Read & explore together
The Lamp and Listening Well
Jesus uses the picture of a lamp to teach about hearing carefully. In both Mark and Luke, light and hidden things lead into a warning: pay close attention to what Jesus says and to how you hear it.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
These sayings link three ideas. A lamp belongs on a stand, not hidden away. Hidden things will come to light. Because of that, Jesus calls his hearers to listen carefully. Mark says, “Take heed what you hear,” and Luke says, “Be careful therefore how you hear.”
Mark 4:21–25; Luke 8:16–18Main takeaway
Jesus teaches that those who hear carefully will be given more, while those who do not will lose even what they have or think they have.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A lamp belongs on a standJesus starts with a simple question. A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, container, or bed.
02What is hidden will be revealedJesus then explains that hidden and secret things do not remain that way. What is hidden will be made known and come to light.
03Jesus calls for careful hearingMark includes the strong call, “If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” He then says, “Take heed what you hear.”
04Hearing has consequencesJesus says, “With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you,” and in Mark, “more will be given to you who hear.”
Explanation
Jesus says, “With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you,” and in Mark, “more will be given to you who hear.” He also says whoever has will be given more, while the one who does not have will lose even what he has, or thinks he has. Listening is not neutral.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Mark | Mark 4:21–25 | A lamp belongs on a stand What is hidden will be revealed Jesus calls for careful hearing Hearing has consequences |
| Luke | Luke 8:16–18 | A lamp belongs on a stand What is hidden will be revealed Jesus calls for careful hearing Hearing has consequences |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the lamp picture show about what light is for?
02What do these verses say will happen to hidden or secret things?
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Mark 4:21–25
21He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand?
22For there is nothing hidden except that it should be made known, neither was anything made secret but that it should come to light.
23If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you; and more will be given to you who hear.
25For whoever has, to him more will be given; and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”
Luke 8:16–18
16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.
17For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
18Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”