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Light
A somewhat difficult to understand little section in today's reading. I hope this helps:
"Finally, Jesus uses the image of light to make his point more strongly (vv. 33–34). He compares his teaching to “a lamp,” which in the ancient world was a candle or some type of oil lamp. One does not go to the effort of lighting a lamp in order to place it where its light is covered. It goes on a lampstand, where it can give light. Thus, Jesus’ teaching is light made available for all to see. What he says is not designed to be concealed, since God intends Jesus to reveal God’s promises.
But light not only has to be lit; it has to be received by the eye. The juxtaposition of this image with the previous one suggests the need to draw on the light Jesus provides...What the eye lets into the mind makes up the person. When such eyes are good, letting in light, then the person is full of light and reflects light in life. But if the eyes are bad, letting nothing good come in, then the body is a dark place, since our inclinations unled by divine revelation take us in destructive directions. Of course, what is let in is a reflection of where our heart is. Jesus, therefore, calls for people to be full of light. They are to respond to the light of God’s Word by receiving it. To take in light is to shine from the inside." [1] (bolding mine)
What do receive? To you consistently let in darkness or light? Do you seek to know and understand God, or do you fill your "eyes" with things that will pass away? Just as what comes out of our mouths reveals our heart, so also does what we put in our eyes and ears. Do we seek to fill them (and therefore ourselves) with light or darkness. The choices we make about our music, entertainment, etc. reveal more about our hearts than we probably want them to.
Thoughts?
Light
A somewhat difficult to understand little section in today's reading. I hope this helps:
"Finally, Jesus uses the image of light to make his point more strongly (vv. 33–34). He compares his teaching to “a lamp,” which in the ancient world was a candle or some type of oil lamp. One does not go to the effort of lighting a lamp in order to place it where its light is covered. It goes on a lampstand, where it can give light. Thus, Jesus’ teaching is light made available for all to see. What he says is not designed to be concealed, since God intends Jesus to reveal God’s promises.
But light not only has to be lit; it has to be received by the eye. The juxtaposition of this image with the previous one suggests the need to draw on the light Jesus provides...What the eye lets into the mind makes up the person. When such eyes are good, letting in light, then the person is full of light and reflects light in life. But if the eyes are bad, letting nothing good come in, then the body is a dark place, since our inclinations unled by divine revelation take us in destructive directions. Of course, what is let in is a reflection of where our heart is. Jesus, therefore, calls for people to be full of light. They are to respond to the light of God’s Word by receiving it. To take in light is to shine from the inside." [1] (bolding mine)
What do receive? To you consistently let in darkness or light? Do you seek to know and understand God, or do you fill your "eyes" with things that will pass away? Just as what comes out of our mouths reveals our heart, so also does what we put in our eyes and ears. Do we seek to fill them (and therefore ourselves) with light or darkness. The choices we make about our music, entertainment, etc. reveal more about our hearts than we probably want them to.
Thoughts?
[1] Darrell L. Bock, The NIV Application Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 325-26.
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