A Lamp Under A Jar (Luke 8:16-18)

Question 1

Significance (v.16 “light”

Answer 1

• Where there is light there is no darkness
• Light = hope and positive
• Dark = negative
• Light itself is present for all (salvation is for all)
• Can choose to light the lamp but it is your own choice

Question 2

Significance of the passage

Answer 2

• The theme of ‘the word of God’ is continued. The importance of response shown in the parable of the sower is continued
• Jesus is challenging his audience to respond to the word of God. Hear the word of God and do it!
• The word is pictured as “light”, openly available to all, but you need to choose it

Question 3

Literary form

Answer 3

• Some scholars call it a parable, but its more of a proverb, a wise saying
• Could also be described as a series of aphorisms (pithy statements - observations that contain general truth e.g. ‘if it ‘aint broke, don’t fix it) - v.16,17,18

Question 4

v.16 “no one after lighting a lamp hides it…”

Answer 4

• Logical, an obvious statement, a proverb
• It’s obvious that the purpose of lighting a lamp is not to hide the light, but to illuminate a room so that those who enter can see
• If you have a light, you should not keep it to yourself
• Lighting a lamp requires oil and others
• Light reveals, you CANNOT hide things
• Jesus is the way to an understanding of the word of God
• Through Jesus, you get entry to the kingdom of God
• Everyone must choose how they respond to that message

Question 5

“lighting a lamp”

Answer 5

• Either an oil burning light or an open lamp with a candlestick.
• The image of a lamp is used to show that all things will be exposed - light reveals
• The light represents Jesus’ teaching
• It is available to everyone and it shows the way to God
• Jesus makes the way of God available, and each person is to choose how they respond to it
• If the light is hidden, it is because of the soil on which it falls - not because it was unavailable. Light is accessible!
• Luke’s audience is indirectly encouraged to go and function as light also - to openly go to the world and proclaim the word of God
• You have a responsibility to spread the truth

Question 6

“That those who enter may see the light”

Answer 6

• The message to the audience is that if you have the truth of God, you have a solemn responsibility to spread that truth in whatever way God gives you opportunity, even as someone who has the cure for a life-threatening disease has the moral responsibility to spread that cure. God didn’t light your lamp so that it would be hidden.

Question 7

v.17 “for nothing his hidden that will not be disclosed”

Answer 7

• This is the reason to listen to Jesus’ words, the ‘word of God’
• The light also exposes things that you don’t want to see
• A warning, you can’t just say you don’t know (you are choosing to close your eyes and ignore it, therefore its not hidden you just chose to close your eyes
• Your choice will be revealed

Question 8

v. 18 “pay attention how you listen…”

Answer 8

• Warning for the day of judgment, that all will be revealed
• Those with eyes will see it
• See Proverbs 9:9 (‘Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.’)
• While those who don’t receive the word of God don’t have it, and eventually lose whatever they already have
• See Luke 19:26 (‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’)
• Antithetic Parallelism (stresses the importance of hearing rightly and not being like the seed that comes to nothing)

Question 9

“even what they seem to have will be taken away”

Answer 9

• Failing to pay attention/ hear may result in losing whatever one has
• Our response to Jesus’ teaching is absolutely crucial. It is crucial for Jesus’ audience, Luke’s audience and us today as well.

Question 10

Themes and messages

Answer 10

• Jesus Mission / Discipleship
• In this passage, Jesus stresses the importance of his teaching (the ‘word of God’) and its authority
• The word of God is public
• It is a light that can guide
• It was not given to be hidden (the word of God will always spread, it will reveal and expose everything else: a warning and also a blessing)
• Overall message = you have a choice to make, how are you going to respond to the word of God?
• This message will not be lost - it will one day reveal and expose everything
• Care should be given to the way it is responded to - if we want to hear more from God, we must obey what we have already heard
• Spiritual gain or absolute loss is at stake

Question 11

Thematic links

Answer 11

• The word of God
• Many ‘hear’ the word, but only few DO something about it
• Many hear the word of God, but it is only ‘faith’ that ‘saves’
• Faith is not a momentary decision - it takes loyalty and perseverance