus who will appear with his kingdom.
He helped Timothy to live in the sight of Jesus because Jesus will surely come again. Timothy will surely see Jesus face to face. So it would be better for Timothy to hear from Jesus, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful to preach the word, now join in my happiness.”
Look at verse 18.
18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Here the word ‘listen’ has the same root of the word ‘hear.’ So we can say, “Consider carefully how you hear. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Jesus teaches that if we have a right attitude about hearing the word of God, we can receive more revelation from the word of God. If not, we will lose even what we think we have.
The word of God will be taken away from those who do not pay attention to the word of God. What will happen to them? They will not have the kingdom of God. They will live in the kingdom of the devil. Those who are so stingy that they do not want to spend their time to hear the word of God carefully because they are so busy with many other things will be shocked to see that all the word of God they think they have will be taken from them, and they will be in torment of hell in the kingdom of the devil.
Part II. Jesus honors those who hear the word of God and put it into practice. (v.19-20)
Look at verses 19-20.
19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Here Jesus does not mean we should ignore our parents. What Jesus teaches here is that the close relationship with Jesus does not depend on blood relationship or the length of attending a church or anything else but on hearing the word of God and putting it into practice.
Look at John 14:21-23.
“21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
Jesus said if one loves him by obeying his teaching the Father and he will love that person, and they will come to him and make their home with him. What does it mean? Those who love Jesus by obeying his word become family members of Jesus and the Father. We know our family members have a special relationship among them.
In the same way those who hear the word of God and obey it will enjoy such an intimate and privileged relationship with Jesus. What a wonderful blessing we have if we hear the word of God and put it into practice. To be a family member of Jesus means to have the kingdom of God in one’s heart.
Jesus had already taught the importance of putting his word into practice.
Look at Luke 6:46-49.
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
In conclusion, what happens to the word of God when a man of noble and good heart hears it, retains it and perseveres? When he does it, God lights the word of God. Then he can see Jesus who is the true light. He can see what is hidden in his deep heart and soul and repent. He can see what is final destiny of men. He can see Jesus appearing with his kingdom to judge the living and the dead, and he will preach the word so that those who come in, those who consider what he preaches carefully, will also see the light and be saved.
This is what happens to the word of God when a man hears it with noble and good heart and retains it and perseveres. This is how the kingdom of God comes to him through the word of God. This is how the kingdom of God comes to others who hear the word of God he preaches carefully.
When a man hears the word of God and obeys it he will have such an intimate and close relationship with Jesus as his family members.
One word: Those who come in can see the light