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? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear (Mark 4:21-23).”

This was the parable that Jesus spoke along with the parable of the sower, which the disciples asked him to explain. So the same context still continues in the above parable: “them” refers to the disciples. This parable of a lamp is very simple, but not easy to interpret in the context. Those who think it is easy are not really seeking its meaning in the context. When you consider the context, it becomes difficult. What was it that Jesus wanted to say?

The main reason for the difficulty lies in the fact that we modern people no longer see things as the ancient people did—in this case, concerning “eyes.” We all know how a camera works to capture the images coming through the lens. Our eyes work in the same way. In this view, the light goes though the lens, and projects images on the screen called retina. But they did not have this knowledge. According to their view, the light goes out through your eyes like a searchlight, and you are able to see things around you. In other words, they thought that eyes give light.

We have some scriptures to illustrate this view. First, look at the way that the lampstand inside the tabernacle was made.

Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand … Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, … And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.

Notice that the whole lampstand looked like almond branches with cups of almond flowers. Why, and what is the meaning of this? It was not simply for the decorative beauty. There must have been something that was commonly understood among the people so that it was not necessary to explain it. The key to this is found in the vision that Jeremiah saw:

The word of the Lord came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled (Jer 1:11-12)."

Jeremiah was a son of a priest, and knew well how the lampstand was made. “An almond tree” is shaqed, and the verb “watching” is shoqed in Hebrew. Note that the three consonants are the same in both words. Naturally, these two words are associated with each other in their mind. Keep in mind that eyes are shining according to their view. Jeremiah was probably already familiar with the meaning of the lampstand being made in likeness of almond branches, and the vision was more like a confirmation or an encouragement for his calling. But when Zechariah saw the vision of the lampstand with seven lights (Zech 4) in a later time, he asked the angel of the Lord about the meaning of it. Interestingly, the angel answered back, “Do you not know what these are?” and it indicates that he expected Zechariah to know what they were. Then, the angel taught him saying:

These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth (Zech 4:10).

With all these passages in mind, read the parable of a lamp again. You will understand better. The following scriptures will also help you.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Ps 119:105).

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (v. 130).