4:21-25 What truth is Jesus teaching here?
4:21-25 What truth is Jesus teaching here?
This is called the parable of the lighted candle. Jesus admonishes us here to put into practice what we hear.
It is not to be hidden, but used in the service of God.
Knowing that the gospel saves is not something believers can keep to themselves - it has to be shared with those who are not saved (cp Mt 5:14-16; Lk 8:16-17).
We have not been given the light of divine truth to hide it from others - it must be shared with them.
What we do with the truth we receive will determine whether or not we will be given more, or lose that which we already have (cp Mt 25:29; Mk 4:24-25; Lk 8:16-18, 11:33-36).
This is a stern warning to believers to not only be hearers of God's word, but doers also.
Whoever does this will be given more light, while those who do not will lose even what little they have.
(See also comments on Mt 5:13-16, 13:12; 25:14-30; 28:19-20 (A) and Lk 11:33-36.)