The Lamp Under a Basket | Matthew 5:14-16; Mark 4:21-25; Luke 8:16-18

[0:00] Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

[0:15] Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

[0:26] Let's dive in together into God's Word. Well, I want to say good morning to everyone here and those who are online. Good morning, everyone. It's been a fantastic week. I'm glad that the weather has not been so hot, but it's going to get hotter pretty soon here.

[0:43] It's just amazing how time flies. Matt, you were saying time flies when you're having fun, right? And it's really just great to be here as, can you believe it, this is our final parable.

[0:56] We have gone almost 40 weeks going through the parables of Christ, and this parable that you'll see, the lamp under a basket, is going to where we first began.

[1:09] When we began going through the parables, we talked about the seed and the sower. We went through prophetic parables, such as the parable of the ten virgins. We talked about the vineyard. We talked about the invitation.

[1:23] And this next week, we'll have a recap on all of it. I just wanted to let you know a little bit of what we've been doing, because it's been fantastic. Have any of you learned anything? I sure hope that you have. Learning about the parables of Christ, something that is so simplistic, but yet they're so deep and they are so powerful.

[1:41] They are applicable for us even today in 2025. And what's so great about God and his word is that no matter who you are, where you are, what you have been through, what you are going through, Jesus Christ calls you to salvation by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[2:01] Can I get an amen for that? The power of the word of God and the power of scripture is something that is remarkable. And going through all these parables, it's a lot to take in.

[2:12] But we are ending just like how we began. I want us to turn to the gospel of Luke chapter 8 real quick. You'll notice that the lamp under a basket shows up three times in three of the four gospels here.

[2:27] Shows up in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Does not show up in John. But I want us to turn real quick to the gospel of Luke chapter 8. And I kind of want to show you where we began and where we are now.

[2:39] So it's going to be on page 1027, 1027 in your ESVPU Bible or your Bible of choice, Gospel of Luke chapter 8.

[2:51] And if you remember, we began with the parable of the sower. Right? There was the great crowd that was gathering from the town. And Christ goes on talking about the seed and the soil.

[3:04] When we were thinking about the status of our hearts, are there things that are hindering us from receiving God's word? Are there things that are hindering us from connecting with the Lord?

[3:17] I want you to turn then. You'll see in verse 9 where it says the purpose of parables. I want to go to verse 9 real quick. So he's teaching the parable of the soils.

[3:29] When his disciples asked him what this parable meant. I want to know what you meant, Christ, with these parables that you're teaching. He said to you, it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God.

[3:42] But for others, they are in parables so that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. So he goes on in verse 11 explaining what this parable means.

[3:53] And you see that Christ, he explains it and he breaks it down. But it goes then into our reading that we have today. The lamp under a jar. So I want us to go then into verse 16 then.

[4:07] Right? Well, actually, verse 15. Right? For those that have good soil, there are those hearing the word. Hold it fast in an honest and a good heart and to bear fruit with patience. Which gets us connected then to what we find in the lamp under a jar or the lamp under a basket, depending upon your translation here.

[4:25] So it says, No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

[4:41] Verse 18 is very important then, where it says, Take care then how you hear. For the one who has, more will be given. And from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.

[4:53] And it goes on right after in the Gospel of Luke, talking about who are Christ's mother and brothers. Right? Going on in that. But you see that this specific parable shows up three times in the Gospels.

[5:07] In the Gospel of Matthew, it's where Christ is talking on the Sermon of the Mount right after being salt of the earth. And then talking about the lamp, that you want it to shine. Right?

[5:18] We think of lamps. Right? That's pretty easy. I mean, we can light candles. I don't think we have, a lot of us have clay lamps anymore. Does anyone have clay lamps by chance? Or an oil lamp for that matter?

[5:30] Maybe you do. Maybe you do. But you can still think of the imagery of that. So in the Gospel of Matthew, it's showing up that you are the light of the world. Right? Right after the salt of the earth.

[5:40] And then for Mark and Luke, this is showing after the understanding of the purpose of parables. So three times we find this in Scripture. Church, when we find something in the Word of God that shows up even once, it's important.

[5:54] Amen? When we find it three times, how much more do we have to pay attention to something like this? So it's showing up these three times. Right? So immediately after the sower. Right? Where we're talking about the Word of God being put into our hearts.

[6:06] Right? When we hear the Word of God, we are to digest it as it were. Right? We think of this imagery of agriculture. The seed that goes into the soil. It needs to cultivate. You need to have the right type of soil.

