Luke 11:33

The Lamp of the Body

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.

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Luke 11:33 in Other Translations

KJV

33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

ESV

33 "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.

NLT

33 “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

MSG

33 "No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they're going.

CSB

33 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light.

Luke 11:33 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:33

No man when he hath lighted a candle
These words are often repeated by Christ on different occasions, (See Gill on Matthew 5:15) and (See Gill on Luke 8:16) and here seem to design the free, open, and clear ministry of Christ, who excelled Solomon in wisdom, and Jonas in powerful preaching. It being as a candle, which, when lighted, no man

putteth in a secret place;
as under a bed, ( Mark 4:21 ) where it cannot be seen, and its light be of any use:

neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which
come may see the light;
intimating, that Christ and his disciples did not preach in corners, or in private houses, and secret places, but in the streets of the city, and in the temples and synagogues, the public places of worship: and therefore the Jews were the more inexcusable, that they did not attend to the ministry of the word; and this would be their condemnation, that light was come among them, and they preferred darkness to it, ( John 3:19 ) .

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Luke 11:33 In-Context

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; 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; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

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.

34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,your body also is full of darkness.

35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

Cross References 1

1. S Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16