21 And He was saying to them, (A)A lamp is not brought to be put under a [a]basket, or under a bed, is it? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22 (B)For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23 (C)If anyone has ears to hear, [b]let him hear.” 24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. [c](D)By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 (E)For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:21 Lit peck-measure
  2. Mark 4:23 Or hear! or listen!
  3. Mark 4:24 Lit By what measure you measure

The Lamp Comes To Shine, Not To Be Hidden

21 And He was saying to them, “The lamp does not come in order that it may be put under the basket or under the bed, does it? Is it not in order that it may be put on the lampstand? 22 For it is not hidden, except in order that it may be made-visible[a]. Nor did it become hidden-away, but in order that it may come into visibility. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear”.

With The Measure You Use It Will Be Measured To You

24 And He was saying to them, “Be watching what you listen-to[b]. With what measure you measure[c], it will be measured to you— and it will be added to you. 25 For he who has— it will be given to him. And he who does not have— even what he has will be taken-away from him”.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:22 Or, revealed. One would only hide a lamp for the purpose of shining it at the proper time. The lamp may be Jesus, who came to light the world, but is hidden from Israel until the proper time; or, the truth Jesus brings, which is now hidden in parables in order that it may come into visibility at the proper time. Or, the lamp may refer to the word of God which believers hide in their hearts in order that it may shine at the opportune time.
  2. Mark 4:24 Or, hear. That is, in the sense of ‘obey’.
  3. Mark 4:24 The measure you use reflects your spiritual capacity, and your ability to receive. If you listen to the traditions of the Pharisees, it will limit your ability to receive spiritual truth.

A Lamp on a Stand

21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?(A) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.(B) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”(C)

24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.(D) 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”(E)

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