RECEIVE AND SHINE LIGHT

Passage: Luke 11:29-36

Key verse: 36

NIV

The Sign of Jonah(A)

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign,(B) but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.(C) 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom;(D) and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah;(E) and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body(F)

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.(G) 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 Sign of Jonah

29 (A)When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, (B)“This generation is an evil generation. (C)It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as (D)Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 (E)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and (F)condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, (G)something greater than Solomon is here. 32 (H)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and (I)condemn it, for (J)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, (K)something greater than Jonah is here.

The Light in You

33 (L)“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 (M)the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is (N)bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 (O)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, (P)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

Jesus had just said that blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. He went on to show the wickedness of their generation and any generation, including ours, when we do not open our ears and hearts to the truth of God. Instead, we stick to our own versions of success and righteousness: the conventional wisdom of doing this and that to earn the approval of God and others. Solomon, in all his wisdom, and Jonah with a message of repentance were glimpses of God's wisdom and salvation found in the words and life of Jesus. Jesus highlights the responses of the Queen of Sheba and the Ninevites as unlikely good examples. This reveals that God's salvation is universal for all who hear and accept it.

Jesus says that your eye is the lamp of your body. Healthy (generous) eyes see the world and people with eyes of hope, grace, and beauty. Unhealthy (stingy) eyes see the world and others with a sense of judgment and depravity. We need to be illuminated with the light of God's wisdom and grace, then our lives may shine like stars in the sky (Philippians 2:15).

Prayer: Lord, grant me open ears and eyes to receive your love in my life. May your grace and truth illuminate my way and shine like a light in any dark situation.

One Word: Shine.