Luke 11:35

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

Take heed {G4648} therefore {G3767} that the light {G5457} which {G3588} is in {G1722} thee {G4671} be {G2076} not {G3361} darkness {G4655}.

So take care that the light in you is not darkness!

Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

Look therefore whether the light that is in thee be not darkness.

Luke 11:35 KJV serves as a profound warning from Jesus, emphasizing the critical importance of one's inner spiritual state and perception. This verse is a direct follow-up to Jesus' teaching on the lamp of the body and the eye, reinforcing the idea that our internal "light"—our understanding, conscience, and spiritual discernment—must remain pure and uncorrupted.

Context of Luke 11:35

This verse is deeply intertwined with the preceding verses in Luke 11:33-34. Jesus first speaks of a lamp not being put in a secret place or under a bushel, but on a stand to give light. He then transitions to the metaphor of the eye as the "light of the body." If the eye is "single" (meaning clear, healthy, or pure in intention), the whole body is full of light. Conversely, if the eye is "evil" (implying selfishness, greed, or spiritual distortion), the body is full of darkness. Luke 11:35 then delivers the solemn exhortation: "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness." This teaching parallels a similar discourse found in Matthew 6:22-23, highlighting its significance in Jesus' message.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Discernment: The verse underscores the necessity of a healthy spiritual perception. It’s not just about having knowledge, but about how that knowledge is processed and applied internally.
  • Internal Purity: The "light which is in thee" refers to one's core being, conscience, or moral compass. If this inner guide becomes corrupted or distorted by sin, self-interest, or false beliefs, it leads to spiritual blindness.
  • The Danger of Self-Deception: Jesus warns against a state where what one perceives as truth or light is, in fact, spiritual error or moral decay. This is a profound form of self-deception, where one lives in darkness, believing it to be light.
  • Consequences of Distorted Understanding: When the internal light becomes darkness, it impacts every aspect of a person's life and choices, leading them away from God's truth and purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "light" is phōs (φῶς), which in biblical contexts often signifies truth, divine revelation, understanding, or moral purity. "Darkness," skotos (σκότος), conversely represents ignorance, sin, evil, or spiritual separation. The phrase "take heed" comes from the Greek blepō (βλέπω), meaning "to see," "to perceive," or "to beware." It implies a conscious effort and vigilance to guard one's inner spiritual condition. This isn't merely about intellectual ascent but about the very orientation of one's heart and mind.

Practical Application

Luke 11:35 challenges believers to regularly examine their motives, beliefs, and the sources of their understanding. Are we truly seeking God's truth, or are we allowing personal biases, worldly influences, or unconfessed sin to distort our spiritual vision? This verse calls for a constant vigil against self-deception and spiritual apathy. Just as Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world, Christians are called to be children of light. We must guard our inner light through prayer, study of God's Word, and obedience, ensuring that our spiritual perception remains clear and aligned with divine truth, preventing the profound tragedy of light becoming darkness within.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 16:25

    ¶ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:19

    For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:21

    For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

  • James 3:13

    ¶ Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

  • 2 Peter 1:9

    But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

  • Isaiah 5:20

    Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

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