In Mark 4:21 we find Jesus speaking yet another parable, this one concerning light, and it is commonly referred to as the Parable of the Lamp. Jesus claimed that light that doesn’t give light is pointless. Why would a lamp be put under a jar or under a bed or couch? If one did such a thing, the light would benefit no one and would be rendered useless. The purpose of light is to make the things around us visible or to render our vision clearer. Jesus claimed to be the Light of the world[1] (John 8:12; 9:5). Nevertheless, Jesus’ office of Messiah seems to be a secret in that, although he came to dwell among his own people (John 1:14), they refused to receive him and in the larger context didn’t even know him (John 1:10-11)
If Jesus is the Light of the world, it doesn’t make sense to hide him in a parable, for a parable is like a riddle, which no one knows, unless he has the key. What would be the key to give understanding to the folks who never gave Jesus a second thought (those illustrated by the wayside; Mark 4:4, 15)? On the other hand, what’s the key to helping folks see the value in Jesus, when they are offended in him, as their following him gets tougher than expected (those illustrated in the rocky soil; Mark 4:5-6, 16-17). Finally, what key would help the folks, who are caught up in the things of this world, see that Jesus has more value than what they’ve given their hearts to do (i.e. those illustrated in ground having seeds of thorns; Mark 4:7, 18-19)?
Jesus then went on to say that the purpose of hiding things pertaining to the Kingdom was that they would later be made evident to all, and the reason for all the secrecy surrounding the Kingdom was to enable spreading its good news far and wide (Mark 4:22). One hides what is precious, so it won’t be destroyed or stolen, but it would be pointless to keep what is precious hidden forever. One wears his jewelry on special occasions for all to see and recognize their beauty and great value. So, too, the Kingdom had to be hidden from those who would corrupt it or steal it in order to destroy it, by making it into something it was not.
Notice that the Parable of the Lamp wasn’t given to the multitude, but was rather given to Jesus’ disciples. The context of Jesus’ remarks in verse-22 implies that his disciples would be given the responsibility of later making known what Jesus hid in his parables. The phrase: if anyone has ears to hear let him hear (Mark 4:23) is not the same phrase stated in Mark 4:9, which was spoken to the multitude. According to Kenneth S. Wuest,[2] the Greek doesn’t refer to an unfulfilled condition (if) but one that is fulfilled (since):
“The if here is not the conditional particle, ean (G1437), which introduces a future, unfulfilled, hypothetical condition, but ei (G1536), the particle of a fulfilled condition. [Wuest: Word Studies in the Greek New Testament; volume 1; page 90; parenthesis mine]
Wuest translates the verse: “Since a person has ears to be hearing, let him be hearing.[3] In other words, “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11). Therefore, you have ears to hear. Use them (verse 23; cp. Matthew 10:27)!
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[1] King David is referred to as the lamp of Israel in 2Samuel 21:17 and his descendents are called lamps in 1Kings 11:36 and 15:4. The lamp is even used to signify the Messiah in Psalm 132:17.
[2] Wuest was a Biblical Greek scholar who lived in the first half of the 20th century. One of his more notable works is his Expanded Translation of the New Testament.
[3] See Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament ‘An Expanded Translation’
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