In Matthew 6:22, Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” This statement comes in the midst of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches on various topics including prayer, fasting, worry, judgments, and money. Let’s break down this verse to understand the full meaning.
The Function of the Eye
First, Jesus compares the eye to a “lamp” or “light” for the body. Just as a lamp illuminates a dark room, the eye provides light and allows us to see our physical surroundings. Without our eyes functioning properly, we would be enveloped in darkness and unable to visually perceive the world around us.
Jesus uses the eye as an illustration because it is the window or gateway through which light enters the body. The eye’s function is to receive and focus light so that the brain can process visual signals. When light enters the eye, it triggers a series of chemical reactions and electrical signals that travel through the optic nerve to the visual processing centers in the back of the brain. So in a very real sense, our eyes provide light that allows us to see and make sense of the world around us.
The State of the Eye Impacts the Body
After comparing the eye to a lamp, Jesus makes a direct correlation between the condition of the eye and the condition of the body: “If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” The word “healthy” here refers to an eye that is single or unified in its focus and vision. A healthy eye allows the body to be filled with light, meaning proper spiritual understanding and perspective.
But on the flip side, Jesus says, “If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” The Greek word for “bad” is ponéros, meaning diseased, defective, or blinded. An eye with impaired vision or focus results in darkness and confusion for the whole body.
The overall point is that the state of the eye directly impacts the state of the body and mind. If the eye is in a good, healthy condition, then the person will be oriented to the light. But if the eye is defective or damaged in some way, it will result in darkness and distortion for the whole person. There is a direct correlation between the two.
The Eye Represents Spiritual Perception
While Jesus uses literal eyes and vision to make His point, He is ultimately speaking about much more than physical sight. The “eye” represents the spiritual perception, understanding, and discernment of a person. The condition of the “eye” is symbolic of whether someone has clarity and light or distortion and darkness in their spiritual outlook.
Several biblical passages use “darkness” and “light” metaphorically to portray spiritual truths (John 1:5, John 8:12). Darkness conveys things like sin, confusion, ignorance, despair, deception, and separation from God. Light stands for holiness, understanding, illumination, hope, and a relationship with God.
So in this passage, Jesus uses the “eye” and the metaphors of darkness and light to communicate deeper spiritual realities. The state of one’s spiritual perception will determine whether they walk in darkness or in the light.
Single-minded Devotion to God
What then constitutes a “healthy” eye or good spiritual vision according to Jesus? Based on the context of this passage, the answer is single-minded devotion to God. The section in Matthew 6 aboutMoney and Worry concludes with Jesus stating “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and money” (v. 24). He then transitions to the eye statement and the analogy of light and darkness.
His main point is that we must choose who (or what) we will devote ourselves to and “focus” our eyes on – God or money/material things. If we seek first God’s kingdom and focus on Him alone, our spiritual vision will be unified and clear, filling us with wisdom and light. A divided heart leads to mixed motives, distorted vision, and spiritual darkness.
So in summary, Jesus uses the eye as a metaphor for one’s spiritual focus and orientation. If our eyes are fixed on God in single-minded devotion, then our lives will be oriented to the light and filled with godly understanding. But if our vision is blurred by distraction, greed, sin, worry, or busyness, then we will be plagued by spiritual darkness and blindness. The condition of the eye predicts the state of the whole person.
Implications and Applications
So what are some key lessons and modern applications from Jesus’ statement about the eye and the body? Here are a few important implications:
- Our spiritual health is largely determined by what we choose to “focus” on and fill our minds with.
- We must rigorously guard our eyes and hearts against things that may impair our spiritual vision and discernment of truth.
- A lifestyle of worship, prayer, Scripture reading, and meditation helps keep our “eyes” focused on Christ.
- We will often experience darkness, confusion, fear, and sin when our vision is not fixed on God.
- The way to enjoy steadfast purpose, joy, and hope is to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2).
- Just as an optometrist can diagnose and restore defective physical vision, Christ is the great physician who can heal our spiritual blindness.
- We must beware of “false light” – thinking we see clearly when in fact our vision is distorted and leads to destruction.
- As Christ fills us with His light, we become “the light of the world” and can help illuminate darkness in others (Matt 5:14).
- In the end, God’s children will “see light” and enjoy perfect vision in His glorious presence (Psalm 36:9).
The condition of the eye truly impacts every aspect of our lives. That’s why Jesus instructs us to examine our eyes to see if we are perceiving things accurately and purely in the light of His truth. As we walk closely with Christ day by day, He will sharpen our focus, correct our vision, and illuminate our path through this dark world. Ultimately, He is the lamp for our feet and the light for our eyes (Psalm 119:105), guiding us down the path of life.