Hearing and Doing

Summary of my sermon, based on Luke 8:16-21. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on August 11, 2024.

Last week, we explored the parable in Luke 8:1-15, where Jesus illustrated how different hearts receive the Gospel. Some hearts are hardened, rejecting the Word outright. Others are shallow, welcoming the message initially but quickly falling away when challenges arise. There are also hearts divided by the distractions of life, which choke out the Word. But then there are those with good soil—honest and receptive hearts where the Gospel takes root and bears fruit.

In today’s passage, Luke 8:16-21, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of responding to the Gospel through action. He begins with a parable about a lamp and then follows with an object lesson involving His own family. These teachings underscore the importance of not just hearing the Word but also living it out.

Jesus opens this section with a familiar image: “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light” (Luke 8:16, ESV). The idea is simple—light is meant to be seen. But what exactly is this “lamp”?

One common interpretation is that we, as believers, are the lamp. This aligns with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-16, where He calls us “the light of the world” and urges us to let our light shine before others. As Christians, we are called to reflect the light of the Gospel in a dark world. Yet, if we’re honest, there are times when we’re tempted to hide our light, either out of fear or distraction. The temptation to retreat into safe, Christian enclaves is strong, but Jesus reminds us that our light is meant to shine in the darkness.

Another interpretation, which ties more closely to the context of Luke 8, is that the “lamp” represents the Gospel itself. In this view, Jesus’ teaching—the light—illuminates the path to God. The Gospel reveals truth and exposes sin, just as light dispels darkness. This interpretation finds support in passages like 2 Peter 1:19 and 2 Corinthians 4:5-6, where the Word of God is likened to a lamp shining in a dark place, bringing the knowledge of God’s glory.

Both interpretations are complementary. Whether we see ourselves as the light or the Gospel as the light, the point remains the same: the light of Christ must not be hidden. We must allow the Gospel to shine through us, illuminating the world around us.

Jesus continues, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17, ESV). The light of God’s Word reveals what is hidden, exposing the truth about our lives and the world. This happens both now, as the Gospel transforms lives, and ultimately at the final judgment, when everything will be laid bare.

The Gospel, by its very nature, challenges the status quo. It shines a light on the sin and brokenness of the world, offering hope and salvation to those who will receive it. But for those who reject it, the same light becomes a source of judgment.

Jesus warns us to “Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away” (Luke 8:18, ESV). How we respond to the Word of God is crucial. Those who embrace it will receive even more spiritual blessings, while those who ignore it will lose even what little they have.

This echoes the call in 1 John 2:15-17 not to love the world but to do the will of God, which leads to eternal life. The challenge is clear: we must not only hear the Word but also respond by living it out in our daily lives.

Finally, Jesus illustrates this point with an object lesson involving His own family. When told that His mother and brothers were seeking Him, Jesus responded, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21, ESV). Here, Jesus redefines family not by biological ties but by obedience to God’s Word. Those who hear and do the Word are included in the family of God.

This is a profound assurance. As members of God’s family, we have nothing to fear. Romans 8:38-39 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. As His children, we enjoy intimacy with God, approaching His throne of grace with confidence.

In conclusion, the light of the Gospel is meant to shine brightly in our lives and through our actions. We are called to respond to God’s Word with obedience, becoming part of His family and experiencing the blessings that come with it.