Pastor Scott Andrews | December 15th, 2024
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Luke 8:16-18
By way of introduction, I want you to think of the world in which we live and the advancements made in your lifetime. If you’d lived in the Middle Ages, a thousand-year period from about 500 to 1500 AD, your life would have remained relatively unchanged. In fact, your life compared to your grandfather, or your grandfather’s grandfather would have been much the same. However, at the end of the Middle Ages, with Johann Gutenberg’s invention of moveable type, things began to change, ever so slowly through the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration, but by the Industrial Revolution of the 17 and 1800’s, momentum picked up rapidly.
By the time we got to the 20th Century, growth in industry and technology seemed to be expanding at an exponential rate. Humankind’s knowledge increased at unbelievable rates – they say it doubles in less than a decade today, whoever they are and however they measure it. Did you know, for example, the majority of all scientists who have ever lived are alive today. The vast majority of medicines we use today have been developed in the last 50 years or so. Some of us can remember the invention of the personal computer, now most of us have one in our pockets. I remember the first time I saw a GPS – my brother-in-law had one – I couldn’t believe it. Some of you can’t remember not having a GPS, and you can’t read a map either.
There are hundreds of examples we could look at. It used to take months for a letter to arrive from Europe, then weeks, now a few days, and even overnight if you want to pay the price. Unless, of course, you fire off an email that can be there in seconds. Everything seems to be digital with smart apps – we bought a new refrigerator last week and it’s a smart fridge – what’s a smart fridge? I guess it’s great – I’ve always wondered what the temperature in the refrigerator was while sitting in my office. We have smart cars that drive themselves, if you’re brave enough. All that stuff on the Jetsons is coming to pass.
If you google important inventions through the centuries, you get a few items each century, until you hit the 16-1700s. Then there are more. By the 18-1900s, there are several each decade. I thought about giving you a list, but some of the inventions of the last few years are now obsolete – can anyone say Ipod? It’s an amazing time to live. Who knows what we’ll see in our lifetimes.
Yes, life has changed significantly since you were born. But you know, all of those advancements would be no good if we didn’t put them to use. Imagine choosing to live in a cave with no lights, no electricity, no AC, no heat, no running water, no indoor plumbing, no PC’s, no smart phones, and no video games. Time for the family vacation? Jump in a covered wagon and take a few weeks to go west to see family in Montana. Kind of silly to willfully choose to live in a stone-age of sorts.
And yet, how many of us are living in a spiritual stone-age? What do I mean? As we talked about a few weeks ago, never before has the Word of God and an understanding of it been so readily available. The first book Johann Gutenberg produced on his printing press was the Bible. Until then, most had never seen a Bible, let alone own one. But today? How many Bibles do you have? How many books about the Bible do you have? The church has grown through the centuries in its understanding of the Bible, and it’s all available to us. But are you a spiritual caveman, knowing but choosing to do nothing about it?
You see, I would suggest knowing the word and doing the word are two different things. It’s why James wrote in what some suggest is the oldest book of the NT, prove yourselves to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers. This is likely the theme of the book of James – and he spends the rest of the book telling us how to be doers and not merely hearers. Because, faith without works is dead.
Last week, we talked about Jesus’ famous Parable of the Sower, told in all three synoptic gospels, complete with interpretations. In that text, we saw there is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is the mechanics of distinguishing sounds, while listening has the end result of doing something about what we hear. Which is why your spouse may often say, you’re not listening to me. Because there are a lot of people who hear, but don’t listen.
You’ll remember, Jesus talked about four kinds of soils – four different ways people receive the word of God. The first is the hard soil – no penetration of truth into the heart – lives unchanged. The next two are the rocky and thorny soil. There seems to be some life, but when the afflictions or the distractions of life that Jesus calls worries, riches, or the pleasures of life come, the seed is quickly choked out – no fruit. None of those first three soils are true believers – only the fourth soil, the good soil heard, listened – and produced a hundred-fold crop.
Which brings us to our text this morning, and it’s a bit confusing at first glance. It’s not technically a parable, more like a proverb that can be used to teach in different circumstances and can be applied differently. Let’s read it – Luke 8:16-18.
That’s confusing. Again, this is more of a proverb than a parable. In fact, it’s used in a number of different places in the gospels to teach different – not contradictory – just different truths. For example, most of us are familiar with Matthew 5 – Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said:
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Faither who is in heaven.
Jesus used it there to speak of how we are salt and light and live in such a way that people see the difference in our lives and glorify God – most likely by becoming followers themselves. So, in Matthew 5, the proverb has an evangelistic or missionary intent. As a result, many try to make Luke 8 have the same intent – like a lamp on a lampstand, so also let those around you see your light – the light of the gospel – and believe.
And frankly, that could be what Jesus is talking about here. That interpretation goes like this: Jesus has just said that parables are for those who believe, not for those who rebelliously refuse to believe. Don’t miss the word rebelliously. We’re not talking about unbelievers, but those who having heard, refuse to believe. They oppose the Christian faith. Their hard, or rocky, or thorny.
But even though that’s true, Jesus says, put your light – the light of your faith in the gospel – on a lampstand for all to see. For nothing – even the truths of these enigmatic parables – is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. There is coming a day, after the death and resurrection of Christ, that we shout the truth from the rooftops – and many will believe. It will become known and come to light.
So take care how you listen – don’t just keep it to yourself. Spread the good news, for whoever has the gospel, more will be given in your sharing the gospel – more will come to faith in Christ. But if you refuse, then whatever you do have will be taken away, as you prove by your keeping it in that you don’t truly know the gospel.
And that is a legitimate understanding of the text. In fact, I would suggest there is a sense in which that is taught elsewhere. But, it doesn’t seem to fit the context here or in Mark’s gospel either. You see, in Mark and Luke, these confusing sayings follow the parable of the sower. But what’s the point? He’s just talked about how the seed, the word of God, falls on different kinds of people – different hearts. And those with hard, rocky or thorny hearts will not receive the message of the gospel with perseverance – and while there may appear to be some life, there isn’t. It is only those who receive the word and persevere who prove to be true believers. So, he who has ears to hear, let him hear. Let him listen. Let the light of the gospel change your life – don’t hide it – let others see it – because there is coming a day when that which is hidden will be made known, and secrets will come to light. Meaning, the truth of the gospel as a reality should be vindicated in your life.
Again, this is a very challenging text to interpret. One of my favorite commentators says of this text, “These verses are very puzzling, which reminds us that spiritual truth is spiritually discerned.” That is, it takes the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to understand. In fact, as I suggested last week, you have to believe the gospel in order to fully understand the things of God.
Those are hard words to hear – I know that. But I’ll go one step further – you cannot fully understand the Christian faith without being a Christian. Without making the commitment to believe. It’s when you get in, you begin to more fully understand. You see, there’s a lot of profound evidence to prove the reliability of the Christian faith. Lots of supporting historical data to prove the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. But in the end, it is the Christian faith. And it takes trust. Most of us know that famous verse in Hebrews 11, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We remember the words of Jesus to Thomas the doubter, “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe.” And when you’re in, it is then you begin to understand more. In I Corinthians 1, Paul writes these words:
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
How do you explain it? The wisdom of this world stands in dark and stark contrast to the wisdom of God. Then, in I Corinthians 2, continuing the theme, Paul writes:
7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
9 but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” [that’s not talking about heaven – that’s talking about the Gospel.]
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
Do you see what Paul is saying? The cross – the Christian faith – is foolishness to those who don’t believe. Because the things of faith are spiritual. And only the Spirit of God knows the spiritual things of God. But we, believers, have received the Spirit of God so we can freely understand the things of God. Because, we have the very mind of Christ. This is all incredible.
But, here’s the question – what comes first? Understanding or belief? Well, it’s faith. Commitment. There is enough rational evidence to believe the Christian faith. So take the plunge. Make the commitment. Believe. If you don’t, you’ll never fully get it.
I believe this is what we find in universities across our country which try to discredit the Christian faith. Some – not all – we have a number of Christian faculty and staff at ASU – but some don’t believe and seek to discredit it – because they don’t get it. And they never will – until they believe. And so, when your professors or people on the Internet who don’t believe make fun of those who do – of course. You understand, but they don’t have the Spirit of God – they’re dead in their sin. They mock, they scorn – they’re dead. They can’t understand. And on the one hand, we can grieve because they don’t believe. We can cling to our faith and share it with them in the midst of ridicule and scorn. But on the other hand, be encouraged. We inwardly smile, not in derision, but we’re insiders – we get it. It’s been granted to us to believe.
I believe this is what Jesus is teaching in Luke 8. He’s telling us what the kingdom will be like. And He teaches in parables – because truth will be kept from those who don’t – who refuse to believe – but truth and faith will be deepened through the parables for those who do believe.
