In Luke 8, Jesus tells us that the light will make everything become evident – so we need to be careful how we listen.
Scripture:
Genesis, chapters 20-22; Luke, chapter 8
Luke 8:16-21 (NASB):
“Now no one lights a lamp and covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light. For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
Now His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see you.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Observations: Putting the Light on a Stand So Everyone Can See It
This illustration of someone lighting a lamp and putting it on a stand is another familiar image in Jesus’ teaching. In the Sermon on the Mount, He tells His followers: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
It’s the same imagery, but with a slightly different lesson. In Matthew, Jesus tells His followers that they need to let their light shine so that people can see their good works and glorify the Father. We’re not trying to cause other people to see us; we want them to see what God is doing in and through us. If the point is to glorify the Father, then it’s not really about us.
In Luke’s passage, Jesus’ point seems to be different. The light shines to reveal what has previously been hidden. For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. His purpose in telling us this is so that we take care how we listen. Listen to whom? To Jesus, of course! He is the Light that gives life to all that hear and respond to Him.
Responding to the Light
At first blush, the next few verses don’t seem to connect with the first part of the passage. Jesus has been talking about the light and taking care how you listen. Then, His mother and brothers come to Him. They were unable to get to Jesus because of the crowds. Someone came to Jesus and told Him that they were outside and wanted to see Him. Jesus said, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Jesus is not “disowning” His earthly family. Instead, He is speaking about the expansive nature of God’s family. He makes a similar point throughout His ministry: God’s Kingdom is made up of those who do God’s will. Jesus calls us to respond to His light by hearing the word of God and doing it.
That’s the connection between the two parts of this passage. The light reveals everything; when we hear God’s word, we need to respond by doing it. Deep down, we all know that God sees everything. However, because nothing is concealed that will not become evident, in the end it will become clear who did God’s will and who did not.
Application: The Light Shines, So Take Care How You Listen
Take care how you listen. Jesus has been talking about light, about seeing and revealing. Now, He talks about listening. The implication is that God will tell us what He wants us to do; that’s why it’s important for us to listen. Jesus makes that plain when He says in verse 21 that My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.
There is a big difference between “hearing” and “listening.” We “hear” all kinds of things throughout the day. If you’re in a public place, like a store, or walking down the street, you can hear people talking. Cars drive by, some with stereos blasting. Much of what we “hear” in these settings is not anything we want to listen to!
But when God speaks to us, we need to take care how we listen and do what God says. And the primary way that God speaks to us is through His written Word – Scripture. In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul reminds us that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, rebuke, correction., and training in righteousness. God has given us His Word. Throughout the ages, He inspired it, protected it, and led the Church to gather it. He inspires those who translate it, and those who teach it. So if we’re not reading Scripture and putting it into practice, why should we expect God to “speak” to us in other ways?
The Light Shines, So Hear the Word of God and Do It
That’s the other part of “listening” that we sometimes overlook. To listen to God means to do what He tells us.Jesus makes it clear that this is the way that we know that we are part of God’s family. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21). Jesus says that there will be those who claimed to prophesy, do miracles, and cast out demons in His name. But He will say to them, “I never knew you.”
Why? Because what’s important is not doing what we think is best; what’s important is doing what God says. I’m afraid that there are a lot of people who are doing what they think is best – but it’s directed at earthly kingdoms and power, not God’s kingdom.
But the point is not for us to judge them; the point is for us to judge ourselves. God calls us to let the light shine, so that the light will reveal things. He calls us to listen, and do what He tells us. And we need to be careful about supporting and excusing those who act contrary to God’s word. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him. People may think they have power or fame or wealth, but in the end these earthly “treasures” will come to nothing.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding us to listen to You. You speak to us through Your word, through Your servants, and through Your Holy Spirit. Help us to remember that those who proclaim messages that contradict Your word are not telling us the truth. Guard us against “accumulating teachers in accordance with our own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3). As Jesus prayed for us, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Help us each day to listen to You, and to willingly set ourselves apart for You. Amen.
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