[6:18] You need to make sure that the soil is cleared out. You got to clear out the weeds as well. Right? If you remember all of that. Then you see this connection that goes into putting a lamp.

[6:29] Not under a bed? Or a basket? What kind? I mean, you even think of that now. You think, how ridiculous to put something under that. And for some of us, we may even think of this little light of mine.

[6:40] Right? This little light of mine. Right? I'm going to let it shine. Right? Or that other verse. Hide it under a bushel. No. I'm going to let it shine. Right? Hide it under a bushel. No.

[6:51] I'm going to let it shine. Right? And we see this kind of connection that goes on with our real life. So, okay. We think about the imagery of the light.

[7:02] Well, when you have a light that is especially, well, nowadays, we have lights all around us. Right? We flip a switch and a light turns on. So, it may be hard for us to think for a moment.

[7:12] But think the last time your power went out. And you had to get a flashlight. Or maybe you had to light a candle. How that light radiates and shines in a dim room.

[7:23] When we think of back in Jesus' time, that light, you would want it to radiate the light. So that everyone in the household can see. And this is very beautiful imagery for the light of Christ.

[7:36] When we think of Jesus Christ as the source of life. The source of truth. Right? And the very light. We should all have the desire. I don't know about you.

[7:47] But I desire to be connected with the one who made me. I desire to go to the light. Some of us seek truth in this life. Well, we find that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

[7:58] Some of us seek security and safety in this life. We find security and safety in Jesus Christ. And for some of us, we may identify with the language of, I feel as though I am in darkness.

[8:10] I feel as though there is so much evil that is around me. That is why we come to Jesus Christ, who is the light, as it were. So no one lights a lamp to hide it under a basket.

[8:21] Right? We can think, well, if I put a lamp under my bed, a burning candle, as it were, it's probably going to burn down my house. Right? So we can think about that. And then also, when we get this imagery of a basket, you get a little flame.

[8:36] The idea is, if you have a very large basket, it is to get rid of, to extinguish the light. Now, granted, we can think of that, well, if you're done with the light, you want to get rid of it.

[8:49] But we're thinking specifically of the light of Christ. Let us think of the salvation that comes from Jesus Christ. Let us think of the truth that comes from him, the love that comes from him, and how we are to radiate that light for other people, for our friends, for our families, for our neighbors.

[9:07] We can think of the community, our very own, our neighbor next door. Do you know your neighbors? Do you know the person next door? And how can you exhibit the light of Christ to other people?

[9:19] So let your light shine for others to see. We think of, we see this imagery, right? So the light, the lamp, it belongs on a stand to lighten up the whole house, as it were.

[9:32] We can even think of that, how we are to, with us having the light of Christ, we are to shine that for our family. We are to shine that for others to see. We also see in the Gospel of Matthew, where specifically it was talking about a city of a hill, on a hill cannot be hidden.

[9:47] We can think of the lights that, we can think of that, right? When you're driving by, you may see a city on a hill, or you may even see a house on a hill nowadays, how that light radiates. One of my favorite imageries is when you think of a lamp, excuse me, a lighthouse that shines out in the dark ocean, very powerful imagery of hope, especially if you're a sailor out sea and you need to know where you got to go, right?

[10:13] You go towards the light. And so we think of this imagery then about a city on a hill that light shines. And so when we talk about this language of letting our good work shine for others to see so that it glorifies the Father, we have to remember, first and foremost, we are saved by grace through faith, church.

[10:33] We are not saved by what we do. We are saved so that we can do good in the name of Christ. We're saved so that we can learn, we can grow more, and we can seek the Lord more.

[10:44] We are saved so that we can help our brothers and sisters in Christ to be an ambassador for Christ. Consider your neighbor. Consider your coworker.

[10:55] Consider your boss that you can't stand. Or that professor who just can't give you a good grade, right? We can think of all of these different things. So it's so important for us as we receive the light of Christ, as we receive the word, as we receive salvation, we are to continue to grow.

[11:13] Let the light shine brightly. Let it grow, as it were, just as we talked about the foundation and we build our house accordingly on the solid rock. We are to let that light illuminate.

[11:23] And we are to share in the light of Christ with other people so that they come to know Jesus Christ being the way, the truth, and the life. The language goes on talking about nothing is hidden except to be made manifest.

[11:36] That's a very interesting language where it's talking about as you are learning things. Many of you know my glasses here talk about Proverbs.

[11:47] It says on here, Proverbs 25.2. One of my favorite verses in all of scripture where it says, It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to discover a thing.

[11:58] What in the world does that mean? God intentionally hides things matters so that we can discover them. We can think of the great discoveries that have been made in the universe.

