Luke 11:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.

NIV: See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

NASB: So watch out that the light in you is not darkness.

CSB: Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness.

NLT: Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.

KJV: Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

NKJV: Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

In the context, this is Jesus' warning for experts in the Mosaic law: be intellectually honest when it comes to who He is. They have all the proof they need that He is their Messiah. Yet their minds are so darkened by greed, envy, and selfishness that they cannot admit the truth even to themselves. The "light"—the truth about Jesus—is shining on them but their eyesight is filtered by "greed and wickedness" (Luke 11:39). In their selfishness, they would rather join prior generations in killing God's prophets than share the truth those prophets preached (Luke 11:47–52). In a moment of profound self-irony, when Jesus calls them out on their hypocrisy, they conspire to murder Him (Luke 11:53–54; Mark 3:6).

Intellectual honesty is just as important in modern times. We are surrounded by powers that twist words, filter information, and herd us into extreme camps. If our perception is muddied by the grime of fear, pride, and jealousy, we will not see things as they are. The "light" of truth we claim to seek and spread will be nothing but dark lies.

Nowhere is this more important than in spiritual matters. A critical reading of the Bible will reveal that it interprets the human condition accurately. It reveals our need for a Savior and then introduces us to that Savior. It is foolish to follow lesser ideals into greed, wickedness, and deliberate lies when the light of the truth is so evident.

Luke 11:33–36 stands between the Pharisees' and scribes' rejection of Jesus (Luke 11:14–32) and Jesus' passionate condemnation of their works (Luke 11:37–54). Their eyes should see that He is their Messiah, and they should spread the message as a lamp spreads light. Instead, their refusal to see that He the Messiah reveals that they are dark in their hearts and their understanding. Jesus covers similar themes in Matthew 5:14–16 and 6:22–23.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and explains God's intent to give "good" to those who ask. He then exorcizes a demon and refutes the claim that His power is satanic. Jesus explains that unreasonable skeptics will only see the "sign of Jonah." He then criticizes the superficial legalism of the Pharisees. In response, they plot against Him.

In what some scholars refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27), Jesus prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection and the establishment of the church. The description begins with Christ teaching the disciples how to spread the news of the kingdom of God and reaffirming how they will be blessed, culminating in the Lord's Prayer (Luke 9:51—11:13). Luke 11 finishes with accounts of leaders who reject Jesus. The remainder of the travelogue gives a pattern of teaching on the kingdom of God, miracles, and explanations of salvation. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.