The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5 - 7
Chapter 6
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes
are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that
darkness!
What does this mean?
Explanation of Matthew 6:22-23
This passage is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He uses the metaphor of the eye to illustrate the
importance of spiritual perception and focus. Here’s a detailed biblical explanation of each part:
"The eye is the lamp of the body."
- Explanation: In this metaphor, Jesus compares the eye to a lamp that illuminates the body. Just as a lamp
provides light that allows us to see, the eye provides spiritual illumination that guides our understanding and
actions. The eye represents our perspective, intentions, and focus in life.
"If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light."
- Explanation: A healthy eye symbolizes a clear, focused, and pure perspective. If our spiritual vision is
healthy—meaning we are focused on God and His righteousness—our entire being will be filled with light. This
light represents clarity, truth, and spiritual well-being. When we see clearly and focus on the right things,
our whole life is positively affected.
"But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness."
- Explanation: An unhealthy eye represents a corrupt, unfocused, or impure perspective. If our spiritual vision is
unhealthy—meaning we are focused on sinful or materialistic things—our entire being will be filled with
darkness. This darkness represents confusion, sin, and spiritual decay. When our focus is misplaced, it
negatively impacts our whole life.
"If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
- Explanation: This statement emphasizes the severity of spiritual blindness or corruption. If what we perceive as
light (our understanding, wisdom, or perspective) is actually darkness, our condition is truly dire. This
underscores the importance of having a correct spiritual focus and perception, as self-deception or misguided
beliefs can lead to profound spiritual darkness.
Summary:
In this passage, Jesus teaches about the importance of spiritual perception and focus using the metaphor of the eye
as the lamp of the body. A healthy eye, representing a clear and righteous perspective, fills our lives with light,
leading to spiritual clarity and well-being. Conversely, an unhealthy eye, representing a corrupt or misguided
perspective, fills our lives with darkness, leading to spiritual confusion and decay. Jesus warns of the dangers of
self-deception, highlighting that if what we believe to be light is actually darkness, our spiritual condition is
severely compromised. This passage emphasizes the need to maintain a pure, focused, and godly perspective to ensure
our lives are filled with true spiritual light.
