A Lamp is Not Hidden :
A Lamp is Not Hidden 21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand?
22 For there is nothing hidden, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light.
23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 And he said to them, “Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.
25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.
21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? (cf. Mt. 5:15; Lk. 11:33). :
21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? (cf. Mt. 5:15; Lk. 11:33). Jesus had brought a new covenant and exposed the kingdom neither of which were to be hidden.
This revelation, however, could not be fully understood until Jesus’ death and resurrection
His resurrection was a demonstration of God’s ability to overcome the most terrifying event in human life, the fear of death.
The lamp is a symbolic reference to the apostles, and all of Jesus’ followers.
The light of Jesus’ truth has been revealed to us, not hidden.
The light of this truth needs to be shared with others by our modeling of Christian values demonstrated by the way in which we live.
4:21-25 A Lamp under a Bushel Basket :
4:21-25 A Lamp under a Bushel Basket Sometimes we put the “basket” of resentment, stubbornness, fear or disobedience over God’s light by not forgiving those who have offended us, not being open to acquire a deeper spirituality, being fearful of future events or simply being sinful in other ways.
These are the “baskets” we use to cover the light of truth, to cover our Christian values and to give ourselves permissions to live in a worldly way. The light is the gospel, the Word of the Lord.
In ancient Israel, a lamp had a lighted wick in a clay bowl that was filled with oil.
The Apostles Were the Lamp to Bring Light Into the World. :
The Apostles Were the Lamp to Bring Light Into the World. Like the farmer in the parable of the Sower, our job is to sow the seed of the gospel in a largely hostile, and unfertile world.
The truth about Jesus had enlightened His disciples, and now it was their ministry that would need to shine that light onto a sin-darkened world.
Mt. 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The benefits of knowing Jesus and seeking salvation were not to be kept to themselves, but passed on to future generations.