Luke 11:29 - Meaning and Application

Christ’s teaching in these verses makes two main points.

First, it shows what sign we may expect from God to strengthen our faith. The greatest and clearest proof that Christ was sent by God was still to come, his resurrection from the dead. So Jesus first rebukes the people for asking for more signs, when they had already received many enough. The people were crowding around him, a large crowd, but they were not mainly coming to learn and be changed. They wanted to see miracles and have something interesting to talk about later. It is a bad sign when nothing will move a person, not even clear displays of God’s power and goodness.

Then Jesus promises that one more sign would be given, different from the others, the sign of Jonah the prophet. In Matthew, this is explained as the resurrection of Christ. Jonah was thrown into the sea, stayed there three days, and then came up alive and preached repentance to the Ninevites. In the same way, Christ would die and rise again, and then his gospel would be preached right away to the Gentile world. This would be the last warning to the Jewish nation. If that stirred them to holy jealousy, that would be good. But if it did not change them, they could expect nothing but complete ruin. The Son of Man, that is, Jesus, would be a sign to that generation, a sign he spoke to them, though they spoke against him (Luke 11:30).

Jesus also warns them to make use of this sign, because they would answer for how they responded to it. The queen of Sheba would rise up in judgment against them and condemn their unbelief (Luke 11:31). She was not part of Israel, yet she believed the report she heard about Solomon, the wise king of Israel, and came from far away to hear his wisdom. She did not come only out of curiosity, but to learn and to know the true God and his worship. That is remembered to her honor. But now one greater than Solomon is here, meaning one with greater wisdom and more heavenly teaching than Solomon ever gave, and yet these stubborn Jews refuse to pay attention to Christ, even though he is standing among them.

The Ninevites would also rise up in judgment against them and condemn their refusal to repent (Luke 11:32). They turned from their evil ways when Jonah preached to them. But now they are hearing a preaching that is far greater than Jonah’s, stronger and more stirring, and it warns of a worse ruin than Nineveh ever faced. Yet no one is shaken enough to turn from evil, as the Ninevites did.

Second, Christ shows what sign God expects from us as proof of our faith. That sign is serious obedience to the religion we say we believe, and a willing openness to every truth God sends when it comes with proper proof. They had the light of the gospel with every advantage they could want. God did not hide that light away. Christ did not preach in secret places. The apostles were sent to preach the gospel to every creature, and both Christ and his ministers, wisdom and her maidens, cried out in the busiest places (Luke 11:33). It is a great mercy that the gospel is set up like a lamp on a stand, so everyone who comes in can see it. It shows us where we are, where we are going, and the only sure way to happiness.

But having the light is not enough. We must also have sight, or the light does us no good. Even if the object is clear, if the eye is bad, we gain nothing. The eye is the lamp of the body (Luke 11:34). It receives the light of the candle when it is brought into the room. In the same way, the light of the soul is the understanding and judgment, the part that tells good from evil and truth from falsehood. As that inner eye is, so the light of God’s revelation is to us, and so is our benefit from it. It becomes either a message that leads to life, or a message that leads to death.

If the eye of the soul is single, that is, if it sees clearly, judges honestly, and seeks truth alone without hidden motives, then the whole body is full of light. In other words, the whole soul receives the gospel, and the gospel brings both knowledge and joy with it. This is the same as the good soil that receives the word and understands it. When our understanding takes in the gospel in its full light, it fills the soul, and that is enough to fill it. And if the soul is filled in this way, with no part left dark, if all its powers are brought under the rule and influence of the gospel and none remain unsanctified, then the whole soul will be full of light, full of holiness and comfort. It was once darkness itself, but now it is light in the Lord, as when a candle shines brightly and gives light (Luke 11:36).

The gospel comes into those souls whose doors and windows are open to receive it, and where it enters, it brings light with it. But if the eye of the soul is evil, if the judgment is twisted by pride, envy, love of the world, or sensual pleasure, then it is no surprise that the whole body is full of darkness (Luke 11:34). How can such people receive instruction, guidance, or comfort from the gospel, when they deliberately shut their eyes against it? What hope is there for them? What remedy is left? So the warning follows: take care that the light in you is not darkness (Luke 11:35). Take care that the mind’s eye is not blinded by partiality, prejudice, and sinful aims. Be sincere in seeking truth, and ready to receive it in its light, love, and power. Do not be like the people Christ was preaching to, who never truly wanted to know God’s will and never meant to do it. No wonder they kept walking in darkness, wandered without end, and came to eternal ruin.