For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.
All Commentaries on Mark 4:25 Go To Mark 4
John Chrysostom
AD 407
After the question of the disciples concerning the parable, and its explanation, He well subjoins, “And He said unto them, Is a candle brought” As if He said, A parable is given, not that it should remain obscure, and hidden as if under a bed or abushel, but that it should be manifested to those who are worthy. The candle within us is that of our intellectual nature, and it shines either clearly or obscurely according to the proportion of our illumination. For if meditations which feed the light, and the recollection with which such a light is kindled, are neglected, it is presently extinguished.
in Matt., Hom. 15: Or else, “There is nothing hid;” as if He said, If ye conduct your life with care, accusation will not be able to obscure your light.
Vict. Ant.e Cat. in Marc.: Or else, He who has the desire and wish to hear and to seek, to him shall be given. But he who has not the desire of hearing divine things, even what he happens to have of the written law is taken from him.
Again it may be said, that he“hath not,” who has not truth. But our Lord says that “he hath,” because he has a lie, for every one whose understanding believes a lie, thinks that he has something.
