The Word in Focus with Dr Larry Taylor

Thoughts on the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5-7

Part 12

Matthew 6²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, ²³ but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

The eye as a window into the soul is a common metaphor. We often equate bright eyes with energy and vitality. It’s a good metaphor, but any metaphor can be pushed too far. In the ancient Neareastern world of the Bible, it was thought that goodness (light) and evil (darkness) both originated in the heart and were projected outward through the eyes. Of course, we now know that light doesn’t shoot out of the eye; the eye takes light in. the brain converts it to images.

The idea that good and evil come out of the heart via the eyes is origin of the “evil eye” superstition. You didn’t want someone to give you the evil eye. Their inner evil could hurt you.

In the Hebrew Bible (OT) the word ra’ ayin means a bad or evil eye. It’s used in Proverbs:

Do not eat the bread of a selfish [ra’ ayin or “bad eyed”] person or desire his delicacies. For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’ But his heart is not with you. (Proverbs 23:6-7)

Don’t expect anything from a double-minded, intentionally misleading person. They have the bad eye.  They pretend to care for others’ needs while staying self-obsessed—publicly posturing as generous when their true agenda is all about personal gain.

The opposite of ra’ ayin (bad eye) is tov ‘ayin which literally means “good eye,” but is often translated “generous.”

One who is generous [tov ‘ayin] will be blessed, because he gives some of his food to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9 NASB)

The New Testament uses the Greek word diplous, which means “double.” Someone who speaks or acts in one way while hiding their real agenda has the bad, diplous, eye. Its opposite is haplous.

Matthew ^6:22“… if therefore thine eye be single [haplous], thy whole body shall be full of light.” (KJV) 

Haplous means single, simple, whole, complete, clear, healthy, generous, singular, sincere. Haplous conveys the idea that people with single or sincere motivations are genuine in action—they have the good eye. 

Jesus is calling us to be generous, singularly focused on the needs of others.

Generous people remain full of light like a lamp—vibrant with love for others, nature, God, and self. They are full of life, curiosity, possibilities, and generosity.

A stingy person has dim or darkened eyes and will experience a continuous decline into lonesome isolation and painful darkness.

The person who treasures what is in the KOG sees everything in its true worth and relationship. The person who treasures what is on the earth has distorted views of what’s important and meaningful. 

^6:24“No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.