Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 4:23

"If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear." — Mark 4:23 (ASV)

In the parable of the lamp (the Greek has “the lamp”), the lamp represents Jesus who has come. As the purpose of the lamp is to be put on a lampstand and not under a bowl or a bed, so the present hiddenness of Jesus will not always be, and God intends that one day Jesus will be manifested in all his glory (at the Parousia). But now he is hidden. It is therefore of utmost importance for us to be careful hearers, i.e., to have spiritual perception.