Matthew 10:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After the Savior liberated the apostles from all forms of anxiety, fear, and concern, and elevated them beyond reproach, He eventually spoke about the confidence they were to possess in proclaiming the message. There was no obscurity when Christ communicated this, nor did He whisper to His disciples; rather, He employed an intensified and focused speech. Addressing them in solitude in a secluded area of Palestine, He conveyed His message—within the shadows and to their ears—aiming to juxtapose the essence of genuine dialogue with the boldness required for their preaching.

What he expresses, he conveyed to you personally and specifically, as indicated by the phrases “in the ear” and “in the dark.” Proclaim this with confidence and clarity, so that everyone can listen to you. However, recognizing that boldness can lead to peril, he further advises (see Matthew 10:28).

I speak to you amidst shadows, indicating that you remain bound by worldly fears, as darkness breeds fear. Speak in the light, which symbolizes placing your faith in the Truth, having embraced the Holy Spirit. And what you hear in whispered tones, proclaim from the rooftops—this signifies that, having triumphed over the confines of the flesh, you ought to declare boldly what you have perceived in secret.

"What I tell you in the dark, proclaim in the light" invites us to share in boldness what has been revealed to us privately. This is further emphasized by his words, "What you hear in the ear, preach on the rooftops." The term "in darkness" refers to the Jewish people, while "in the light" signifies the Gentiles.

What has been revealed to you in hidden places, you are to proclaim publicly, and what you have learned in seclusion, you shall share widely. You are called to courageously teach in every city and across the globe the truths I have imparted to you in the humble region of Judea.

Having liberated them from the despair associated with conflict, He begins to impart the message of preaching. There was undoubtedly no shadow when He conveyed this to them, nor did He whisper it into their ears; rather, He shared it in solitude, addressing them specifically and not the general multitude. He instructs them, What I tell you in secret, proclaim to everyone; and what you have heard exclusively, announce to all. Consequently, speaking in darkness signifies a private conversation, while speaking in ears pertains to just them; conversely, speaking in light refers to a public declaration, and speaking in the blood signifies openness before all.

He remains quiet in the context of time. Yet, one might question, ‘If it is beneficial to declare one's truth openly, why did He choose to speak in obscurity? And if it is advantageous to proclaim from the rooftops, why did He confide only in a whisper?’ Had He spoken solely from His own authority, it would have been false, as the Jews claimed, ‘Thou hast testified of Thyself; Thy testimony is not true (Jn. 8:13).’ To avoid appearing as though He sought glory for Himself and to ensure He spoke for the sake of truth—while preventing the Jews, who were eager to act, from hastening His suffering ordained by the Father—He deliberately chooses moments of silence, commanding His disciples to proclaim His message instead. This action is not born of fear (which is characteristic of those ignorant of the majesty of the Lord Jesus), but rather reflects His sovereign judgment of when to remain silent and when to express the truth.

The Gospels do not show that the Lord typically preached at night or shared His teachings in darkness. However, since any of His messages directed toward those who are spiritually blind is akin to darkness, and His words to non-believers represent night, He instructs that what is spoken in secret must be shared openly, and what is whispered must be shouted from the rooftops, meaning it should be proclaimed boldly and with clarity.

And Truth directly instructs her followers, ‘What I tell you in the dark, proclaim in the light;’ meaning, articulate plainly what you receive amidst the obscurities of indirectness.

What is the meaning of the phrase: What I tell you in darkness, speak in light? He identifies the Jewish people as darkness, as indicated in Scripture: And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overwhelmed it (John 1:5). The Jews are considered darkness because they failed to recognize the true light. Thus, the Lord proclaimed that all He communicated to the Jews should be revealed in the Church. The light represents the Christian community, as stated by the Apostle: Ye were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord: walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8). In other words, what I say to you in obscurity, proclaim in brightness; this signifies ‘What I convey to you now in the secrecy of parables, share openly later.’

What I share with you in obscurity, if what I convey to you at this moment in confidentiality, proclaim in the daylight, addressing the entire nation, and what you receive from Me as a secret, make known from the rooftops, clearly, courageously, and with great volume, so that everyone can hear you. "Proclaim not just to one, nor merely to a few locations, but to the entire world, and as you traverse the land, the sea, and both populated and deserted regions, with heads held high and with unwavering courage, declare all things to rulers and peoples, to the wise and the places of worship. Certainly, when He communicated these words, there was no shadow, and He did not whisper into their ears; He employed hyperbole in His speech to amplify the impact of His message.

Proclaim openly, from the rooftops, everything I have communicated to you in privacy; understand that your mysterious and profound mission to illuminate the world with the light of truth will eventually be unveiled to everyone. Those of you who are scorned and persecuted will, in due time, be acknowledged and honored by all nations.

In the shadows and in whispers, He spoke exclusively to them, revealing truths in seclusion. Conversely, He proclaimed openly from the rooftops, addressing the crowds with clarity and boldness. In Eastern culture, rooftops are generally flat and accessible, providing an ideal setting for public discourse. His use of hyperbole serves a purpose: as He engaged them in private discussions in a secluded part of Palestine, He referred to their conversations as occurring ‘in darkness and in the ear,’ illustrating the distinction between their private dialogues and the courageous preaching He would impart to them.