Again, what Jesus says here is a little confusing at first glance. Let’s spend a few minutes taking it apart – trying to grasp what Jesus means, after all, we’re insiders. We’ve received the Spirit of God so we can understand the things of God. There’s a proverb here. It’s a common saying or everyday concept that communicates a spiritual truth.
Don’t miss back in verse 9, the disciples asked Jesus the meaning of the parable. He explained it to them, and then went right on with these verses. He’s still speaking to the disciples. I don’t really have an outline; we’re just going to make our way through the verses.
He starts in verse 16 by stating the obvious in an apparently familiar proverb. No one after lighting a lamp – stop there a moment. A lamp could be a candle, but most likely refers to a saucer filled with oil and a wick. You didn’t light a lamp and put in under a container or hide it under a bed – that doesn’t make sense, it would defeat the purpose. No, you put it on the lampstand so that all who come in may see the light.
Most agree Jesus is talking about purpose here – if you have something useful, you use it. You don’t cover a lamp or hide it under a bed. You don’t buy a car and park it in garage, you don’t buy an exercise bike and never use it. Well, some of us do. The point is, when you receive the gospel, you put it to use in your life.
Now, most agree the lamp is either Jesus or the message of the kingdom, or both – which makes sense, since He came to bring the message of the kingdom. The meaning seems to be, Jesus hasn’t come to bring the message of the gospel for it to be hidden, for it be put under a basket or a bed? Of course not – He and His gospel have come to be put on a lampstand – to bring light. To change lives, and for that change to be seen in productivity – the good soil in verse 15. Like a lamp, the gospel must be put to proper use – starting in your life. You must put the word into practice – not hide it. The point seems to be, if we know the truth, we live by the truth.
But look how Jesus applies further it in verse 17 – namely, what happens if we don’t put it to use? “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” What does that mean? The gospel has come to you and found good soil, and it should change your life. Because, nothing is hidden – it will become evident. People will see the gospel in your life. Nothing remains secret – it will be made known, if it’s there.
And it is true – the gospel is great news and needs to be shared. That’s part of producing a crop. It needs to be brought into the light. But still, not all will believe this good news. There are all kinds of verses that talk about the light of the gospel – one is in 2 Corinthians 4:
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not 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 Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
So we live and preach the gospel of the glory of Christ. It cannot be hidden. We trust that God will cause dark, dead hearts to see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. So he who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Which brings us to the very challenging verse 18. “So take care how you listen.” Stop right there. Don’t miss the admonition to hear again. Over and over, Jesus highlights hearing, more, listening.
Look at the rest of it, “for whoever has, to him more shall be given.” Jesus applies what He has been saying, “for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” In the context – if you hear and believe, more understanding will be given. But if you hear and refuse to believe, even what you have will be taken away. It was a common saying – we have it today, “The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.” That’s the idea. Believe, and you’ll receive more. You’ll understand more. Refuse to believe, and even what you have will die – it will be snatched away by Satan, dried up by affliction and persecution, or choked out by the worries and riches of the world and the pleasures of this life.
One says it this way with sobering words:
“It is impossible…to hide where one stands in relation to the gospel. What is hidden will come out sooner or later—that is, it will if it is really there. The danger is…that the man who thinks he has received the gospel, and keeps it hidden and never lets the fact be known, my find one of these days, when he comes to look for the reality of the gospel within him, that it is not in fact there—and never was.” (Michael Whitlock)
So, you have a choice. There is a rationality, a reliability to the Gospel message. Jesus proved He was who He said He was by His teaching, by His exorcisms, by His miracles, by His death, burial and resurrection. You can weigh that evidence and believe – and you’ll receive the Spirit of God by whom you will understand more. You will understand the things of God. Refuse to believe, and even what you have will be taken from you. But the encouragement today is to believe – because eye has not seen, ear has not heard all that God has prepared for those who believe.
And some of you do the two-step and sidestep the issue. I don’t believe – I need more evidence, I need more proof. I need my questions answered. And there’s a place for that. In fact, we have several who can answer the tough questions – and if you have questions – I’ll put you in touch with them.
But, I want you to understand this morning – you have to believe in order to fully understand. I think that is what Jesus is saying here. We live our lives in such a way that we demonstrate we believe. It’s like a light on a lampstand. Nothing that is hidden will remain so; nothing that is secret will not be made known. And that includes that reality of your faith.
So be careful how you listen. Be very careful how you respond to hearing God’s word. But, I would say, there is enough rational evidence for you to commit. And by doing so, you will receive Spirit of God, by whom you will understand the things of God. What is keeping you from committing? So today, I simply ask you, invite you, won’t you believe? It’s called the Christian faith.