The Lamp

*Bible verses from the KJV and AMP version. 

*Verse by Verse Commentary from Adam Clark, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon and John Gill.

*Matthew 5:14–16/Mark 4:21–25/Luke 8:16–18

M4:21 And He said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

He said to them, A lamp is not brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Is it not [brought in] to be put on the lampstand?

Is a candle - put under a bushel - The design of My preaching is to enlighten men; my parables not being designed to hide the truth, but to make it more manifest.

M4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been kept secret, but that it would come to light [that is, things are hidden only temporarily, until the appropriate time comes for them to be known].
For there is nothing hid - In these parables, and figurative expressions used by Christ, which shall not be manifested, sooner or later, to his disciples:
neither was any thing kept secret - any doctrine of the Gospel, or mystery of the kingdom:
but that it should come abroad - it was designed to be published in all Judea, and afterwards, throughout the whole world.
Though Christ expounded the parables to His disciples privately, yet it was with design to make them the more publicly useful; 

they were taught, 

that they might teach; 

and it is a general rule, 

that the ministration of the Spirit is given to every man, 

not himself only, but others also.

M5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Christ never contemplated the production of secret Christians.

M5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Let your light so shine before men - Here Christ applies the foregoing simile to His disciples, and more fully opens the meaning and design of it.
that they may see your good works - meaning their zeal and fervency; their plainness and openness; their sincerity, faithfulness, and integrity;
and glorify your Father which is in heaven - that is, that when the ministration of the Gospel has been blessed, 

for the illumination of the minds of men, 

to a thorough conviction of their state; and for their 

--conversion, 

--sanctification, 

--and comfort; 

they may give praise to God, and bless His name.

M4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear - What is now delivered, being very momentous and important;

L8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.

Take heed therefore how ye hear -That ye hear not in a careless and negligent manner,
for whosoever hath - that is, hath knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel, and hath gifts and abilities to preach them to others:
to him shall be given - more knowledge, and by using his gifts they shall be increased:
but he that hath not - true, solid, spiritual knowledge of divine things, though he has had considerable advantages and opportunities of learning it.
from him shall be taken, even that which he seemeth to have - or "that which he thinks he has", as the Syriac version renders it; 

shall be taken from him - his seeming gifts shall vanish away, and he shall be left to fall into ignorance, error, and heresy. To seem to have a thing, is only to have it in appearance, and not in reality.

"As the sun goes forth on its errand of love, 

--dispelling the shades of night and awakening the world to life, 

so the followers of Christ are to go forth on their mission, 

--diffusing the light of heaven upon those who are in the darkness of error and sin.

The whole earth,
wrapped as it is in the darkness of sin, and sorrow, and pain,

is to be lighted with 

the knowledge of God's love.

From no sect, rank, or class of people is the light shining from heaven's throne to be excluded.

True character is not shaped from without, and put on; it radiates from within. 

If we wish to direct others in the path of righteousness, the principles of righteousness must be enshrined in our own hearts.

--No other light ever has shone or ever will shine upon fallen man save that which emanates from Christ. 

Jesus, the Savior, is the only light that can illuminate the darkness of a world lying in sin.

Of Christ it is written, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4)."

Desire Of Ages/Christ's Object Lessons (White)