These are the words of Jesus. He spoke them to show how incongruous it is for men to conceal or snuff out a light under something that defeats its very purpose. All of us have known men of great spiritual potential who have washed out under an avalanche of worldly philosophy and increasing knowledge of this world. A third way to quench a fire is by neglect. One can smother it with noncombustible materials which make a great show of smoke but never burst into flame, or he can simply refuse to refuel it and it will go out.
Flames are like people.
They must be fed to live. I have found in my own life that I must nourish the inner man. I require regular communion with God in fervent prayer. The root word means to glow. I am like Moses on the mount, when my hands begin to droop and are not lifted up toward heaven, the tide of battle goes against me.