[12:10] We can think of medical and scientific discoveries, but we can also think of how we are to grow in God and his word and grow in his understanding, our understanding of the word.

[12:21] That's something that's very powerful because we go from being children to becoming adults. How many of you, well, you can look in the mirror and see how old you've gotten, but we think in the same way that as we grow physically, we grow spiritually, or at least we should grow spiritually.

[12:38] You don't want to remain a baby all your life, right? Although you might want to be a baby from time to time, right? We all are on this journey in Christ where we are growing in him.

[12:48] The text goes on also talking about, so going back to nothing being hidden, as you learn things, as you learn salvation, as you learn the truth of God's word, share it with other people.

[13:01] You've got to share what has been revealed to you through his word. How many of you, you've read the same verse over and over, and yet it speaks to you in such a way that comforts you, or has you answered a question that you've been asking for a while, and yet it was right there in God's word.

[13:17] You've got to share that with other people, friends. Share how God is working in and through your life. Share how God has stirred your heart and changed your mind, right? When we talk about the idea of repentance, meaning the changing of mind.

[13:30] Well, not only does God change our minds, he changes our hearts too, so that we can become more like him every single day. The text goes on about hearing and measure.

[13:42] With what measure, with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. It's talking about continuing to seek the Lord, and he will give you more revelation, more insight.

[13:52] I'm not talking about just necessarily material things like some people talk about. I'm talking about God will see to it that you grow in what he feels is necessary for you.

[14:02] I know a lot of us, we all think, oh, we just want more money, we want more material things. That's not what I'm talking about, and I want to make that very clear in here. So we talk about the lamp and the bushel, right?

[14:14] The bushel was the measuring basket, and as I was mentioning, when you put the basket over the light, it's going to snuff it out. Now, again, we think of normal candles.

[14:24] You've got to put it out eventually. But when we're thinking about how we are to show the light of Christ with other people, you don't want to snuff it out. You want to continue to have that light shine for others to see, so that others may know the goodness of God.

[14:39] So just as the text says, to taste and see that the Lord is good, right? Or how Christ even said when he invited people to come and see that the Lord is good.

[14:50] That's what we do when we are sharing in the light, love, and truth of Christ. We are shining so that others will be drawn to the light, going out of darkness into the marvelous light.

[15:03] And light also is a representation of God's truth and presence, where Scripture constantly uses this symbol to talk about guidance and holiness, where we were talking about in our interactive Scripture reading, your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path, or a light unto my path, depending on your translation.

[15:23] So we can see that this idea of lamps and light have been used throughout Scripture. Let it shine. And so in all of this, then, we can see this is what we've observed in the text.

[15:36] Here at Ontario Community Church, we use what's known as the OIA method, observation, interpretation, and application. The observation is, let's just read the text. Let's read it.

[15:47] Let's see what it says. The I, then, is what can we learn from it? What can we learn as individuals? What can we learn collectively as a church?

[15:58] And then finally, the A, then, is the application. What can we do about it? It's important for us to read the Word of God. That is our source. That is our book. We've got to read it. It's also important for us to learn and for us to act upon what we learn.

[16:12] So the first thing we can see, what does it say, that first one, church? In Christ you are light, right? So the light is given.

[16:25] We think of this idea of you use a, how many of you have made a fire going like that? Some of you have.

[16:35] Maybe a couple of you have done that before, right? And we think how great it is when we have a match, right? Or we have a lighter that just lights, right? Or we think of the stove, right? You turn it on, right?

[16:45] And then it goes on. The flame goes on. Think of God as the spark that ignites the flame in your heart and in your very life. That light, that flame, as it were, is given to you.

[17:01] It is not something that we can make on our own merit. When we consider our very salvation, that is not something that we can earn. It is something that is given freely.

[17:14] Just like I've talked about the imagery of the invitation, or if you were here a couple weeks ago, the response stones to cast your stone, right? Who are you going to be devoted for?

[17:26] And so, in here, it is not by what we do, but what has been done for us in Jesus Christ. And we think Jesus names his disciples the light of the world, and scripture even mentions that Christ is the true light.

[17:45] And so, when we come to Christ, we are in that light, just as that verse is saying, going into darkness, into marvelous light. What a beautiful imagery that is.

[17:58] Just like how we've even talked about other parables, the idea of searching for the lost coin and being found, being once lost and being found. Think of all of these things.

[18:12] How good it is to be in the light, no longer in darkness. And I don't just mean having a bright light shining on your face. I'm talking about going from the former life to the new life that exists in Christ, from the former identity or the former things of the world to the things of God.

