Wednesday: Lamp and Measuring Basket
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 24th of July 2024
Read Mark 4:21-23. What is Jesus’ special emphasis in the parable of the lamp?
Houses in that part of the world in Jesus’ day varied in size and construction, all depending on location and wealth. The houses came to follow a Greek pattern of being built around a courtyard but with varying levels of sophistication.
Image © Graham Braddock at Goodsalt.com
Or Jesus may be talking about smaller houses of peasants. Big house or small house, the issue is this principle: one day the truth about Jesus will be revealed.
Jesus asks two questions in Mark 4:21. The first one expects a negative answer—“The lamp is not brought to be placed under the basket or under the bed, is it?” The second question expects a positive answer—“It is brought to be placed on the lampstand, isn’t it?” Jesus presents an absurd, almost humorous scenario to make His point. Lamps are for giving light, or they lose their purpose. Mark 4:22 explains the parable by referencing the idea of secrets being made public. Anyone whose email or computer has been hacked understands the possibility of secrets being made public! But what Jesus is talking about is the gospel.
Read Mark 4:24-25. What lesson is Jesus conveying with the parable of the measuring basket?
In many locations in the world, fresh produce is sold in open markets. Sellers typically have a device for measuring the product they are selling. It is a common practice of such sellers to add just a bit more to a sale to help the buyer feel he or she is being treated fairly. Jesus picks up on how good sellers treat buyers to make a point about openness to the truth. If one is open and follows the light, he or she will get even more. But if he or she rejects the light, even what they had before will be taken away.
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How can we better understand the principle that with what measure you use, it will be measured to you? Think about it in all your dealings with others. |
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Iam so blessed with the the lesson study on the 24/07/24.
One of my prayer request is answered 🙏 🙌
My grandson was given a car by his parents when he passed his driver's licence test. It is a 4-cylinder Mitsubishi and is not what you would really call a "showoff" car. But it wasn't long before he added an exhaust resonator that only just comes under the noise-level legislation. So now, when he comes to visit us, Carmel says, "Here comes Nathan!" when he is about 400m from our place. Resonators have one purpose - they are to be heard. I suspect Nathan is well aware that since Grandma can hear and recognise him from a distance, younger women may also be impressed.
Jesus parable about the light is not so much about bringing attention to one's self, but about sharing. It is interesting to read this passage in several different versions because you can see the translators attaching different layers of meaning to the passage. I read it in the King James Version, The Living Bible, and The Message this morning and between them I find Jesus not just talking about spiritual things but applying those principles to day-to-day living.
There is a strong link between sharing spiritual values and being generous in our dealings with one another. There is no place in Christianity for us to be so heavenly-minded that we are of no earthly use.
One application of this idea is that we need to look at the exclusiveness of our language about spiritual things. So much of our discussion is in a language that only other Christians understand. Is that hiding our light under a basket?
There is a lesson in Nathan's exhaust resonator. When we hear him we go out to meet him because we look forward to his visits. That prompts the question: Is the Christian noise that we make, the kind that prompts people to look forward to meeting us and sharing with us?
I’m so glad you mentioned reading these verses in different translations. I read the NASB and NLT and I was confused more than once from the follow-up question/paragraph in lesson. 1. Neither of the versions I read mentioned houses in Mark 4:21-23 and that is the first thing mentioned by lesson author in relation to text. 2. Neither version mentioned a basket in Mark 4:24-25 mentioned a basket and yet the author follows with a question re: measuring baskets. W/o the author’s explanation, I’d be lost.
Dorothy, I don’t think there is problem with different bible versions of Mk 4:21-25. No version of Mark contains the word “house”. “House” is found in Matthew’s version of the parable Mt. 5:15 in all the Bible versions, and it is implied in Luke’s version (Lk 8:16; 11:33). Moreover a lamp is most effective in an enclosed space. The author must have used these additional references in explaining the parable. He also called the measuring container or device “measuring basket”, but that is not specifically found in any version of the Bible. May we “let our light so shine” that Our God might be glorified.
I agree with the thought of being careful with our language with newcomers or seekers. We use a lot of phrases that are unknown to the public. Like the word “haystacks”. Here in America some seekers might think we are talking about these little crunchy cookies, when in fact we mean a taco salad.
It might be a good practice for us to use better words as a church bc we know that there will come a time that there will be a lot of new people in the church! Revelation 18:1; Joel 2:28-29
Hi Rebecca. I think that calling a Taco salad a haystack is one of the least of our worries. There is a whole range of our language that implies we are better and/or more knowledgable than other Christians. What do we mean by "truth", "righteiousness", "salvation", "prophetic interprestation", "Spirit of Prophecy", and so on. All of these words are menaingful to us but can sound exclusive to those who do not have these words in their every day language. Sometimes it does us good to listen and use the language that others use rather than our own.
How can we better understand the principle that with what measure you use, it will be measured to you? Think about it in all your dealings with others.
I think of faith when I read Mark 4:24-25. When the HS acts on our hearts faith is the result unless we deny Him access, (though in some trains of thought it takes as much faith to deny the HS as to accept.) The more we spend time w/God the stronger our faith and the more we experience w/God the deeper and more sincere our message. If our relationship w/God is half-hazard it is w/o power (or root) and will die. I believe in some ways as we relate to others, learn of their needs and pray for them we act on our faith and God’s promises and benefit from the experience of the answer: w/praises, patience and/or seeking further answers. If the others know of our prayer for them (and, maybe, even add to ours their own prayers,) they will also gain additions, experience, etc…
2 Ptr 1:5-9 (BSB) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.…
Yes, the lamp and the basket both represent the power of the Gospel – the Word of God. But what does Jesus address that could potentially be obscured or corrupted and by whom? What actions would lead to such an outcome when sharing the Word of God with others?
As I see it, these parables address the manipulation of the power of the 'Living Word of God' for personal gain as it was done throughout the ages. I consider these parables by Jesus a call for everyone to share the Spirit and Truth of the Word of God in an open forum - no secret societies, no 'inner circles' of power brokers. We are called to genuinely, truthfully and generously share the Word of God and so make it equally available to all of mankind.
Dealing with hierarchical power structures leads me to first evaluate their legitimacy and integrity. We have seen over millennia how religious leaders distort the Spirit of the Word of God and abuse their position for personal gain - considering themselves to be appointed 'judges' called to assess the ‘righteousness’ of the children of God.
Jesus Christ, teaching the application of the 'New Covenant of Grace through Faith', took away this power and influence; man is saved by the Grace of God through Faith.
Jesus' 'New Way' showed them that their cruel, self-serving actions would come to an end - all His children are now able to receive the Truth about 'righteousness by faith' as taught by Jesus and confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel of Salvation by Grace through Faith is our heavenly Father's last Covenant/dispensation with man. At the appointed time He offered freedom from the shackles used by anyone who uses their religious influence and power for personal gain.
Now, the believer becomes fruitful when 'growing in the Grace of God' as he lives with his fellow man in the kingdom of God in peace aided by the Holy Spirit.
Loving God with all our heart increases the love for our sisters and brothers in Christ. We are called to freely share the abundance of the gifts of His Light and Truth with each other - never to be put under a 'cover' and freely measured out generously and in peace to all we come in contact with - John 8:36.
Thank you on a very touching discussion on our lesson, we pray that it applies to our deeds day by day in the process of perfection