The disciples were confused because the Lord Jesus taught in parables, so they asked Him for an explanation. His reply was He used parables in order to reveal the truth to those wanting to believe. He also used parables to hide the truth from those who didn't want to believe.
The main idea in today's text is in v.18 which reads, "Therefore consider carefully how you listen." This is a constant theme in Scripture. The command, "Hear the Word of the Lord," appears thirty-five times in the Old Testament. The command, "Hear, O Israel," appears many times in the Old Testament. Numerous times God says, "Listen to Me." Several times in the Scripture the phrase, "Today, hear His voice."
The Lord Jesus made a statement in v.8, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." It is a serious thing to hear and understand the Word of God, because this puts on us the obligation to share that Word with others. Everyone who receives the seed then becomes a sower, a light-bearer, a transmitter of God’s truth.
In v.16, we read, "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." The "fruit" of v.15 is the "light" of v.16. It is the disciples to whom He is speaking now. Fruitful soil bears God's fruitfulness when properly plowed by the conviction that we are dependent upon the Lord Jesus for all things.
The Lord Jesus here is giving a story that anybody could understand. It is an analogy the Lord Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:15. He also uses it later in Luke 11:33: "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light." It is self-evident truth. It's what we call an axiom because it's self-evident. Nobody lights a lamp to put it out. We light a lamp to give light. Being careful to not hide the light of God, the gospel, from those around us is His point. We light a lamp in order for others to see. Having experienced God for ourselves, we desire to let His shine that others might see His work in our lives.
The Lord Jesus had just told them, "I'm speaking in parables so you will understand, but I'm also speaking in parables so they won't." He had rendered a verdict on those who are in unbelief. They are that way because the do not listen. And, He knows the disciples are thinking that they were to do the same thing. The Lord Jesus, wanting to make sure that misunderstanding doesn't exist in their minds, says, "No, the light was lit in you to be kept burning."It is not for the disciple to do only as the Lord Jesus can do. So He is saying to the disciples, "It's not for you to put the light out. Only I can make that determination, it's for you to let it shine, to proclaim it to everybody."
As followers of the Lord Jesus, we are to take the gospel everywhere. We are to let His light shine in, to, and through us as we come into contact with people. In Matthew 5:14, the Lord Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. You are like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. So let your light shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." True believers hear and proclaim. Now that we have the light, the Good News, the free gift of the forgiveness of sins, we do not conceal it.
In v.17 we read, "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." The Lord is addressing what is on the inside. He's talking about our authenticity. When He says, "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed," the assumption is we are hiding something. But it's not going to work because it's going to be made evident.
In the second part of v.17 He says, "and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." The light of the word of God not only reveals to others their need for the Savior, it also shines on our hearts revealing its true condition. We must be careful to not be hypocrites because this will hinder the effectiveness of the Gospel in the lives of our hearers.
In v.18 we read, "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." This is another statement the Lord Jesus used on a number of occasions. Whoever has eternal life, whoever genuinely has salvation, will be given more life. And whoever does not have God's life in them, whoever doesn't hear with a believing heart, loses absolutely everything. The unbeliever loses and will spend eternity in a place of judgment where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Our wills are governed by our hearts and what our hearts love. The Bible teaches that our new hearts are a work of God. In Ezekiel 36:26 He told us, "I will give you a new heart." In Jeremiah 24:7 He said, "I will give them a heart to know Me." So we should be in the habit of asking God to give us a passionate heart for Him and that it translates into a compassionate heart for the lost.
