The theme of light is used throughout the bible. To have sustainable light a number of elements are required:

A vessel or container - here a lamp-stand

Fuel - oil or candle-wax

A source - spark

There also needs to be an eye, the ability to see. Light illuminates what can be seen.

The theme of light commences in the creation song at the beginning of the book of Genesis.

Here the vessel is the earth that is described as formless and void, the Spirit of God is the fuel and the word of God the spark.

When Israel constructed the tabernacle for God to reside within, a lamp-stand was included but located within the tabernacle court, the light hidden from people outside. When the temple was built the lamp-stand was similarly located within its courts.

Zechariah sees a new Jerusalem expressing life as God intends. The lamp-stand is depicted as being fuelled from oil coming from olive trees, oil that also anoints people, people fuelled by the Spirit of God.

In John’s gospel, Jesus is described as the light, the true light that enlightens. Jesus said "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life". In contrast, John the Baptist was described as the lamp-stand.

Interpretation of the parable of the lamp

The same parable occurs three times in three different contexts. The context is important for the interpretation.

Jesus uses the parable when speaking to his disciples, during the Sermon on the Mount recorded by Matthew. It is part of the explanation of the beatitude “…blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you...". A disciple is someone who openly demonstrates the life of Jesus, the light, even when this is rejected.

Another reference to the same parable is made by Luke. Here Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people and he refers to them as a "wicked generation". He knew what was in their thoughts and it did not correspond with the image they projected. Jesus was looking for integrity and not hypocrisy. The religious leaders were full of hypocrisy. Jesus intends his light to shine out from within, so what is seen is real not a sham.

In the passage we are looking at, it is not clear whether Jesus is addressing the crowds or his disciples. It seems to be for both, as a general challenge is given. The challenge is to be a lamp-stand located where it should be found, in a place where the light can be seen. This is the rewarding place to be located.

It is therefore possible to hide the light. Jesus is here focusing on the religious leaders who are obscuring the light through their lies and hypocrisy.

Purpose of church

The church is described as a lamp-stand, with Jesus, the Son of Man as the light. Unlike the lamp-stand in the tabernacle where the light was hidden, the purpose of the church is to be a visible lamp-stand projecting Jesus, the light to the world.

As in Genesis, the oil of the lamp-stand is the Holy Spirit, being sparked by the word of God.