[18:31] Putting on the new self and being transformed, beginning on a spiritual journey in Christ where you are being molded by him, where you are becoming more like him.

[18:42] Be on that path and be on that journey. And we think so much about the imagery of a city on a hill, which talks about visibility, just like how you want to put that lamp outside, right?

[18:55] You want to put it on a stand and let it shine. Our faith is meant to be public. So let us share in the light, love and truth of Christ. That leads us into the second one then, that lamps are meant to be put under a basket.

[19:10] No, they are meant to shine then. So hiding the light, that contradicts the purpose of a lamp. That contradicts the purpose of a light.

[19:22] Now, I know maybe as kids, you might have done this before. I know my kids have done this. They get a little flashlight and they are under the blankets, right? They're shining the light everywhere.

[19:33] And it's kind of, they're trying to hide from you because they want to play. And they don't want to see that mom or dad or whoever, right? They don't want to see that they're, that you're up.

[19:44] Well, what an interesting example we can think of when we're talking about the light of Christ. We don't want to cover it as it were. For these lamps are meant to shine for other people to see.

[19:55] As I've mentioned, think of your neighbor. Think of your friends. Think of your families. Think of the people that you interact with every single day. Think about the person that cuts you off in traffic, right?

[20:07] Or think about the person that took a long time in Walmart. Not that that's never happened to me or never happened to any of us here. We've had those moments. And so let us think, you don't want to hide your light because that goes against the very nature of light itself.

[20:24] It goes against a candle. And so this is not to glorify yourself. This is meant to glorify God because God gives you the light so that you can shine it for others to come.

[20:41] Not necessarily to you, but to come to God the Father. To come to that saving faith in Jesus Christ. And so we think about this. Now, when we've talked about parabolic language, I've talked to you about the parable of the ten virgins, if you guys remember that.

[20:59] Where you had these ten virgins that were holding lamps. Very similar in that parabolic language. The lamp represents a vessel. The oil represents the Holy Spirit.

[21:12] And then you have the flame then, which is the love and truth, the salvation of Christ. You want to have your lamp filled with oil. So that's how it's connected even within parables in that.

[21:26] There's so many connections within Scripture. It's remarkable. Going to that third point then is listening and sharing. They bring what? They bring blessing, right?

[21:38] Now consider, and it always is interesting when you see in Scripture, He who has ears, let him hear. What in the world do you mean by that, right? Hearing so that we can understand.

[21:50] It's just like how sometimes you might have gotten in trouble by a parent or your spouse. Are you listening to me? Yeah, I'm listening to you. But are you really listening, right? Do you understand what I'm saying?

[22:02] It's very different than do you hear, right? So when we're talking about He who has ears, let them hear. Let them understand. Let them hear so that they understand.

[22:13] And that's something that's very important when we're thinking of this. Consider carefully how you listen to God and to His Word. So we think of the attention then as we grow and we follow in the footsteps of Christ.

[22:28] That is speaking of the measure that God uses to give you more understanding. I have found that the more that I hope in the Word of God, the more that God reveals truth to me.

[22:39] And the more that I walk with the Lord, I ask God, and I hope you as well, ask God to mold you and to change your heart and to change your mind. So that you become more like Him.

[22:52] Not to be someone that is, well, anti-Christ as it were. But rather to be more like Christ. And so light brings more light.

[23:05] Let us respond to the truth. May we respond to the light of Christ by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That leads us nicely into our application then.

[23:20] What do we do about this? How should we live? Well, I was already touching on it, right? So let the light shine in your heart. Receive the light of Christ.

[23:32] The truth, the grace, the salvation that comes from the Lord. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The death, burial, and resurrection. I always mention it as 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1 through 4.

[23:46] The simple gospel. If you ever want to share the gospel in a very simplistic way, that's how you do it. We think of how Christ is the door. Or how we are to enter through the narrow gates.

[23:58] We have to ask ourselves the question, Have I responded to Christ? Have I entered through the narrow gate? Or am I trying to do it on my own?

[24:08] Let us all come to Jesus Christ by believing in faith and responding to the gospel. It is so important. See the light.

[24:20] Go to it and receive it. This symbolic language is speaking of truth, grace, and most especially salvation. The second thing then is to remove the cover of the light.

[24:35] Just as I mentioned this imagery of how children, right? When they're playing and they have the flashlights and they're moving it all around, right?

[24:46] You don't want to cover your light. And I want you, church, to think of what is something that could cover the light that you can think of. There's many things that we can think of.

