Luke 11:33-35

     Jesus begins here by pointing out the obvious truth that no one lights a lamp just to hide it in a cellar; you light a lamp and put it on a lampstand so everyone can see its light. In the Sermon on the Mount as recorded by Matthew, Jesus said something similar to this occasion, but used the image of hiding the light under a bushel (bushel is the familiar translation, though, for example, the New English Bible uses “meal tub.”). Some translations of Luke show Jesus saying you don’t light a lamp to put in a cellar or a bushel. The second image, of hiding one’s light under a bushel has become proverbial, even for people who are unfamiliar with the bible.
     Jesus then relates light to the eye. The body’s lamp is the eye. When the eye is sound the whole body is full of light and the opposite is true as well, when the eye isn’t sound, the body is in darkness. Therefore don’t let the light in you be darkness.
      Verse 36 is left out of some ancient manuscripts. It points out that if the whole body is fully light, it will be wholly bright, etc. One scholar suggest there is a mistranslation from the ancient Aramaic and it should say “then all about you will be light.” This would accord with Jesus’ use of the same imagery in the sermon on the mount, that the light we carry can give light to those around us.
     It may be no wonder that the first image has become used as a metaphor or proverb, yet this portion is less so. While seemingly obvious, it has subtleties that need deeper examination, although the first statement shouldn’t be passed over as easily as it sometimes is, either.
      Jesus is not talking about physical blindness (and he certainly isn’t judging anyone who is physically blind), though it probably does relate in his discussion, because sight makes use of light and light is unavailable to the one who is blind. But Jesus is certainly pressing for a more spiritual discussion. Jesus seems to be warning against spiritual blindness. On another occasion he also spoke of “blind guides” amongst the spiritual leaders of his people. Luke will next record a controversy in which Jesus speaks a number of “woes” to the Pharisees, a group which largely (though not entirely) was in opposition to him.
     Spiritual blindness is still prevalent. Ironically, many religious folks of today tend to disagree on what constitutes blindness, or rather, in what subjects are some blind while others see the truth. John Wesley tried to cut through that by finding union through love for Jesus while letting Christians disagree in other matters.
     Jesus had the right to look at others and suggest they need to be more careful about discerning the light. His followers should be cautious in doing the same. And witness should not be confused here with argument, which can become judgmental. A person may assume that it is witness when he/she goes out to convince others of their understanding of the truth. But the light a Christian bears is not from peripheral matters, but the love of God and the good news of Jesus. Jesus was gracious, in the Sermon on the Mount to say his followers were the light of the world. But we know that his followers are only bearers of light (and sometimes poorly) and the source is from God.
      Barclay concentrates also upon the individual, suggesting we look at ways that we have allowed the inner light to be darkened. Have our hearts become hard, dull or rebellious?

How do you discern the light within?
What is it that keeps you perception and transmission of light from being completely sound?
As Holy Week begins, what does the stark pain of the cross say to you?