By: Robert Serreyn

Question? Luke 8:18, Help?

Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Answer:

At first glance this verse is a stumper, “What the heck” does the Lord Jesus mean here?

The answer really starts in V10 which states…

Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

The Lord often spoke in parables (parables were stories that were told to teach a truth) and the Lord would later on explain those parables.

In Verses 11- 15 The Lord is speaking about the Parable of the Sower

Luke 8:11-15 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (12) Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (15) But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

In V16 he is talking about those who are saved (candles) are not to hide the light but to set their candle upon a candlestick for all to see.

Luke 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

Matthew 5:14 states that christians are to be the LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

The candle in V16 is represenitive of the Gospel, christians are to take the Gospel and tell everyone that we have opportunity with (that they which enter in (Through Faith) may see (BELIEVE) the light (the Gospel)). – Mark 16:15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

V17, The Lord Jesus is giving stern warning that even our secret motives we will have to give account for. – 2 Corinthians 5:10

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

In Conclusion:

Question? How does V18 relate to all this?

Answer: Being that Jesus is speaking MOSTLY to christians the MAIN EMPHASIS is on putting the Will of the Lord first which is the Gospel and secondly putting forth a good testimony so those who are lost WILL BELIEVE, therefore we are to TAKE HEED – V18, and listen (how ye hear) so that we will recieve MORE blessings and rewards for doing the Lord’s will (for whosoever hath, to him shall be given) – 1 Corinthians 3:14

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

But if we DO NOT do the Lord’s Will then the Loss of blessings and rewards will be the result (whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have) – 1 Corinthians 3:15

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH