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Luke 11:35

in Luke 11

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

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

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

KJV

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

This verse in Luke 11

Commentary

17 notes on this verse

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 253.

That is, If thy material body, when the light of a candle shines upon it, is made full of light, so that not one of thy members is any longer in darkness; much more when thou sinnest not, shall thy whole spiritual body be so full of light, that its brightness may be compared to the shining of a candle, while the light which was in the body, and which used to be darkness, is directed whithersoever the understanding may command.

This site's exposition

Take heed therefore that the light

on Luke 11:35-36

Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness warns that the very organ meant to admit light can itself go dark, a caution the commentators tie to spiritual self deception, a mind that calls its own darkness light and so trusts a broken instrument. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light restates the healthy case at its fullest extent, no shadowed corner left, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light, returning to the lamp of verse thirty three to close the train of sayings on one image. The passage as a whole moves from a sign demanded outwardly to a light that must first be right within, the true condition for seeing anything rightly at all.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

(de Cons. Ev. lib. ii. c. 39.) Luke indeed relates this in the same place as Matthew, but in a somewhat different order. But who does not see that it is an idle question, in what order our Lord said those things, seeing that we ought to learn by the most precious authority of the Evangelist, that there is no falsehood. But not every man will repeat another's words in the same order in which they proceeded from his mouth, seeing that the order itself makes no difference with respect to the fact, whether it be so or not.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

(Hom. 20. in Matt.) If then we have corrupted the understanding, which is able to let loose the passions, we have done violence to the whole soul, and suffer dreadful darkness, being blinded by the perversion of our understanding. Therefore adds he, Take heed, therefore, that the light which is in thee be not darkness. He speaks of a darkness which may be perceived, but which has its origin within itself, and which we every where carry about with us, the eye of the soul being put out. Concerning the power of this light He goes on to say, If thy whole body therefore be full of light, &c. &c.

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 11 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

Third, there is added a commendable instruction, when he says: See therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness, that is, lest the intention by which you ought to be light be obscured by the darkness of vices. He speaks, moreover, to …

A commentator

Gregory the Dialogist

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 604.

proposed

(28. Mor. c. 12.) Or else; By the name body each particular action is understood which follows its own intention, as it were the eye of the spectators. Therefore it is said, The light of the body is the eye, because by the ray of a good intention the deserving parts of an action receive light. If then thy eye be single, thy whole body will be full of light, for if we intend rightly in singleness of heart, we accomplish a good work, even though it seem not to be good. And if thy eye be evil, thy whole body will be full of darkness, because when with a crooked intention even a right thing is done, although it appears to glitter in men's sight, yet before the bar of the internal judge it is covered with darkness. Hence too it is rightly added, Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. For if what we think we do well we cloud by a bad intention, how many are the evils themselves which even when we do them we know to be evil?

A commentator

Symeon the New Theologian

DISCOURSES 33.2 · Written before 1022.

proposed

What else does he mean by "the eye" than simply the mind, which will never become simple unless it contemplates the simple light? The simple light is Christ. He who has his light shining in his mind is said to have the mind of Christ. …
10 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Luke · Written before 735.

proposed

Therefore, see to it that the light in you is not darkness. This means that the very intention of the heart, which is the light of the soul, should not be darkened by the fog of sins, but should be carefully considered with diligent discernment. …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Luke · Written before 1107.

proposed

But you, Pharisees, did not wish to do this, and the eye of the soul, that is, the mind, which was until now straight, you have twisted and darkened. For just as the eye of the body, whatever it is like, makes the body the …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 1107.

proposed

But as if the eye of the body be light the body will be light, but if dark the body will be dark also, so is it with the understanding in relation to the soul. Hence it follows, If thine eye be single, thy whole body will be full of light; but if evil, thy whole body will be full of darkness.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Take heed therefore,.... By attending to the light of the Gospel, shining in the ministration of it, and do not neglect and despise it: that the light which is in thee be not darkness; lest being given up to a judicial blindness and hardness of heart, not only the light of nature, which the Jews had in common with the Gentiles, but even that notional light and knowledge of divine things, which they had by being favoured with an external revelation, the writings of the Old Testament, should be lost.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Take heed that the eye of the mind be not blinded by partiality, and prejudice, and sinful aims. Be sincere in your enquiries after truth, and ready to receive it in the light, and love, and power of

