Mark 4:21-25

The parable of the lamp 4:21-25 (cf. Luke 8:16-18)

Jesus’ statements in this pericope appear scattered throughout the other Gospels. Mark 4:21 occurs in Matthew 5:15 and in Luke 11:33. Mark 4:22 is in Matthew 10:26 and in Luke 12:2. Mark 4:24 appears in Matthew 7:2 and in Luke 6:38. Mark 4:25 is also in Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29 as well as in Luke 19:26. This phenomenon does not mean that this pericope lacks authenticity. It means that Jesus frequently used these expressions at other times during His teaching ministry as well as here. He was an itinerant preacher, and itinerant preachers often use the same messages with the same or similar words with different audiences.