16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” Luke 8: 16-21 ESV
Luke 8: 16-21
The question in this section is to whom is Jesus speaking? Some commentators think it is the multitude, but the fact that He has just been speaking privately to His disciples (see Lk 8:9+) would support the premise that He is still addressing the disciples. And remember that at this time, the disciples is not referring to just the 12 who were also apostles, but also to others who were following Jesus as "learners." The disciples in this latter group does not signify they were believers in Jesus for they likely spanned the spectrum from some who were becoming believers to others who were not but who were interested. - Precept Austin
No one after lighting a lamp - Think of this in the context of the parable of the soils which precedes it. The soil, or heart that was tilled, broken up, made ready to receive the seed, that soil received it, and the evidence was what? It produced fruit, 30 fold, 100 fold, that is a more than effective planting, those are astounding results.
…18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.… John 3: 18-20
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.… Matthew 5: 13-15
Covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed - The fruit here, the evidence, is that light, truth, has entered into the prepared soil of this person's heart, and it can't just stay there. It does not stay hidden, but like the apple tree it gives evidence of itself in the season of it's fruit. And in the fruit, the food from the tree, is also the seed of the next generation. In other words, the one who receives the light, in turn, shares the light. They become a sower as well. They have been changed and feel the need to evangelize, throw out the seed of the word, set the lamp on the lampstand where it can be seen by all. Since men do love darkness though, it will not always be well received, and herein lies the great temptation to cover the light, to hide it where it can't be seen. It is why so many think themselves wise in saying, "two things I never talk about, religion and politics", but there's is another gospel, for the one I find in God's own word tells me to be a light, tells me to go out into the world and preach the gospel.
15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. 17For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”… Romans 1: 15-17
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest - Remember, a tree is known by it's fruits, those that have the light will not be able to hide it, because if we deny Christ then we are not of the light to begin with. If it is the word of God that was planted and not the seed of a tare, then it will bring forth that which is nourishing, but if it is not then at the time of the harvest it will be known, it's fruit will give it away. Light exposes darkness, and if we have the light in us, it will always demand that we weed out the bad intentions, the hidden sins, the pride, greed, lust and even that which we before thought wasn't sin, didn't even recognize it, like the tare until it is close to being ripe.
Spurgeon on For nothing is hidden that will not become evident - You cannot conceal anything from the eye of God, so do not try to do so. You are like bees in a glass hive, watched while you are working, and your every movement observed. God can read the secret emotions of our hidden nature. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Luke 8 - exposition) - Precept Austin
…4My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.… 1 Corinthians 4: 4-6
…25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. 26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.… Proverbs 26: 25-27
John MacArthur interprets Lk 8:17 in a slightly different sense - Although commentators offer various interpretations of this statement, it seems reasonable to understand it as talking about authenticity; what a person is on the inside. Because nothing is hidden that will not become evident, or to put it another way there is nothing secret that will not be known and come to light, the true condition of the heart will eventually be revealed. Generally speaking, time and truth go hand in hand. Given enough time the truth comes out for men to see. It is, of course, never hidden from God....Jesus’ words evidently are a warning against hypocrisy, as an examination of the parallel statement in Luke 12:1-2 suggests. In verse 1 the Lord “began saying to His disciples first of all, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’” He cautioned His hearers to avoid imitating the Pharisees, who “say things and do not do them” (Matt. 23:3); who “outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly… are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (v. 28). He exhorted them not to be like the false disciples who call Him “Lord, Lord,” but do not obey Him (Matt. 7:21-22; Luke 6:46); who build their spiritual houses on the sand (Matt. 7:26-27).All such hypocrisy will eventually be unmasked, because “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Lk 12:2). Since that phrase in the context of chapter 12 clearly refers to exposing hypocrisy, it likely has that same meaning in the present passage. In light of the coming judgment, Jesus called for self-examination on the part of those who claim to be His disciples. (See The MacArthurCommentary) - Precept Austin
Take care then how you hear - Not everyone hears, and some hear but don't understand, and we can see from the last line of this verse, that some think they have, meaning they think they have heard and understood. Be careful who you listen to, it is not the gospel because a man says it is, and it is not sound teaching because you enjoyed it or like the speaker. Keep reading and in the next verses He will use His own earthly family as an example to this.
…21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. 23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,…
…24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so— not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer— he will be blessed in what he does. 26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.… James 1: 21-26
Then His mother and his brothers came to Him - Mary had children after Jesus, and these are not, as the Roman Catholic cult would suggest, children from a previous marriage of Joseph or Jesus' cousins. It would appear that at this time Joseph had passed, and it is not stretching to think so because on the cross Jesus turns over the care of His mother to one of His disciples. I have a lot of thoughts about this, as to why Joseph died before this time, but they are not based on any clear teaching from the Scriptures, and so I will keep them to myself, but it is certain from Scripture that God did not choose any slouch to be the earthly father of His Son. I will say, that given the role of a father, as the protector, it would be very difficult to hear and watch the attacks that will come on Jesus. All good father's would much rather take the place of their wife or the children placed under their care, but both Mary and Joseph needed Christ to die in their place in order to be reconciled to God.
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.… Matthew 1: 18-20
My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it - Here it is, these are the people who hear carefully, the tilled ground, the fruit bearing trees. We are right back to being doers of the Word and not hearers only. Look at the Pharisees, they have been hearing the word for a long time. Their Scribes write about the Word of God, study the Word of God, but they cling to traditions instead of the Scriptures honest meaning. They look for a neighbor who is less holy than them, and this is their bar, the standard. "I am not a sinner like them", but Jesus is saying that we all are sinners, all need to repent, and they don't feel the need because they are related to Abraham, yet Mary and these boys are related to the Son of God and He is saying that physical relation, geography, knowing about someone, aren't enough. If you are truly related to Christ it is a matter of the heart and the Spirit, bearing witness in the actions of a changed life.
…34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” 36“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”… John 13: 34-36
…38I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 39“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham. 40But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.… John 8: 38-40
…8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.… Matthew 3: 8-10
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