Church Fathers Commentary Mark 4:21-25

"And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, [and] not to be put on the stand? For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was [anything] made secret, but that it should come to light. If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath." — Mark 4:21-25 (ASV)

St. John Chrysostom: After the disciples’ question about the parable and its explanation, He rightly adds, Is a candle brought... As if to say, a parable is given not so that it remains obscure and hidden, as if under a bed or a bushel, but so that it is revealed to those who are worthy. The candle within us is that of our intellectual nature, and it shines either clearly or dimly according to the degree of our illumination. For if the meditations that feed the light and the recollection with which such a light is kindled are neglected, it is immediately extinguished.

Pseudo-Jerome: Or else, the candle is the teaching concerning the three kinds of seed. The bushel or the bed is the hearing of the disobedient. The Apostles are the candlestick, whom the word of the Lord has enlightened.

Therefore, it continues, For there is nothing hidden...

The hidden and secret thing is the parable of the seed, which comes to light when it is explained by the Lord.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Alternatively, the Lord warns His disciples to be as a light in their life and conduct. It is as if He were saying, “Just as a candle is placed so as to give light, so all will look to your life. Therefore, be diligent to lead a good life; do not sit in corners, but be a candle.”

For a candle gives light not when placed under a bed, but on a candlestick. This light must indeed be placed on a candlestick—that is, on the eminence of a godly life—so that it may be able to give light to others.

It must not be placed under a bushel, that is, in matters of food and drink, nor under a bed, that is, in idleness. For no one who pursues the pleasures of his palate and loves rest can be a light shining over all.

The Venerable Bede: Or, because the time of our life is contained within a certain measure of Divine Providence, it is rightly compared to a bushel. But the bed of the soul is the body, in which it dwells and rests for a time. Therefore, the one who hides the word of God under the love of this transitory life and of fleshly temptations covers his candle with a bushel or a bed. ¹

But he puts his light on a candlestick who uses his body in the ministry of the word of God. Therefore, with these words He symbolically teaches them a model for preaching.

Therefore, it continues, For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, nor is there anything made secret that will not come to light.

As if to say, do not be ashamed of the Gospel, but in the midst of the darkness of persecution, raise the light of the word of God upon the candlestick of your body. Keep firmly in your mind that day when the Lord will throw light upon the hidden places of darkness, for then everlasting praise awaits you, and everlasting punishment awaits your adversaries.

St. John Chrysostom: Or else, There is nothing hidden...; as if to say, if you conduct your life with care, accusation will not be able to obscure your light. ²

Theophylact of Ohrid: For each of us, whether he has done good or evil, is brought to light in this life, and even more so in the life to come. For what can be more hidden than God? Nevertheless, He Himself was revealed in the flesh.

It continues, If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

The Venerable Bede: That is, if anyone has a capacity for understanding the word of God, let him not withdraw. Let him not turn his ear to fables, but let him lend his ear to examine what truth has spoken, his hands to carry it out, and his tongue to preach it.

It follows, And He said unto them, Take heed what ye hear.

Theophylact of Ohrid: This means that none of the things I say to you should escape you. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you...; that is, whatever degree of diligence you bring, you will receive a corresponding degree of benefit.

The Venerable Bede: Or else, if you diligently strive to do all the good that you can and to teach it to your neighbors, the mercy of God will intervene to give you, both in this present life, the capacity to grasp higher things and the will to do better things, and will add for the future an everlasting reward. And therefore it is added, And to you shall more be given.

Pseudo-Jerome: According to the measure of his faith, the understanding of mysteries is given to each person, and the virtues of knowledge will also be added to them.

It continues: For he that hath, to him shall be given...; that is, he who has faith will have virtue, and he who has obedience to the word will also have understanding of the mystery.

Conversely, the one who does not have faith lacks virtue, and he who is not obedient to the word will not have understanding of it. And if he does not understand, it is as if he had not heard at all.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: Or else, to the one who has the desire and wish to hear and to seek, more will be given. But from the one who does not have the desire to hear divine things, even what he happens to possess from the written law is taken from him. ³

The Venerable Bede: For sometimes a clever reader, by neglecting his mind, deprives himself of a wisdom whose sweetness is tasted by the one who, though slow in intellect, works more diligently.

St. John Chrysostom: Again it may be said, that he "does not have" who does not have truth. But our Lord says that "he has" because he has a lie, for everyone whose understanding believes a lie thinks that he possesses something.

1. in Marc., 1, 20
2. in Matt., Hom. 15
3. Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.