Luke 11:33

33 But no one having lit a lamp sets it in secret, nor under the corn-measure, but on the lamp-stand, that they who enter in may see the light.

Luke 11:33 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:33

No man when he hath lighted a candle
These words are often repeated by Christ on different occasions, (See Gill on Matthew 5:15) and (See Gill on Luke 8:16) and here seem to design the free, open, and clear ministry of Christ, who excelled Solomon in wisdom, and Jonas in powerful preaching. It being as a candle, which, when lighted, no man

putteth in a secret place;
as under a bed, ( Mark 4:21 ) where it cannot be seen, and its light be of any use:

neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which
come may see the light;
intimating, that Christ and his disciples did not preach in corners, or in private houses, and secret places, but in the streets of the city, and in the temples and synagogues, the public places of worship: and therefore the Jews were the more inexcusable, that they did not attend to the ministry of the word; and this would be their condemnation, that light was come among them, and they preferred darkness to it, ( John 3:19 ) .

Luke 11:33 In-Context

31 A queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, more than Solomon is here.
32 Men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold, more than Jonas is here.
33 But no one having lit a lamp sets it in secret, nor under the corn-measure, but on the lamp-stand, that they who enter in may see the light.
34 The lamp of the body is thine eye: when thine eye is simple, thy whole body also is light; but when it is wicked, thy body also is dark.
35 See therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Translated 'bushel' in Matt. 5.15; Mark 4.21.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.