A LAMP IS FOR LIGHT

Passage: Luke 11:33-36

Key verse: 34

NIV

The Lamp of the Body(A)

33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.(B) 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[b] your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 11:34 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
  2. Luke 11:34 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Light in You

33 (A)“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is (B)the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is (C)bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 (D)Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, (E)as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. God's lamp, Jesus (33)

Jesus is the light of the world. His life and redemptive work are for all to see. Those who follow him do not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (Jn 8:12). Those who do not want to repent love darkness and do not come to the light (Jn 3:19-21).

2. Your eye is your lamp (34-36)

When we come to Jesus with repentant hearts and live in his light, he opens our spiritual eyes and we can see ourselves, others and the world from his viewpoint. When we see things with spiritual eyes, our whole body is full of light: We have God's peace; we can find his direction; we can solve our problems in God's way. If we insist on living by our human feelings and allow fear or anger or lust or jealousy or self-pity to occupy our hearts, we are living in spiritual darkness.

Prayer: Lord, give me spiritual eyes so that I may be full of light, and live as a small lamp in this dark world.

One Word: Live in Jesus' light