A light that cannot be hidden

Mark 4:21–25 (NIV)

21He 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?

22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

23If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

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

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

BASKET CASES

Many Christians today are hidden from sight, reluctant to be identified as Christians. Such a Christian is like a brand-new light that never leaves the carton it came in. If a lamp doesn’t help people see, it isn’t worth much. Does your life show other people how to find God and how to live for him? If not, ask what “baskets” have hidden your light. Complacency, resentment, embarrassment, stubbornness of heart, or disobedience could keep you from shining.

Believer’s Bible Commentary E. The Responsibility of Those Who Hear (4:21–25)

E. The Responsibility of Those Who Hear (4:21–25)

4:21 The lamp here represents the truths which the Lord imparted to His disciples. These truths were not to be put under a basket or under a bed, but out in the open for men to see. The bushel basket may represent business, which if allowed, will steal time that should be given to the things of the Lord. The bed may speak of comfort or laziness, both enemies of evangelism.

4:22 Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables. The underlying truth was hidden. But the divine intention was that the disciples explain those hidden truths to willing hearts. Verse 22 might also mean, however, that the disciples should serve in constant remembrance of a coming day of manifestation when it will be seen if business or self-indulgence were allowed to take precedence over testimony for the Savior.

4:23 The seriousness of these words is indicated by Jesus’ admonition: “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

4:24 Then the Savior added another serious warning: “Take heed what you hear.” If I hear some command from the Word of God, but fail to obey it, I cannot pass it on to others. What gives power and scope to teaching is when people see the truth in the preacher’s life.

Whatever we measure out in sharing the truth with others comes back to us with compound interest. The teacher usually learns more in preparing a lesson than the pupils. And the future reward will be greater than our puny expenditure.

4:25 Every time we acquire fresh truth and allow it to become real in our lives, we are sure to be given more truth. On the other hand, failure to respond to truth results in a loss of what was previously acquired