The Meaning of Luke 11:35 Explained

Luke 11:35

KJV: Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

YLT: take heed, then, lest the light that is in thee be darkness;

Darby: See therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

ASV: Look therefore whether the light that is in thee be not darkness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Take heed  therefore  that the light  which  is in  thee  be  not  darkness. 

What does Luke 11:35 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If a person rejects Jesus" light (truth) for another Song of Solomon -called light, he or she will discover that that other light brings no true illumination. Normally people"s eyes respond to light by admitting it, and the result is their illumination. That is how Jesus wanted His hearers to respond to His teaching because the result would be spiritual illumination.

Context Summary

Luke 11:33-44 - Dark And Foul Within
"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord," Proverbs 20:27. How many unlit candles there are! Will you not ask whether Christ has ever kindled you with His divine light and life? You have the capacity for God, but this is not enough: Christ must give you light, Ephesians 5:14. Seek the clear shining of the inner light, and remember that it will grow clearer and brighter just in proportion as it is obeyed and followed. What a glorious conception this is, that the Lord Jesus shall so fill us with the radiance and warmth of His love that there shall be no part dark!
Our Lord's denunciations of the religious leaders of His time reveal the wrath of infinite truth and purity against all that is inconsistent with either. Because He loved His sheep, the Good Shepherd must warn them against wolves. Notice Luke 11:41, r.v., which means that our faith, love and joy are to be shared with others. Let us be munificent and generous in self-giving. There is no law of the tithe here! Give all! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 11

1  Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11  assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him
14  He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27  and shows who are blessed;
29  preaches to the people;
37  and reprimands the outward show of holiness

Greek Commentary for Luke 11:35

Whether not [μη]
This use of μη — mē in an indirect question is good Greek (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1045). It is a pitiful situation if the very light is darkness. This happens when the eye of the soul is too diseased to see the light of Christ. [source]
The light that is in thee []
Lit., the light, that, namely, which is in thee; thus emphasizing the inward light. See on Matthew 6:23. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 11:35

John 1:9 Lighteth [φωτίζει]
See on shineth, John 1:5, and compare Luke 11:35, Luke 11:36. [source]
John 1:9 There was [ην]
Imperfect indicative. Emphatic position at the beginning of the sentence and so probably not periphrastic conjugation with ερχομενον — erchomenon (coming) near the end, though that is possible. The true light “The light the genuine,” not a false light of wreckers of ships, but the dependable light that guides to the harbor of safety. This true light had been on hand all the time in the darkness Added in the English to make plain this interpretation. Lighteth every man Old verb (from πως — phōs) to give light as in Revelation 22:5; Luke 11:35. The Quakers appeal to this phrase for their belief that to every man there is given an inner light that is a sufficient guide, the Quaker‘s text it is called. But it may only mean that all the real light that men receive comes from Christ, not necessarily that each one receives a special revelation. Coming This present middle participle of ερχομαι — erchomai can be taken with αντρωπον — anthrōpon just before (accusative masculine singular), “every man as he comes into the world.” It can also be construed with πως — phōs (nominative neuter singular). This idea occurs in John 3:19; John 11:27; John 12:46. In the two last passages the phrase is used of the Messiah which makes it probable here. But even so the light presented in John 11:27; John 12:46 is that of the Incarnate Messiah, not the Pre-incarnate Logos. Here κοσμος — kosmos rather than παντα — panta occurs in the sense of the orderly universe as often in this Gospel. See Ephesians 1:4. [source]
Galatians 6:1 Considering [σκοπῶν]
Only in Paul, except Luke 11:35. The verb means to look attentively; to fix the attention upon a thing with an interest in it. See Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Philemon 2:4; Philemon 3:17. Hence, often, to aim at (comp. σκοπὸν mark Philemon 3:14). Schmidt (Syn.) defines: “To direct one's attention upon a thing, either in order to obtain it, or because one has a peculiar interest in it, or a duty to fulfill toward it. Also to have an eye to with a view of forming a right judgment.” Notice the passing to the singular number - “considering thyself.” The exhortation is addressed to the conscience of each. Before you deal severely with the erring brother, consider your own weakness and susceptibility to temptation, and restore him in view of that fact. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 11:35 mean?

Take heed therefore lest the light that [is] in you darkness be
σκόπει οὖν μὴ τὸ φῶς τὸ ἐν σοὶ σκότος ἐστίν

σκόπει  Take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: σκοπέω  
Sense: to look at, observe, contemplate.
μὴ  lest 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μή 
Sense: no, not lest.
φῶς  light 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: φῶς  
Sense: light.
τὸ  that  [is] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σκότος  darkness 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: σκότος  
Sense: darkness.