Candle Under a Bushel - Luke
At Capernaum
Luk 11:29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
Luk 11:30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
Luk 11:31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Luk 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Luk 11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Luk 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Luk 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Luk 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
Key words:
No man = Jesus
lighted a candle = teaches his twelve disciples
a candlestick = the church, the body of Christ here on earth (Rev 1:13, 20)
they which come in = they that open the door and let Jesus’ message into their heart (Rev 3:20)
the light = the gospel of the kingdom and the men should repent (Mat 10:27) (Mark 6:12) (Luke 9:2)
The light of the body = the illuminator of the body (Eph 1:18)
the eye = understanding (Eph 1:18)
single = clear (Strong’s Greek Dictionary)
full of light = full of the gospel of the kingdom and goodworks (Acts 9:36)
darkness = moral depravity (Rom 13:12)
In other words:
Jesus is here giving a recruiting speech to the multitudes. He promises the support of his body here on earth, the church, but he warns that he is looking for candidates of high righteousness and virtue.
Scripture references:
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luk 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Luk 11:34 The3588 light3088 of the3588 body4983 is2076 the3588 eye:3788 therefore3767 when3752 thine4675 eye3788 is5600 single,573 thy4675 whole3650 body4983 also2532 is2076 full of light;5460 but1161 when1875 thine eye is5600 evil,4190 thy4675 body4983 also2532 is full of darkness.4652
G573
ἁπλοῦς
haplous
hap-looce'
Probably from G1 (as a particle of union) and the base of G4120; properly folded together, that is, single (figuratively clear): - single.
Act 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.