Mark 4:21-25

Mark 4:21 (KJB)
And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

A person would not light a candle for the purpose of lighting a dark room and then go place the candle under a bushel, thus quenching the light or starting the bushel on fire. You also would not light a candle and then place it under a bed because the light would be quenched or it would start the bed on fire since beds were basically made of straw back then. Both would have catastrophic consequences. What Jesus has in view here is the parables which He was teaching and they are the candlestick. They were not meant to be hiding truth but to clarify the truth.

The reason that a candle is lit in a house is for the purpose of lighting up the dark home. This is the same mentality the believer must have. He is not given the Gospel for the purpose of keeping it to himself but is given the Gospel for the purpose of sending it forth for all to hear. Just as a light lights everyone in the house and is not biased as to who is receiving the light, the believer must send out the Gospel to as many as he or she can, not knowing whom the Lord has chosen for salvation.

Mark 4:22 (KJB)
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Here Jesus is speaking of His parables that the time will come when nothing will be hidden but the Gospel will go forth in plainness and power. The mysteries which were hidden in the Hebrew Scriptures will no longer be mysteries because when the Gospel is preached, then all these will be explained by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 4:23 (KJB)
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus now tells those who have ears to hear, to hear. This is not speaking of the physical hearing but is speaking of spiritually hearing the message which is behind the parables. Those who have spiritual ears are those whom God has qualified to hear spiritual things. Those who have spiritual ears are those who are the saved because only they would understand the true spiritual nature of the parables. One person hears and understands the Gospel, while another hears and has no idea what is being taught, because they have not been qualified to understand spiritual things. (1 Cor 2:14 KJV) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Mark 4:24 (KJB)
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

Take heed - Beware

Jesus then warns His disciples that they need to beware or take heed as to what they hear. What they hear could affect their spiritual understanding of the Scriptures. Listening to a false teacher on a consistent basis may heavily affect how one understand the Scriptures. If one hears something in truth and then heeds those words by studying them and passing the teaching on to others, then as you minister to others, you will also be ministered to. If you are the type of Christian who has a great love for the word of God and wants to learn all they can, then that attitude will yield much fruit because as one learns the Scriptures they are passing it out in great measure. Both words in the Greek for “hear” in this verse means “hearing with understanding.” This verse is pointing only to believers who have been qualified to hear the true Gospel, to study it, and disseminate it. The more a Christian understands, the more they will have the Scriptures open to them and will then be able to minister to many. (Luke 24:45 KJV) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, God will open up our understanding in response to our desire to know Him and the Scriptures. Those Christians who spend no time studying will remain spiritually neutered and will no doubt have no ministry and no fruit. A sad situation indeed.

Mark 4:25 (KJB)
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

Then Jesus gives a spiritual principle. Those who have become saved and understand the Gospel will have their understanding increased to the point that they will have abundant understanding. Of course, this came with the filling of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and right after that we saw the disciples preaching the fullness of the Gospel and the whole story like Stephen and Peter. (Prov 9:9 KJV) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Then Jesus gives the other side of the story and that those who have not, which are those who are unsaved, shall have taken from them even what they have, that is, those who have the external façade of religiosity and think that they have understanding will become more apostate in their views and will walk farther away from God. In the final analysis, all their religion and knowledge will not help them because they will stand in the judgment and since they are found false, will be cast into the lake of fire and thus what they had is taken from them such as false assurance of Heaven.

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