Parables One

Of all the great teachers throughout history, none has come close  to the simple son of a carpenter from Galilee, Jesus of  Nazareth.   This  is true, as we all know, because the carpenter was not really His father.  He was and is the Son of God.
One of the favorite teaching tools of  this great  teacher  is  the parable.  All too often in our modern word of  sophisticated,  high-tech gadgets and super-hype advertising, we forget that simplest is often best. It is possible to say more by saying less.
We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words.   The same is true of a word-picture.  A few, carefully chosen words are worth more than a drawn out, carelessly planned discourse.
It is usually true that the more we say,  the more  confined arid limited our discussion becomes.  By saying little, Jesus is able to  leave gems of  wisdom  that have benefited countless generations over  20 centuries.
The word "parable" literally means to "cast along side."   In other words, a simple concept is cast along side another, usually more  complex, idea in order to help explain the latter.  A good definition  is  that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
Imagine the task confronting Jesus as He begins His ministry at about age 30.  He must teach deep, complex spiritual  concepts  to humans with limited experiences.  He must do this in a way  that will  continue  to provide meaning for these concepts in the second century and third century and on into the twenty-first century.
Before beginning our look at the parables, we need to establish a couple of  facts.   First of  all,  many of  the parables have primary applications to the people who first hear them.  In other words, many of the parables have applications relating  to  the Jewish system and  the coming kingdom, the church.  A good many parables begin with  the words, "The kingdom is like..."
So the first question we must ask when examining a parable is,  "What did this mean to the people who first heard it?"  Then we can move on  to the second question, "How does this apply to me?"
One more thing that should be mentioned is that parables deal  with fictional occurrences.  But everything presented in the story  is  correct. In other words, a parable that talks about a farmer sowing seed is not a report of an actual event.  But it does contain only  factual  actions. There really are farmers.  They really do plant seed.  We cannot look at a single parable and say, "That would never happen."  There are no dragons or flying elephants In the parables.
What we would like to do during the next few weeks, Lord willing,  is take a look at all of the parables in the first  three gospels:  Matthew, Mark and Luke.
"You are the light of the world," Jesus states  in Matthew 5:14-16. "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house.
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Similar parables are recorded in Mark 4:21,22 and Luke 6:16,17.
What is the earthly story used in this parable?  A light  is kindled in order to be seen.  We don't turn on a lamp so we can cover  it up and block out the light.  Everyone can understand this.  No one can say  that the idea used here is false.
What does this mean for us?  Light is used to illuminate.
	"I am.. .the bright morning star," Jesus claims in Revelation 22:16. Jesus illuminated the world with His presence.  As imitators of Jesus, all Christians are expected to help illuminate the world.   This  illumination is intended to guide those who are lost and stumbling around  in a dark world.
"Do all  things without grumbling or  disputing;"  Paul  urges  in Philippians 2:14,15, "that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of  a  crooked and perverse generation, among which you appear as lights in the world."
Light is frequently used to represent knowledge.
"And so we have the prophetic word made more sure,"  2 Peter  1:19 says, "to which you do well to pay attention as to a  lamp shining  in a dark place, until the day dawns and  the morning star  arises  in your hearts."
Light represents the truth.
"On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment  to you,"  John states in chapter two, verse eight of his first epistle, "which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the  true  light is already shining."  This whole passage contrasts light and darkness.
And light generally stands for that which is good, while darkness and night represent evil.
The last part of Revelation chapter  21  and  the first section of chapter 22 talk of a place where there is no night; where God and the Lamb provide illumination.
So being the light of the world means we must  illuminate  the world and help guide the lost to Jesus.  We must enlighten the world through the knowledge of the will of God.  We must abide in the truth.   And we must stand for that which is good.

Understanding what it means to be the light of  the world provides only part of the key to this parable.  We still need to consider  what  it means to hide a light.
If we think of the light of the world as a source of illumination  to guide the lost to Jesus, why are we so hesitant to talk with others about our Lord?  If we see a traveler who appears to be lost,  how many of  us would go out of our way to not help this person find the right road?
"My brethren," James 5:19,20 points out, "if  any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back; let him know that he who  turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death,  and will cover a multitude of sins.
If we are to enlighten the world through the knowledge of the will of God, why do we discuss the weather, sports and even politics,  but avoid like the plague any mention of Jesus or the Bible?
"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders,"  Paul  advises  in Colossians 4:5,6, "making the most of the opportunity.   Let your  speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt,  so  that  you may know how you should respond to each person."  
A similar  sentiment  is expressed in 1 Peter 3:15.
If we look  at  light as abiding  in  the  truth,  why are we so unconcerned about making certain that what we are practicing is, in  fact, what God requires according to the Bible?
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,"  Luke records in Acts 17:11 of the Christians in Berea, "for they  received  the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so."
If being the light of the world involves standing for that which  is good, why are we so eager to toy with that which is evil?
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you," James 4:7 promises.
	"But examine everything carefully;" Paul counsels in 1  Thessalonians 5:21,22, "hold fast to that which is good;  abstain from every  form of evil."
This last point calls to mind another parable very similar to the one we are considering.  In Luke 11:33 Jesus talks about hiding a  lamp  in a cellar or under a basket.  But the application that the Master makes here is slightly different.  Instead of calling Christians  the  light of  the world, He refers here to the eye as the lamp of the body.
In a physical sense, we may be what we eat.   But  in a spiritual sense, we are what we think.  Jesus explains this in Matthew 8:21-48.  And if we are what we think, we think what we see.  If  we place garbage in front of our eyes, we will end up with trash-dumps for minds.
"The lamp of your body is your eye;" Jesus teaches in Luke  11:34-36, "when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light;  but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.
"Then watch out that the light  in you may not be darkness.   If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part  in it,  it shall be wholly illuminated, as when the lamp  illuminates you with its rays."
In Matthew 5:16 Jesus reveals the result of making the  right  choice when it comes to hiding our light or allowing it to shine.  If we make the right decision, God will be glorified.
"Keep your behavior excellent among  the Gentiles,"  1  Peter  2:12 encourages, "so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."
"Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God," 1 Peter 4:11 says, "whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified  through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen."
In 2 Corinthians  chapter  nine Paul  anticipates  the  results of benevolence on the part of Christians.
"For the ministry of this service is not only  fully supplying  the needs of the saints," Paul writes in verse 12, "but it is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God."
For the glory of God, we must let our lights shine.   We must help illuminate the world and lead the lost to Christ.  We must enlighten  the world through knowledge of the will of God.  We must stand for that which is good.  And we must abide in the truth.
Darkness causes us  to stumble and become  lost.   But  the  truth provides light.
This is the truth that will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."