For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers shall be preached on the housetops.
ανθ ων οσα εν τη σκοτια ειπατε εν τω φωτι ακουσθησεται και ο προς το ους ελαλησατε εν τοις ταμειοις κηρυχθησεται επι των δωματων
13 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 16 commentaries
As if He says to His disciples, Although now some call you deceivers and wizards, time shall reveal all things and convict them of calumny, while it makes known your virtue. Therefore whatsoever things I have spoken to you in the small corner of Palestine, these boldly and with open brow, casting away all fear, proclaim to the whole world. And therefore He adds, Whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in light.
He calls their hypocrisy leaven, as perverting and corrupting the intentions of the men in whom it has sprung up. For nothing so changes the characters of men as hypocrisy.
The Pharisees sought indeed to catch Jesus in His talk, that they might lead away the people from Him. But this design of theirs is reversed. For the people came all the more unto Him gathered together by thousands, and so desirous to attach themselves to Christ, that they pressed one upon another. So mighty a thing is truth, so feeble every where deceit. Whence it is said, And when there were gathered together a great multitude, insomuch that they trode upon one another, he began to sag unto his disciples, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Or this is addressed to the Pharisees; as if He said, O Pharisees, what you have spoken in darkness, that is, all your endeavours to tempt me in the secrets of your hearts, shall be heard in the light, for I am the light, and in My light shall be known whatsoever your darkness devises. And what you have spoken in the ear and in closets, that is, whatsoever in whispers you have poured into one another’s ears, shall be proclaimed on the housetops, that is, was as audible to me as if it had been cried aloud on the housetops. Herein also you may understand that the light is the Gospel, but the housetop the lofty souls of the Apostles. But whatever things the Pharisees plotted together, were afterwards divulged and heard in the light of the Gospel, the great Herald, the Holy Spirit, presiding over the souls of the Apostles.
For they were false accusers; therefore Christ warned His disciples against them.
When leaven is praised it is as composing the bread of life, but when blamed it signifies a lasting and bitter maliciousness.
Our Lord has introduced a most forcible argument for preserving simplicity, and being zealous for the faith, that we should not after the manner of faithless Jews put one thing in practice, while in words we pretend another, namely, that at the last day the hidden thoughts accusing or else excusing one another, shall be seen to reveal the secrets of our mind. Whence it is added, There is nothing hid which shall not be revealed.
While this statement is primarily directed towards the disciples, it also pertains to the Pharisees: the thoughts and secrets they share will ultimately be revealed to the people by God, who possesses complete knowledge. Through His illumination and authority, He brings their hidden truths to light. The term 'therefore' signifies that nothing will remain concealed. This concept is similarly referenced in the nineteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, albeit in a different context.
He either then says this concerning that time when God shall judge the secrets of men, or He says it because however much a man may endeavour to hide the good deeds of another by discredit, good of its own nature cannot be concealed.
For as a little leaven leaveneth a whole lump of meal, (1 Cor. 5:6.) so hypocrisy will rob the mind of all the purity and integrity of its virtues.
Or He says this, because all the things which the Apostles of old spoke and suffered amid the darkness of oppression and the gloom of the prison, arc now that the Church is made known through the world and their acts are read, publicly proclaimed. The words, shall be proclaimed on the housetops, are spoken according to the manner of the country of Palestine, where they are accustomed to live on the housetops. For their roofs were not after our way raised to a point, but flat shaped, and level at the top. Therefore He says, proclaimed on the housetops; that is, spoken openly in the hearing of all men.
While the Pharisees and the legal experts, who had invited the Lord to their gathering with the intent to challenge Him, presumably heard His stern admonitions and, in turn, sought to misinterpret His words, a large crowd gathered at the Pharisee's dwelling. Departing from the Pharisees, the Lord addressed His disciples and the crowd, continuing His teaching in light of the earlier discussion. He cautioned His disciples once again to be watchful for the leaven of the Pharisees, which refers to hypocrisy. This attitude is particularly perilous and deceitful, shaping how they distort His words and teachings.
In comforting them, He affirmed that despite all the efforts of the Pharisees to suppress the truth He proclaimed, it would ultimately triumph, as stated: “There is nothing hidden that will not be made known, nor secret that will not be revealed” (Luke 12:1-3). Engaging with these self-proclaimed defenders of the truth requires a steadfast commitment; sacrificing for the sake of truth will garner eternal glory from God. For proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, I assured them that I would grant them eloquence and wisdom.
In this segment of Luke's Gospel, we find teachings of Jesus Christ that also appear in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, albeit in different contexts. The progression of thoughts in this part of Luke will unfold as follows: Jesus Christ contrasts the hypocritical practices of the Pharisees, which conceal the true self, with His call for His disciples to demonstrate complete transparency in their faith and actions, despite the risk of facing death due to their belief in Him.
This warning regarding the influence of the Pharisees is presented in verse 1, which parallels Matthew and Mark’s transmission of this teaching, given to His disciples after leaving the region of Jagdala en route to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The remarks concerning the revelation of hidden truths in verses 2 and 3, along with the encouragement for fearless declaration and proclamation of Christ in verses 4 through 9, relate closely to the instructions from Matthew provided when Jesus sent out the apostles to evangelize. Meanwhile, Mark and Luke relay these sayings in the context of Jesus responding to the apostles' inquiries to clarify the parable of the sower and the seed.
Furthermore, the assertion about the unforgivable nature of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit appears in verses 10 and is echoed in both Matthew and Mark, specifically following the healing of a blind man possessed by a demon. The assurance to the apostles regarding the guidance of the Holy Spirit when confronting rulers and authorities during trials for Christ is also found in the Gospels. In Matthew, this assurance accompanies the predictions made when the apostles were dispatched to preach, while Mark and Luke include it within Christ's prophetic discourse concerning the end times.
If you can conceal your thoughts from people, how can they remain hidden from the Lord? What purpose does hypocrisy serve, as practiced by the Pharisees to mask their duplicity? Do not fear sharing the truth boldly and openly!
"What you have spoken in darkness will be heard in the light." In the Gospel of Matthew, it is said, "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light." The essence of both statements conveys that hidden matters, regardless of who articulates or performs them, will ultimately come to light, whether in this life or the next. More specifically, this idea captures the notion that during times of trial and affliction, the truths you express quietly, without public declaration, will eventually be proclaimed openly and boldly. This will occur during the triumphant reign of Christianity, when its authenticity is acknowledged and hostility subsides.
After cautioning His disciples to be wary of the leaven of the Pharisees, which refers to hypocrisy, and encouraging them to boldly proclaim the Gospel truth with faith in God’s Providence, the Lord also alerted them to another failing of the Pharisees—greed. This warning arose from the request of a certain individual who approached Him, pleading, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” The man believed that a single word from Jesus would secure his desires. However, the resolution of such a dispute properly belonged to a court, and thus the Savior, dismissing the matters of earthly judgments, addressed the root of such conflicts—the desire for possessions. “Who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” To further illustrate this principle, He shared a parable, demonstrating the futility of the desires of the greedy.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 24 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS