Matthew 6:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,

NIV: "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

NASB: The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

CSB: "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

NLT: Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.

KJV: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

NKJV: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

Jesus has just commanded His listeners to stop stockpiling treasure on earth. Instead, they should invest in building treasure in heaven. This is done by making right choices out of sincere devotion to God. He said that human hearts are found wherever a person's true treasure is (Matthew 6:19–21). His point is not that money is evil, or that Christians are obligated to poverty. Rather, it means that the priority of a believer's life ought to be honoring God, and serving Him, rather than accumulating temporary wealth (Matthew 6:24).

This and Matthew 6:23 will illustrate this point. Jesus calls the eye the lamp of the body. This is true physically, of course; all the light by which we see the world is perceived by using our eyes. Healthy eyes capture all the available light, giving that person a clear understanding of the world around them. Symbolically, functioning eyes allow the mind and body to be "full of light."

The mind and thoughts—our awareness of the outside world—depends on the light being perceived by the eyes. In the following verse, Jesus notes that the reverse is also true. Faulty eyes don't perceive and transmit light, effectively cloaking the inner and outer world in darkness for that person.

Scripture often uses light as a metaphor for truth, goodness, and understanding (Proverbs 4:18–19; Matthew 4:16; 5:13; John 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus' point here is about perception. Focusing hope and aspirations on temporary, earthly treasure indicates greed or lack of faith in God to provide. This spiritual flaw is to the heart what a cataract or injury is to the eye. It effectively creates darkness, on the inside, by failing to perceive and transmit "light." Blocking the light of spiritual truth leads to inner darkness filled with moral corruption. It is like being blind.

On the contrary, focusing on sincere devotion to God and right living is like having clear, healthy eyes: it allows the light of God's righteousness into a person's heart.

Matthew 6:19–24 contains Jesus' perspective on money and its place in the hearts of God's people. This flows directly from His teaching that inner thoughts and motivations are part of righteousness. God, and His will, are what matter, not the opinions of other people. Here, Jesus tells the crowds not to stockpile temporary treasure on earth. Rather, they should be working towards godly goals—''storing up'' rewards in heaven with choices driven by sincere devotion to God. Where we place our treasure indicates the real priority of our hearts. Those who live for worldly wealth live in inner darkness. Only one thing can be truly primary in a person's life. Each person must choose whether to serve God, or their own selfish interests.

The Sermon on the Mount continues in chapter 6, which is entirely composed of the words of Christ. Jesus teaches that God rewards deeds motivated by sincere devotion to Him, not by approval from other people. He teaches a simple and authentic model prayer. Christ warns against stockpiling money and possessions on earth. Instead, believers should make choices that store up treasure in heaven. A person's top priority can either be God, or money, but cannot be both. Along with that, Jesus says believers should fight against anxiety about daily needs. The heavenly Father knows what we need. All we need to do is pursue His kingdom and righteousness; He will take care of our needs, one day at a time.

Chapter 5 began Matthew's telling of the Sermon on the Mount. In that passage, Jesus pointed out that thoughts and attitudes are part of righteousness, just as much as actions. In Chapter 6, He explains how good deeds are only righteous when done out of sincere devotion to God, rather than for other people's approval. He also provides a model for prayer. Jesus explains how excessive worry, such as over money, interferes with faith in God. Knowing that God loves us should lead believers to trust Him, not to be anxious. Chapter 6 is one of the few chapters of the New Testament entirely composed of the words of Christ. In chapter 7 Jesus will introduce additional themes such as appropriate judgment, trust in God, and treatment of others.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.