LAMP UNDER A BOWL---MT 5:14-16
TEXT:
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus used parables to make truth simple and understandable. However our responses to the truth are not always the same. We all receive the truth, but few of us know how to deal with it. Jesus taught the people by telling them parables; these were short stories using familiar scenes to explain spiritual truth. By teaching this way he compelled the listener to think and concealed the truth from any who were too stubborn or prejudiced to hear what is being taught. Most parables have one main point, so we must be careful not to go beyond what Jesus intended to teach.
BACKGROUND TO THE PARABLE.
Mt 4: 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
Capernaum (from Heb. KapharNahum, village of Nahum) Jesus moved from Nazareth, his home town, to Capernaum which was about 20 miles further north and this became his home base during His ministry in Galilee. Jesus probably moved from Nazareth because of the intense opposition against him but in so doing He knew that He would be able to reach a much larger audience because Capernaum was a large city, He also knew that His message would spread more quickly and that He could expect some help and support for His ministry.
It also fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
THE PARABLE EXPLAINED
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Though the Jews saw themselves as the light of the world (Ro 2:19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,), the true light is the Suffering Servant (Isa 42:6; 49:6), and this was fulfilled in Jesus himself (Mt 4:16; Jn 8:12; 1Jn 1:7). And because we are to be his disciples, we then constitute the new light. (Eph 5:8-9; Php 2:15). Light symbolizes purity as opposed to filth, truth as opposed to error, knowledge as opposed to ignorance, and divine revelation and presence as opposed to condemnation and abandonment by God.
The reference to the "city on a hill" is at one level fairly obvious. Often built of white limestone, ancient towns gleamed in the sun and could not easily be hidden. At night the inhabitants’ oil lamps would shed some glow over the surrounding area. As such cities could not be hidden, so also it is unthinkable to light a lamp and hide it under a bowl. A lamp is put on a lamp stand to illuminate all it touches. The "city on a hill" saying may also refer to OT prophecies about the time when Jerusalem or the mountain of the Lord’s house would be lifted up before the world and the nations would stream to it
Isa 2: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD
Jesus’ disciples constitute the true authority of the people of God and the means of witness to the world.
The "lamp" was a small clay dish filled with oil and a wick that gave light. Disciples are like that lamp - to be revealers of light and truth. This lamp was in every home in Israel and, of necessity, was given a prominent place
In the parable of the lamp, the lamp represents Jesus who has come. As the purpose of the lamp is to be put on a lamp stand and not under a bowl or a bed, so the present hidden ness of Jesus will not always be, and God intends that one day Jesus will be manifested in all his glory. But now he is hidden. It is therefore of utmost importance for us to be careful hearers, i.e., to have spiritual perception.
HOLD HIGH THE TRUTH
A Christian is one who has a journey with truth in the most innermost parts of his heart. He loves truth. Psalm 51:6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
As we have said "Light" is a synonym for truth in the Bible. Like the lamp the believer is to enlighten by standing for God’s truth. See II Peter 1:19; Psalm 43:3; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 119:130; Proverbs 6:23; Ephesians 5:13; I John 1:5-7. When a person isn’t right with God it shows in their countenance - the light has gone from their eyes. See Proverbs 15:13, 30; Ezra 9:8; Psalm 38:10; Proverbs 21:29.
"Darkness" is a synonym for ignorance and error in the Bible. Eph 5:8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. II Corinthians4: 4-6. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
CONCLUSION
As Christians we cannot and must not withhold the truth, since truth is light then it would be unnatural to do so. Is it possible to hide a city that sits on the top of a hill? Of course not! Its light can be seen for miles. If we live for Christ, then we will have influence and that influence should shine forth like the light on top of a lamp stand, it should glow to show others what Christ is like so that God will receive the glory for all that is good in our lives. Too many of us become quiet when we should speak; we find it easier to go along with the crowd and in so doing we deny the light. We let sin into our lives, which only serves to dim the light. And lastly, ignoring the needs of others, we become so wrapped up in our own lives that we tend to pull the curtains and shut the light in… Don’t shut your light of from the rest of the world. We are vessels for the indwelling spirit of God; we are to be that light on its stand reflecting the light of God that burns from whithin
Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over,
the day is almost here.
So let us put aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light
