Confess Christ Before Men-The Eye and the Lamp: Luke 11:33-36, 12:8-9

Confessing Christ Before Men: Luke 12:8-9 Explained

⁸ Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

⁹ But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:8-9 

Luke 12:8 - What it Means to Acknowledge Jesus Before Men

The issue here is faithfulness in testimony to Jesus, especially in the context of religious rejection. Acknowledging Jesus before men means being acknowledged by the Son of Man before God. Jesus encourages his followers to publicly acknowledge him, promising that those who do so on earth will be acknowledged by him before the angels in heaven.

A Song of Confession: "Jesus" — Worship That Declares His Name

Confessing Jesus is not just something we are called to do — it is a response to what He has already done for us on the cross, the finished work of Jesus Christ. When we truly understand what Jesus did for us on the cross, confessing His name before others becomes the most natural response of a grateful heart. Thank you Jesus!
It moves from the courtroom to the sanctuary, from testimony to worship. 
  The song Jesus captures this spirit beautifully, giving voice to the bold, unashamed declaration that Luke 12:8 calls every believer to make. 
  Let this song be both a response to the Word and a renewal of your own confession 
  — that Jesus is Lord, before men, before angels, and before God! 

Luke 12:9 - Will You Lose Your Rewards? What the Judgment Seat of Christ Means for Believers

Luke 12:9 "denies....will be denied": Every act of denial of Christ on earth will meet with commensurate denial of reward at the "Judgement seat of Christ" (see 1 John 2:28). This is not speaking of the gift of salvation, but of the prize or reward: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -

Running the Race to Obtain the Prize: The Incorruptible Crown - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

²⁴ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

²⁵ And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

²⁶ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

²⁷ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The Light Within: Luke 11:33-36 and Living the Word

³³ No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

³⁴ The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

³⁵ Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

³⁶ If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

The Light - This represents the Gospel, truth, and the wisdom of Jesus, which is intended to be seen and shared openly. Luke 11:33

The Eye and the Lamp

The Eye As A Lamp - Fascinating Revelation

The "eye" represents spiritual discernment, focus, and the inner state of one's heart. A "healthy" (or "single" in KJV) eye is one focused solely on God and his truth, allowing the whole person to be enlightened. Luke 11:34

The Danger of Darkness - Jesus warns that if the "light" within a person is actually deception, unbelief, or spiritual blindness, their inner darkness is total. Luke 11:35

Result of Inner Light - A person who allows Christ’s light to fully permeate their heart (having no dark part) becomes completely transformed, radiating that light to others. Luke 11:36

Becoming a Living Picture of God's Word

Your whole body is full of light: A person can become like light, a living picture of what God's word teaches, by concentrating on the light of the truth.

Jesus teaches that spiritual truth should be displayed, not hidden, comparing it to placing a lamp on a stand rather than under a basket. He explains that the eye is the body’s lamp; a healthy, focused eye fills the whole body with light, while a "bad" (or selfish/unhealthy) eye leaves one in darkness.

Crowns in Heaven: How God Rewards the Faithful

The Word of God mentions at least five possible rewards.

The Incorruptible Crown: Mastering the Old Nature (1 Corinthians 9:25-27)

Given to those who master the old nature and keep the body in subjection to the Spirit.

The Crown of Life: Enduring Temptation (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10) 

Given to those who successfully endure temptation and remain faithful under trial.

The Crown of Righteousness: Eagerly Awaiting Christ's Return (2 Timothy 4:8) 

Given to those who eagerly await Jesus' appearing and live in readiness for His return.

The Crown of Glory: Faithful Preachers and Teachers (1 Peter 5:2-4) 

Given to those faithful preachers and teachers who feed the flock (Acts 20:26-28; 2 Timothy 4:1-2).

The Crown of Rejoicing: Winning Souls for Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) 

Given to soul-winners who bring others to Christ (Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3).

It has been suggested that these "crowns" will actually be talents and abilities with which to glorify Christ. Thus, the greater the reward, the greater the ability.