An Atheistic Bible Study Of The Gospels Parable Of The Light Under A Bushel

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A parable covered in three of the Gospels, and the source of the proverb about hiding your light in a bushel, a euphemism for not displaying your assets, talents and values in plain sight. For Jesus, it referred to being open and evangelical, even proud to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, rather than not making use of your faith or disclosing it to others. Matthew 5:14-15 Matthew has Jesus tell his followers that they can’t hide their inner light any more than it is possible to make a city on a hill invisible. He adds that we should not light a lamp and then bury it in a bowl so no one sees it. We should put the light up so it brightens the room for all visitors, so they can see that the host is a Christian, a good person and honours God. Mark 4:21-25 This version skips the analogy of the town on the hill, but presents the rest as a series of rather loaded question. Of course we put an actual lamp light in a position for it to provide illumination to a room. Jesus adds that the message of who Jesus is should be shared with anyone who is capable of listening. Luke 8:16-18 Though worded differently, this is not much different than Mark’s version, but Luke adds that what is hidden away always comes to light in the end anyway. Not being afraid to say who you are and what you believe is good in many situations, but faced with persecution, this advice to never hide who you are got many early Christian captured and martyred. There are times when keeping the light hidden (at least from some) is advisable. As to waving your Christian message at any able to hear, this often means forcing people to listen even when they don’t want to – consent becomes immaterial. Thi is why many evangelists knock on people’s doors at inconvenient times and take much persuading to go away again. Not everyone is Christian of course, so in many cases the lights are different colours and different materials. My lights are those of reason and creativity. Light can blind as well as illuminate. Matthew’s comparison to a hidden city doesn’t hold up as many people really do not display their inner talents. Arthur Chappell