What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
What Christ tells His disciples in darkness and in the ear in private is to be spoken in the light and preached upon the housetops in open, public proclamation to the world. The teaching received from Jesus was to be made public, and what was heard from Him was to be made known publicly rather than concealed. The housetops mean the flat roofs of many houses, where people could address others publicly.
The knowledge of truth and righteousness given to be understood is not to be kept secret or concealed out of fear, but to be proclaimed openly, freely, fearlessly and widely. Proclamation is not to be silenced by opposition or persecution, nor withheld when danger makes concealment seem safer. Disciples are to stand bravely for what is right and avow their principles rather than wait until confession is safe, so the world knows where they stand when they are tested. They are to warn people of their peril.
This fearless proclamation is required even when disciples are hated by all for His name's sake, delivered to councils, scourged, brought before governors and kings, betrayed by family, and called Beelzebub like their Master, since the disciple is not above his master. Fear of persecutors is forbidden because there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and nothing hid that shall not be known and made known. Joined to the command to flee persecution, this means ministers must not needlessly imperil their lives when there are ways and means of saving themselves, but must leave a persecuting city for another locality and continue bearing the Bible message there.
His words stayed with the disciples after they were separated from Him, and they repeated them when facing opposition, finding joy in seeing those words affect their hearers. The instruction applied to the disciples' mission as His representatives and to the continuing work of God's servants. Words published in the church paper are like words preached from the housetops, and should be prepared with care so they strengthen workers and teach them to meet opposition courageously. As the great Medical Missionary's command, the verse requires institutions to teach right lessons through men of simplicity willing to learn from Him, with the secret of the Lord given to those who fear Him and keep His commandments.
What Christ tells His disciples in darkness and in the ear in private is to be spoken in the light and preached upon the housetops in open, public proclamation to the world. The teaching received from Jesus was to be made public, and what was heard from Him was to be made known publicly rather than concealed. The housetops mean the flat roofs of many houses, where people could address others publicly.
The knowledge of truth and righteousness given to be understood is not to be kept secret or concealed out of fear, but to be proclaimed openly, freely, fearlessly and widely. Proclamation is not to be silenced by opposition or persecution, nor withheld when danger makes concealment seem safer. Disciples are to stand bravely for what is right and avow their principles rather than wait until confession is safe, so the world knows where they stand when they are tested. They are to warn people of their peril.
This fearless proclamation is required even when disciples are hated by all for His name's sake, delivered to councils, scourged, brought before governors and kings, betrayed by family, and called Beelzebub like their Master, since the disciple is not above his master. Fear of persecutors is forbidden because there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and nothing hid that shall not be known and made known. Joined to the command to flee persecution, this means ministers must not needlessly imperil their lives when there are ways and means of saving themselves, but must leave a persecuting city for another locality and continue bearing the Bible message there.
His words stayed with the disciples after they were separated from Him, and they repeated them when facing opposition, finding joy in seeing those words affect their hearers. The instruction applied to the disciples' mission as His representatives and to the continuing work of God's servants. Words published in the church paper are like words preached from the housetops, and should be prepared with care so they strengthen workers and teach them to meet opposition courageously. As the great Medical Missionary's command, the verse requires institutions to teach right lessons through men of simplicity willing to learn from Him, with the secret of the Lord given to those who fear Him and keep His commandments.