What did Jesus mean when He said, “The eye is the lamp of the body” (Matthew 6:22)?

Response

Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light” «The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. », (Matthew 6:22). Here, our Lord describes the eye as a lamp that illuminates the entire body. Our eyes serve as the gateway to our hearts and minds, providing access to our very souls. When He spoke of “good” eyes, He meant eyes that not only see well but also perceive well. It is not just what we see, but how we interpret what we see that distinguishes godliness from ungodliness, light from darkness. Poor eyesight leads to distorted perception, whereas with good eyes, our entire being is enlightened. In a well-lit room, we have clear vision, can navigate obstacles, and find what we seek. Conversely, walking in darkness leads to stumbling, falling, and grasping for stability.

Our eyes can discern between good and evil, beneficial and harmful. What we see and perceive impacts our entire essence. If we focus on goodness, it will emanate from our hearts and minds. However, gazing upon evil can taint us and those around us, as darkness starts to radiate from within.

The Bible warns us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light. This is his ultimate deception—to deceive people into believing they have found enlightenment when, in reality, they are embracing the darkness of false light «And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into aAn angel of light.” , (2 Corinthians 11:14). His intention is to blind us to the truth and corrupt our minds. He uses our eyes to gain entrance to our hearts, parading before us all kinds of evil. This ranges from the deluge of pornography on the internet to the constant stream of worldly goods that appeal to our materialistic desires. He deceives us into thinking that these things will bring us happiness and fulfillment, when in reality, they are stealing the joy we truly seek. His goal is for us to allow more darkness into our minds through the books we read, the movies we watch, and the images we let our eyes linger on. This way, the light of God’s glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ becomes obscured to us. Even though the light is all around us, like the blazing, blinding light of the noonday sun, if our eyes are constantly fixed on sin, the light we perceive is not light at all. To be filled with the true light, we must turn away from sin, repent, and ask God for forgiveness, cleansing, and the opening of our spiritual eyes. Then, we must be mindful of where we allow our eyes to wander. By protecting our eyes, we are safeguarding our hearts and souls.