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Continuing our short studies in Luke, this week we are completing chapter 11. Please read verses 29-54 every day this week and, if possible use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 11:33-36 (NIV)
‘”No-one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”’
Over the years, I’ve heard many, many preachers in various churches in different parts of the world. I’ve sat in congregations of thousands listening to some of the best regarded ministers currently serving the Lord and His Body. I’ve also had the privilege of sitting in small rooms hearing great exposition given by people whose names will never be known outside of the South Wales valleys.
The Scripture only has 66 books and most of that is rarely preached as most ministers concentrate their messages on the life of Christ or the New Testament teaching. That means that just 29 books get most of our attention from week to week. Given that fact, it’s more than likely to hear the same message preached from time to time. There was once a preacher who would use different scripture references but would always preach the same message. He had one thing to say and would say it time and time again.
Some of you may be aware of the similarities between this passage in Luke 11 and the account in Luke 8. Is this a mistake by the writer or is Jesus saying the same thing again? Well, it’s certainly no mistake! The context of the teaching by Jesus is very different and is indicative of a possibly different interpretation of the words He’s using.
There are at least two possible meanings for the teaching of Jesus as recorded in Luke (and in the parallel accounts in Matthew). 1. “Be witnesses and let your light shine” or 2. “Let the light shine into your hearts and do not obstruct it.” I think that it’s more than possible given the context of Luke chapter 11 that Jesus is using this second meaning for His audience that day. He calls them a wicked generation who refuse to listen to Someone who is greater than Solomon and Jonah. They have questioned Jesus’ authority and claimed that He was working for Satan himself. They demanded a sign from Heaven to prove His authority and were effectively putting the blame for their unbelief on Jesus Himself. It seems they were saying that it was His fault that they didn’t believe in Him.
Jesus explains here that when your eyes are good then the whole body is full of light, but when the eyes are bad then the body also if full of darkness. He is saying that the light is shining brightly. It’s not been hidden away, it’s on display for all to see. But this generation is effectively obstructing the light and not allowing it to shine into their hearts.
Bringing this up to date, there are so many people I know who refuse to see what is plainly before them and allows seek to push the blame for their unbelief onto someone/something else. “I can’t believe in a God who would allow this or that.” They are obstructing the Light of the World from shining into their hearts. Today, take a few moments to pray for people you know who are like this. Pray that God’s Spirit breaks through the obstruction and brings them to a place of Salvation.
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