Luke 8:16-21

Showing the Light

8:16 “No one lights ¹  a lamp ²  and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in can see the light. ³  8:17 For nothing is hidden ⁴  that will not be revealed, ⁵  and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. 8:18 So listen carefully, ⁶  for whoever has will be given more, but ⁷  whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has ⁸  will be taken from him.”

Jesus’ True Family

8:19 Now Jesus’ ⁹  mother and his brothers ¹⁰  came to him, but ¹¹  they could not get near him because of the crowd. 8:20 So ¹²  he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 8:21 But he replied ¹³  to them, “My mother and my brothers are those ¹⁴  who hear the word of God and do it.” ¹⁵ 

[8:16]  ¹ tn The participle ἅψας ({aya") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[8:16]  ² sn This is probably an ancient oil burning lamp or perhaps a candlestick. Jesus is comparing revelation to light, particularly the revelation of his ministry; see 1:78-79.

[8:16]  ³ tn Or “its light,” if the Greek article is translated as a possessive pronoun (for such usage, cf. ExSyn 215).

[8:17]  ⁴ sn Nothing is hidden. Light also exposes, and Jesus was suggesting that his teaching likewise revealed where people are and where they will be. Truth will be manifest in the future, just as it was declared by him then. Nothing will be concealed.

[8:17]  ⁵ tn Or “disclosed.”

[8:18]  ⁶ tn Or “Therefore pay close attention”; Grk “Take heed therefore how you hear.”

[8:18]  ⁷ tn Grk “and.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[8:18]  ⁸ sn The phrase what he thinks he has is important, because it is not what a person thinks he has that is important but whether he actually has something or not. Jesus describes the person who does not heed his word as having nothing. The person who has nothing loses even that which he thought was something but was not. In other words, he has absolutely nothing at all. Jesus’ teaching must be taken seriously.

[8:19]  ⁹ tn Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:19]  ¹⁰ sn The issue of whether Jesus had brothers (siblings) has had a long history in the church. Epiphanius, in the 4th century, argued that Mary was a perpetual virgin and had no offspring other than Jesus. Others argued that these brothers were really cousins. Nothing in the text suggests any of this. See also John 7:3.

[8:19]  ¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[8:20]  ¹² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the sequence of events.

[8:21]  ¹³ tn Grk “answering, he said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “he replied.”

[8:21]  ¹⁴ tn There is some discussion about the grammar of this verse in Greek. If “these” is the subject, then it reads, “These are my mother and brothers, those who.” If “these” is a nominative absolute, which is slightly more likely, then the verse more literally reads, “So my mother and brothers, they are those who.” The sense in either case is the same.

[8:21]  ¹⁵ sn Hearing and doing the word of God is another important NT theme: Luke 6:47-49; Jas 1:22-25.