He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear." He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Mk 4:21-25)
Lamp is brought in to a place of prominence. It has to give light and hence it should be kept in the open and not kept in a hidden place. This example is to communicate the message that there is nothing hidden in the world and there are no secrets. The message of the kingdom, though communicated secretly or only to a few, will reach the ends of the earth and it will be openly announced.
So the disciples are asked to be take care about what they hear. Whatever they hear and whatever they speak are announced in the open and the way they do will be the way it will be done to him. The first message is about secrets and the second message is about justice.
The third message is about God’s generosity. The man one who has and does more with what he has, God in turn blesses him with extra. God’s generosity is motivated and encouraged by man’s generosity and effort to do good. The greater the good that man does still greater the reward for him.
