Placing a lighted oil lamp under a container or a bed would be contrary to its purpose. To give light to those in a house or those entering it, the lamp is placed on a stand. (Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16) Accordingly, those who embraced Jesus’ teaching should serve as lighted lamps, sharing it with others and living in harmony therewith. The teaching Jesus imparted privately to his disciples was not meant to be kept secret. This appears to be the sense of his words indicating that the ultimate objective of hiding or concealing is disclosure. (Mark 4:22; Luke 8:17)

Jesus admonished those hearing his teaching to pay attention to how they listened, the purpose being that they would do so attentively and put themselves in a position to recall his words. The measure of attention they would give would determine the measure of the benefit they would receive. Those who paid attention, making Jesus’ teaching their own or coming to have it in their possession would receive even more, continuing to increase in their understanding of his teaching. Those who failed to focus on what he said, never really thinking about it, would lose even what they thought or imagined they had. (Mark 4:23-25; Luke 8:18)