Reflections with Andy – Luke 8: 16-18 – Let the Light Shine

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In Luke 8:16–18, Jesus says no one lights a lamp just to hide it, but to shine for everyone to see, and He warns us to pay attention to how we listen. In the context of the parable of the sower, this means when God’s Word takes root in us, it grows and bears fruit—but if we ignore it or hide it, even what we think we have will slip away. The fruit Jesus promises isn’t stuff or success, but the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more—that shines out of us and points others to Him. God already knows everything about us, even our flaws, and still loves us as His children, so why would we hide His light? Today, let’s not keep it to ourselves—let’s shine, because His love never runs out and the more we share it, the more it grows.

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Good morning. It’s good to be with you on this Tuesday morning as we continue together in our time in Luke. I hope you’re off to a great start this week. So far, so good. It’s gonna be a great day, a fun day, and I’m excited to continue digging into Luke’s gospel with you.

Today, we’re gonna be reading one of Jesus’ parables from Luke 8:16–18:

“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.
Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”

It’s always important to remember — one of the keys to reading Scripture is context. If you’ve ever heard me (or any Bible teacher) say it once, you’ve heard it a hundred times: context is key.

So we’ve got this little teaching here about not hiding your light under a bushel. And of course, that always makes me think of the old kids’ song:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine.

That’s the picture Jesus gives. Nobody lights a candle and hides it. No — you light a lamp so that it gives light to everyone around. That makes perfect sense. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus even says, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

So yes, this is about letting your light shine so others can see God at work in you. That’s a very biblical, Jesus-focused teaching.

But let’s go back to context. Where does this little parable fall? What came just before it?

Right before this, we read the parable of the sower. Remember? Some seed fell on rocky soil, some among thorns, some on the path, and some on good soil. And the good soil produced fruit — some a hundredfold.

Now, keep that in mind when we read this next teaching. Jesus says: “Pay attention to how you listen. For those who have, more will be given; and those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”

That sounds odd at first, doesn’t it? It almost seems backwards — especially when we remember what Mary sang in the Magnificat: God has brought down the powerful, lifted up the lowly, filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

So what does Jesus mean here?

When we place this in the context of the parable of the sower, it makes sense. The faithful — the good soil — will bear fruit. Why? Because they receive the word of God, let it take root, and allow it to grow. They hear it, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patient endurance. And when they do, more fruit follows.

But those who don’t — those who reject the word, or let the cares of life choke it out — they don’t bear fruit. And even what they seem to have gets lost.

So what’s the point?

  • If God’s word is planted in us, and we’re faithful to nourish it, it will bear fruit.
  • When the light of God shines in us, it will show. And the more we live into that light, the more God gives.
  • But if we refuse to let God’s word take root, or we hide the light we’ve been given, then that goodness gets choked out.

This isn’t a “name it and claim it” teaching. Jesus isn’t saying, “Do good and God will give you whatever you want.” No — the fruit He’s talking about is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we draw closer to God, His Spirit grows these things in us. That’s the kind of fruit Jesus is describing.

And when that fruit is visible — when God’s light shines through us — it makes a difference in the world. Other people see it. Lives are changed, not because of us, but because of the goodness of God at work in us.

Now, I’ll be honest: when I was younger, I used to be afraid of this idea that “God sees everything.” I thought God was just waiting to smite me. But as I’ve grown, I’ve realized it actually says something beautiful about His love.

God sees everything about me — every thought, every weakness, every failure — and He still loves me. The same is true for you. God knows all there is to know about you, and He still calls you His child.

Oh, how great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called the sons and daughters of God.

That’s the love we’re shining when we shine His light.

So don’t hide your light. Let it shine. Like Bishop Swanson used to say: “It’s a sad frog that won’t croak about his own pond.” Talk about God’s goodness. Shine His light. Because when you do, that light becomes a lighthouse for someone else who needs direction, mercy, peace, and grace.

God’s love is like a renewable resource. The more you give it, the more it flows. As St. Francis prayed: “It is in giving that we receive.”

So today — shine your light. Let the world see God’s goodness in you. And who knows what fruit God might bring from it?

Thanks for being with us today. We’ll pick up tomorrow with more of Jesus’ teachings in the gospel of Luke. See you then.

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