The Lamp Under A Basket Is A Parable of Jesus Which Impart Us To Proclaim The Gospel Into The World By Living A Holy Life Like Jesus. Christians Are To Be Shined Jesus Through Their Lives.
A City That Is Set On A Hill Cannot Be Hidden
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Jesus is the master teacher and all of his teachings are essential in our Christian lives. Jesus came down from heaven to show us the way by which we should lead our life. The fundamental teaching of Jesus Christ was to repent from your sin as the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He likened his disciples to light. We need light to see objects. Without light, we cannot walk in the right direction and we will be in the darkness. To have a blessed life we need light from the Lord.
Jesus also says that Christians are the light of the world. He also claims himself as the light of the world and whosoever will follow him, will have the light of life (John 8:12).
If a man does not live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ it is crystal clear that he is living in darkness. Because all the heavenly things and what will happen after death can be known by Jesus. When we put aside Jesus from ourselves then we become the friends of the world which leads us into destruction. Again Jesus compares himself as a light of the world and anyone who follows him will no longer live in darkness (John 12:46).
Jesus is the source of light and Christians are to reflect that light through their lives. They must shine for him so that the world may get the light to see Jesus. A true Christian is Like a city that is set on a hill. The teachings of Christ must be shined from him just like the light that subsides the darkness from its surroundings.
Jesus teaches us that people do not light a lamp to put it under a basket. Instead of that people place it on a lampstand to give light to those who are in the house. Thus, Jesus says that his teachings should not be kept in one’s heart but should be shared with others.
We should let our good works shine among the people which will compel them to glorify our Father in heaven.
Is A Lamp Brought To Be Put Under A Basket Or Under A Bed
Also, He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. (Mark 4:21-22)
Here, Jesus signifies lamp as the truths which he imparted to his disciples. His teachings were not to be put under a basket or under a bed. But his teachings must be proclaimed for men to learn. All of his teachings are good for our spirituality and this will help us to have a righteous life.
Jesus also says that the one who obeyed all of his commandments and set his life based on his teachings to be considered a wise man who built his house on a stony surface and the flood, rain cannot destroy it.
We cannot see our wickedness by our own knowledge. We need the light of Jesus Christ to magnify the faults that present in us. By the light of Jesus Christ, all the evil things will be revealed and we will be able to correct them.
Nothing Is Secret That Will Not Be Revealed
No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. (Luke 8:16-17)
Jesus emphasizes the importance of what his disciples do with his teachings. He compares himself with light and requires his disciples to shine that light by their lives among the people who live in darkness. Jesus is the king of heaven and he has the authority over his disciples. He is concerned about them as he has given them the knowledge of heaven and he wishes to explore it into the entire world so that everyone can get the light of life.
Here, Jesus says that the light should not be kept under a basket which means we should not engage ourselves in business to earn money or to be busy with worldly works, rather we should preach the gospel to the world.
Christians should apply all the teachings of Jesus Christ in their lives so that the world can see them and get to know the one true God who will come again on this earth to reward everyone according to their works.
The disciples should not hide the lamp under a bed. Here, the bed represents comfort and pleasure. To proclaim the truth among the world is not an easy task but Jesus wants his disciples to share it with the unreached.
The Lamp Of The Body Is The Eye
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is [i]good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” (Luke 11:33-36)
Here, the parable of the lamp says that God has revealed himself in this world and died on the cross for the entire mankind. People have also seen Christian in their surroundings and also heard about Jesus. But because of their pure motives they did not believe him. They have seemed like Christians in their day-to-day life but still, they are blind to see Jesus due to their stubbornness.
On the other hand, it is true that if a person really desires to know Jesus then definitely he will get his touch. In the time of Jesus’s ministry, the Pharisees thought that they had the light in them but actually they had darkness in their hearts. In their own perspective, they considered themselves wise which made them unable to see the true light that was given to the world by Jesus.