"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?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall
not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should
come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him
hear."
Psalms119:105`"NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
This candlestick means "church" as per the description of Revelation:
Revelation 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
In addition, a whole chapter of Mark 4 talks about the word of God and parables. So, I think it is appropriate to call this candle "the word of God."
By the way, if this candle means "the word of God," why does the Lord use such imagery as a "candle put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?"
In the real world, no one ever would put a candle under a bed after he lit it. But, in the spiritual world, people sometimes do not shine the candle-word of God in the church (the candlestick), but, hide it under a bed, and so hide the true light of God's word or else the true meaning of God's word. This scripture is talking about this kind of matter.
This kind of situation should not occur. However, this word was fulfilled
among the Jews. They did not understand the voice of the prophets given
to them every Sabbath and so they ended up crucifying Jesus (see Acts 13:27).
At least, among the Jews living in Jerusalem, the light of God's word
did not shine. There was no problem on the part of God's word. God's
word is true and shines clearly. But this true light was not understood
correctly, and the hidden parable was not revealed, but hidden and darkened
as though it were a lit candle under a bed.
This verse says:
Bible truth and parable are hidden as one; they are veiled as
one. God's word is given in the way of a parable. So, we can not understand
God's word, if we read scripture as we would ordinarily read nor can we
overlook parables. These parables were not hidden meaninglessly, instead
they are hidden on the assumption that someone will find their truth.
And this is the responsibility of any disciple of the Lord, namely, to
reveal these hidden matters.
The meaning of this passage goes like this: In our town, children sometimes
play hide-and-seek. Hiding children is truly go hide themselves, but they
hide on the assumption that they will be found. They do not want to hide
themselves for ever, but expect to be found by the one who is it. They
all enjoy playing the game.
Likewise, it is not the Lord's will that God's word not be understood
eternally and never be found till the end of the world. Instead, God wants
us to understand, reveal, and shine forth these parables correctly so that
the church receives benefit from them.
Let me put this in my own words as a teacher, as this principle in and of itself is not found in the scripture but I think it beneficial. That is, "Revelation requires term-end examination." That is to say, whether anyone understands the parables of the Bible and has good training to understand parables or not depends on his or attitude toward Revelation. The reader's attitude is a key to opening the mysteries in parabolic teachings.
Sometimes, we hear this kind of conversation exchanged between teacher
and student at an end-term examination;
"I have never seen this difficult kind of problem before." "How can
you say that? If you really studied the text book enough for this class,
it would not be a difficult problem for you."
If you really recognize the fact that whole Bible is a book of parables, and continue your training to understand its parables, this difficult book of Revelation will not be seem such a special book of the Bible. This book represents the real character of Bible as a book of parables.
Revelation is the concluding parable written in each book of Bible. Because this book consists of quotations from every book of Bible, i.e. Genesis, Exodus, Chronicles, Ezekiel, Daniel. Therefore, we can say this: Only the book of Revelation is not a book of difficult parables. Instead, each book of Bible includes invisible parables in addition to visible ordinary passage and so the other books of the Bible are actually more difficult.
If we can understand each parable of each book, we can understand all of Revelation. But, if we do not have enough training to understand parables, to understand Revelation, it is difficult for us.
For people who understand the parables of each biblical book, the parables mentioned in Revelation are not so special for them, but on the same line. Therefore, Revelation is a touchstone which examines an individal as to whether he or she has had enough training to understand parables or not.
The Lord really included many hints of future events within Revelation. But, it is not opened to everyone. Instead, he entrusts its correct interpretation upon his disciples with good training in interpreting parables.
Paul also reads from passages of Abraham, and understands his two children's symbolization, Issac, the son of freedom and Ishimael, the son of slavery.
The Bible is a hidden book, however, through disciples with understanding of these parables, the hidden light of the Bible shines freely.
The writer of Hebrews recommends us to take not only milk, but to proceed on to strong meat. Milk means being unskillful in the word and remaining in the first stages of discipleship.
These initial teachings are also important, but we are recommended not
to stop here, but to proceed forward to the strong meat of mature discipleship.
What is the strong meat? It is, for example, the story of Melchisedec described
here.
The writer uses this story as an example of strong meat. Why can I
say that? Because this word "strong meat" is mentioned in the story of
Melchisedec. "Strong meat" means understanding a parable. The Hebrew writer
found the hidden light from the story of Abram and Melchisedec. Till this
time, many Jews read the passage of Abram and Melchisedec. But, no
one ever understood the parable and found the revealed truth concerning
Christ as high priest hidden within this passage. However, the writer
of Hebrews understands the hidden parable and revealed it.
By many readings of Bible, he found the fact that Melchisedec has no mother and father or genealogy. From this fact, he understands that Bible symbolized Melchisedec as a divine personage. And from the meaning of the words "king of salem - king of peace" and from the fact that Abram offered tithes to Melchisedec, he understands the Bible deemed him as belonging to a priesthood greater than the levitical priesthood.
When God first writes Genesis, He intended to write this passage like the Hebrew writer read it and for this parable to have been hidden and veiled within scripture for many years. But, by his disciple, the writer of Hebrews, it was to be revealed. Because he understood this parable, the church has since been receiving great blessings from this scriptural secret.
If we talk about "understanding parables", some people say, "it will lead you to failure in private interpretations." But, I tell you the Greek meaning of "private interpretation" is " interpretation by itself". So, we can not prohibit "understanding parables" because of this verse. The writer of Hebrews scolded the believers who remained at the "milk stage."
"Hebrew 5: 12 are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat"
instead he recommends us to take "strong meat," that is to say, to enter the area of parables.
The writer also says this;
"Hebrews5: 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing."
This "many things", which this writer tried to reveal, but could not, are even now hidden within the Bible. But, if we eat this strong meat correctly, and understand the parables of the Bible, these hidden things will be revealed to us.
Let's understand the parable correctly, and proceed on in the work of Lord!
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