Luke 12:3 Commentary and Bible Study

The darkness of this world is only a temporary hiding place from God, but it is taken full advantage of by the wicked. They treat the darkness as if it would last forever, but there is no real security there. They treat the darkness as if it was a safe environment in which to carry out their works, away from the gaze of heaven, and therefore, to all intents and purposes as a realm of secrecy. To them it is light, for the light that is in them is darkness (Matthew 6:23). They treat the darkness as light, and God has allowed it. It is very convincing darkness, and it has to be to lure creatures of the shadows to come out of their hiding places and perform their evil acts with confidence. To use the darkness as a hiding place is to guarantee that you are going to be shamefully exposed at some point in the future, for God will not allow the darkness to exist for very long before the full light of heaven’s day obliterates it. For these secret acts they will be judged, for it is part of God’s wisdom in dealing with sin to allow them to have sufficient confidence to perform their acts. But what was once darkness will be lit up with the light of God’s presence, and those who have carried out their evil deeds will shrivel up under the full glare of light.Let those who belong to the darkness be warned – they will not be able to hide forever. Let those who do not belong to the darkness not be tempted to make use of it. These words are spoken to the disciples. The words have in mind evil speech, and false doctrine, and are about what is spoken in the ear in closets, and this is the speech of those who take advantage of the darkness. The warning is that the darkness is really an illusion, and they might as well be speaking their evil words in the full light of day, because that is where their words will be broadcast for all to hear. There will be a minuteness of examination of evil when the light comes, and none who have loved the darkness will be able to excuse themselves.