[24:58] What dims your witness? What covers the light of your life? Is it fear? Is it sin? Is it compromise?

[25:10] I can't answer that for you. Only you can answer that. But it's something for you to reflect on. Is there something that is covering the light? Is there something that is hindering you from sharing the light of Christ with other people?

[25:24] In other words, ask yourself, what am I afraid of? Never be afraid of Jesus Christ. Just like how scripture says to not be ashamed of the gospel.

[25:36] Never be afraid of your faith. And don't be afraid of your story. I know for some of us, we get so, I don't want to share that part of my story. You'd be amazed at how your story, how God changed your life, how that can impact others.

[25:54] Your very presence, your speaking to people, truth and love to others can have such a profound impact on people. You normally don't see it.

[26:05] Very rarely do you actually see the effect that it has. But we continue to do the work of ministry. We are all called to share in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[26:19] We're all called to share the truth of God's word and the love of Christ. So am I hiding anything? Is there a cover that's dimming out the light?

[26:31] Only you can answer that. And the third thing and the final thing then is to set the lamp on a stand to shine. Receive the light. Remove that darn cover.

[26:44] Right? And put it on a stand to let it shine. We think about this, this idea. How can we shine the light of Christ for others?

[26:56] For some of us, it may be speaking truth to others. For others, it may be serving. It might be serving this church. It might be serving the community. It might be practicing your faith, opening the word of God and praying more.

[27:12] What that looks like for you is different from the person next to you. Be an ambassador for Christ. Find the way for you to share in the light of Christ for others.

[27:26] May you grow so that you share. So that you can be that light for others. Let us do great things in the name of Jesus Christ.

[27:40] By transforming culture through his name. Because God will work in and through you in such profound and powerful ways. Sometimes God sends you a person that you need to speak to, you haven't talked to in forever.

[27:56] Or maybe it's someone you don't even know. Speak to that person. Don't be afraid. You know how many times scripture tells us to not be afraid and yet we do get afraid at times?

[28:08] Right? Don't raise your hand. Right? I know I do. I don't have time. I've got things to do. I've got places to go and people to see. But yet there are still those moments. We have to pause.

[28:20] We have to respond accordingly. The doctor can wait. Right? Just as an example. Right? So be that ambassador. Listen carefully to the word.

[28:31] And continue to share in what you have learned with others. Sometimes when you share in what you are learning or what you have learned. It may, you may be the very person that God is speaking through to get to.

[28:47] I learned about this. You know, I've been praying about that for a long time. They may not say that to you. Right? You'd be amazed how God will work in and through your life.

[28:59] And so ask yourself the question then, who specifically needs the light of Christ that I can speak to today? Who can I serve? Who can I minister to this week?

[29:10] Who needs the light of Christ that I can share with another person? And so as we close then, let us remember then to do not, if you don't know by now, one, the big takeaway, if you haven't learned anything, is to don't hide the lamp.

[29:28] Don't snuff out the light. Remove the basket and place it on a stand to shine. Pay attention to Christ and his words.

[29:38] How is God speaking to you today? Be a beacon of hope and number one, know the Lord first. Grow in him and be that light for others.

[29:51] And finally, just as we have been reading, consider the words, let your light shine before others and give glory to your father who is in heaven.

[30:04] That's from Matthew 16. We didn't have time to go through all three times that it pops up in here. We've gone through the Luke passages, but they do show up nonetheless.

[30:15] And so as we close, let us think in the most simplistic terms. Receive the light of salvation.

[30:26] Remove any barriers, anything that can snuff or dim the light and let your light shine for others to know Christ as well. So that we can share in the gospel and that we can transform culture, families, lives, and the world that we live in.

[30:46] Let us pray together. And Father God, we thank you. We thank you so much for this time and this opportunity for us to gather as we have just finished our final parable.

[30:57] These simple words that Christ taught are so profound, they're so deep, and at times they're very challenging. We thank you for your word nonetheless.

[31:11] We thank you for the opportunity for us to open your word and to observe it, to learn from it, and may we be moved to act accordingly from your word. What an amazing final parable we've done that brings us back to where we first began, talking about the seed and the soil.

[31:32] May we receive salvation. May it grow in us so that we can produce fruit, much like how we receive the light of Christ. May we put it on a stand to shine in our home, but also shine so that others may see all that we do in your holy name.

[31:51] It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray, and we all say together, Amen, Church. Amen. Thank you for listening for this week's message from Ontario Community Church.

[32:03] I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened in your walk with Christ. For more sermons and resources, visit OntarioCommunityChurch.org. May God bless you as you live out his grace and truth every single day.