Mark 4:21-25 NIV

[21] He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? [22] For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. [23] If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” [24] “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. [25] Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

There is something important that we, readers, need to clear up once and for all, that Jesus clarified in this teaching. Somehow, both preachers and people have become confused between what God has done through Jesus and what He requires us to do in response.

Jesus has done everything necessary to save us from our sin. We can add nothing to His finished work to gain acceptance with God.

Ephesians 1:7 NIV

[7] “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace…” 

However, the experience of God’s salvation is a two-way street. The grace He provides to overcome our old nature and enjoy the blessings and benefits of our salvation can only come to us through our response of faith and obedience. 

Now, let’s examine what Jesus said about our response to His teaching.

Mark 4:21-23 NIV

[21] “He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? [22] For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. [23] If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

To what was Jesus referring when He used the illustration of a lamp? I think He was talking about His teaching. John called Him “the Word”, and He spoke of Himself as the “light of the world”. Since God’s Word is a lamp and a light…

Psalms 119:105 NIV

[105] “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

…the imagery is obvious. Jesus and His teaching are the light for our path.

So Jesus said, “A  lamp is intended to light a room, not to be hidden under something.” Just as a lamp shines to illuminate a room so, the light of Jesus’ Word must shine in our hearts…lighting up the darkness and showing us the way to live.

This leads to Jesus’ main point.

Mark 4:24-25 NIV

[24]  “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. [25] Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

In His typical, graphic way, Jesus was explaining to His disciples that they were responsible for their own spiritual growth. God has done everything for our salvation. Now, it is up to us to apply the truth to our own lives. God will not do for us what He has told us to do. He has told us to believe and obey the gospel. 

In his letters, Paul has expanded on the way we, as believers in Jesus, must live out our faith in the world. For example, 

Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV

[1] “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. [3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

…and so much more.

God will not do for us what He tells us to do. Through His grace, He gives us the strength to obey, but He does not believe or obey for us.

So, Jesus urges us…

Be careful how you listen. The more you obey, the more you will receive. The less you obey, the more you will lose. No one stands still in life. One either goes backwards or forwards.

We need to apply this principle to the church as well. In the New Covenant, there is no teaching about revival. The church does not need reviving since revival is about restoring what is dying. The church needs to obey.

2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV

[3] “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

This is what God has done. Now…

2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV

[5] “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Can you see, then, how clearly Peter lays out this requirement? Building on Jesus’ instruction, the Holy Spirit in Peter reminded him of Jesus ‘ words. So, we must differentiate between what Jesus has done for us and what He will do in us. How imperative this is if we are careful to do as Peter urged in his second letter…

2 Peter 3:18 NIV

[18] “But grow in the grace (His work in us), and knowledge (His work for us), of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!