Mark 4.21-25.
When Jesus explained to his students
Mark 4.21-23 KWL - 21 Jesus told them, “Does the light come in so it can be put under a basket or under the couch?
- Not so it can be put on the lampstand?
- 22 It’s not secret except that it may later be revealed.
- It doesn’t become hidden unless it may later be known.
- 23 If anyone has hearing ears, hear this.”
Too often Christians quote this passage as if it applies to every secret: Everything we say in secret is gonna eventually come out in public.
And y’know, Jesus did say something like that, in Matthew and Luke. But he did so
Matthew 10.26-27 KWL - 26 “So don’t be afraid of your haters, for nothing has been covered up which won’t be revealed.
- Nothing is secret which won’t be made known.
- 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light.
- What you hear in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
Luke 12.2-3 KWL - 2 “Nothing undercover exists which won’t be revealed.
- Nothing is secret which won’t be made known.
- 3 As much as has been said in the dark about it, say in the light. It’ll be heard.
- What was spoken in your ear in an inner room, will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
But that’s a whole ’nother lesson, and today I’m only discussing Jesus’s parables. And in Mark’s context, Jesus was only talking about his parables. Not everything.
Yes, Mark’s wording is the same as when Jesus
Mark 4.21 KWL - Jesus told them, “Does the light come in so it can be put under a basket or under the couch?
- Not so it can be put on the lampstand?”
Matthew 5.15 KWL - “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket,
- but on the lampstand, and it shines on everything in the house.”
Luke 8.16 KWL - “Nobody who grabs a light covers it with a jar, or puts it under the couch,
- but puts it on a lampstand so those who enter can see the light.”
Luke 11.33 KWL - “Nobody who grabs a light puts a cover on it, nor under a basket,
- but on the lampstand so those who enter can see the light.”
And again: Whole ’nother lesson. Jesus had no trouble using the same metaphor to teach a bunch of different things. The problem is we presume he’s teaching the same thing; that
Nope, the reason Jesus said these things in Mark was ’cause he wanted his students to know that this bit—
Mark 4.11-12 KWL - 11 Jesus told them, “God’s kingdom’s mysteries were given to you.
- To those outside, everything comes in parables.
- 12 Thus seers might not see—and realize.
- Hearers might not hear—and be forgiven things.”
Is 6.10
—is meant to be temporary. In time, outsiders get to understand what everything means. But when Jesus first shared these parables, it wasn’t yet the right time. His hour had not yet come.