Luke 8:16-21

Today my daily reading switches from 2 Chronicles to Luke.  This section here seems like a hodge-podge.  It starts with three small parables that are better developed in other gospels.  It comes after the parable of the sower.  It seems Luke decided to add some other wonderful parables of Jesus.  He did not have a logical place to add them.  But he did not want to exclude them.  He placed them here.  And there is an attempt by Luke to link them together.  But it is not very persuasive to me.  Mostly they should be taken separately.  Reading them together devotionally I know God can speak.  Still to me this section seems more like a miscellaneous.
Verse 16 speaks of a light and putting it on a lampstand.  The Sermon on the Mount has a much fuller rendition.  In Matthew this sermon point is linked with salt.  That seems more apt.  Matthew speaks of identity: You ARE the light of the world.  You ARE salt of the earth.
Here in Luke this parable is linked with another about being hidden.  Everything hidden now will be brought to the light.  Nothing hidden now that will not be brought to the light.
So Luke uses light to bring out another point entirely.  Light is good.  Light is God.  When we try to hide our deeds from God, well it just cannot be done.  And more frightening, all our hidden deeds, that we are ashamed of, will eventually be seen by others.  Isn't that what Jesus is saying here?
Finally a third parable in verse 18 seems a conclusion taken from the parable of the talents.   "Take care how you listen" is the conclusion.  Like in the parable of the talents the man who hides his talent loses it.  He loses it to the man who has the most.  This seems a great commentary on the parable of the talents, which exists in other gospels, but not here.
Then we have the story of his family coming to him.  It seems out of context as well.  In another gospel this comes when Jesus is at home in Capernaum and the crowds are mobbing his house.  It looks a bit out of control to his family, who really do not believe he is the Son of God, yet.  They are worried for his safety.  But Jesus knows he has it under control.  Here again we have the conclusion without the context.
Verse 21 makes it clear that Jesus sees us, his followers, the ones who do believe, as his family.  We are his true family.  It is an honor and a blessing to know such a personal God.  He treats us as family.  He loves us like family.  He also is honest with us like family too.  We belong.  We cannot lose our place.  Praise God for his loving grace!

^ "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ^ For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ^ So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." ^ And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. ^ And it was reported to Him, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You." ^ But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."