The Nineteenth Century5 voices

IN this parable, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light. Some saw His brightness, and were even dazzled by it, as was that woman who cried, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the paps which You have sucked." The malicious saw not His light but even dared to impute His miracles to the Prince of Darkness. Others professed to see so little light in Him that they demanded a sign from Heaven. Our Lord's constant answer was to go shining on. He was meant to be observed, even as a lamp is intended to be seen.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Mt 6:22, 23.) But Lu 11:36 here is peculiarly vivid, expressing what pure, beautiful, broad perceptions the clarity of the inward eye imparts. DENUNCIATION OF THE PHARISEES.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

We learn from these words of the Lord Jesus, the importance of making a good use of religious light and privileges. We are reminded of what men do when they light a candle. They do not "put it in a hidden place," under a basket. They place it on a candlestick — that it may be serviceable and useful by giving light. When the Gospel of Christ is placed before a man's soul, it is as if God offered to him a lighted candle.
We learn from these words of the Lord Jesus, the importance of making a good use of religious light and privileges. We are reminded of what men do when they light a candle. They do not "put it in a hidden place," under a basket. They place it on a candlestick — that it may be serviceable and useful by giving light. When the Gospel of Christ is placed before a man's soul, it is as if God offered to him a lighted candle. It is not sufficient to hear it, and assent to it, and admire it, and acknowledge its truth. It must be received into the heart — and obeyed in the life. Until this takes place, the Gospel does him no more good than if he were a heathen, who has never heard the Gospel at all. A lighted candle is before him, but he is not turning it to account. The guilt of such conduct is very great. God's light neglected, will be a heavy charge against many at the last day. But even when a man professes to value the light of the Gospel, he must take care that he is not selfish in the use of it. He must endeavor to reflect the light on all around him. He must strive to make others acquainted with the truths which he finds good for himself. He must let his light so shine before men, that they may see whose he is and whom he serves — and may be induced to follow his example, and join the Lord's side. He must regard the light which he enjoys as a loan , for the use of which he is accountable. He must strive to hold his candle in such a way — that many may see it, and as they see it, admire and believe. Let us take heed to ourselves — that we do not neglect our light. The sin of many in this matter is far greater than they suppose. Thousands flatter themselves that their souls are not in a very bad state — because they abstain from gross and glaring acts of wickedness, and are decent and respectable in their outward lives.
IN this parable, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light. Some saw His brightness, and were even dazzled by it, as was that woman who cried, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the paps which You have sucked." The malicious saw not His light but even dared to impute His miracles to the Prince of Darkness. Others professed to see so little light in Him that they demanded a sign from Heaven. Our Lord's constant answer was to go shining on. He was meant to be observed, even as a lamp is intended to be seen. A lamp is not lighted to be placed in a cellar, nor to be hidden under a bushel—the lamp is lighted on purpose, that all who come into the house may see the light. Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ could not be hid. In the narrow circle of the Holy Land, He shone so clearly that Gentiles came to the brightness of His rising. Yet, to make Him seen to the ends of the earth, He must be set on the lamp stand. He was lifted up by crucifixion. And soon after He was raised by resurrection—He was lifted up from earth to Heaven at His ascension and in another sense He was set on high by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the widespread ministry of His servants. Our Lord was thus taken from under the bushel of the obscurity which attached to His humble origin, brought away from the dark cellar of the despised Jewish nation, and set out in the open, where Greek and Roman, Barbarian and Scythian, might rejoice in His light. It is our duty to keep His name and His Truth ever before the world, waiting for the time when every eye shall see Him on the throne of His Glory. Our Lord would have all men behold the light of His Gospel. For the text says, "that they which come in may see the light." Whosoever comes into the Church, or even into the world, should be met with this lamp. For this Gospel is to be preached to every creature under Heaven.

The words behind it

10 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Revelation 3:17

    You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 13:7

      One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

    • Romans 7:24

      What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

    • Hosea 12:8

      And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.”

    • Revelation 2:9

      I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.

    • Revelation 16:15

      “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”

  • Through

    Proverbs 16:25

    There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 14:12

      There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

    • 2 Corinthians 13:5

      Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?

    • Proverbs 12:15

      The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 11; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2109: “The Eye and the Light” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Symeon the New Theologian, DISCOURSES 33.2; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.