A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW     

YOUR EYE IS THE LAMP OF YOUR BODY  

Matthew 6:22-23 “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!”   

In his commentary on Matthew, Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs asks this question: “Does the eye, like a lamp, shine light into the body or is the eye ‘the body’s lamp’ in the sense that it shines outward, and where and how the eye ‘looks’ directs the body where to go?”   

A few paragraphs further Gibbs answers his question: “ . . . the picture in Jesus’ words, which could very well be a known proverb, is that the whole body turns its ‘lamp’ – the eye – here or there, to shine light on what is important and to make choices as to where the body should go.” 

The point of Jesus’ teaching in today’s devotional verses is if your eyes are diseased with sin, filled with visions of what the world offers, looks covetously upon what others have, etc., you will as He taught in the previous three verses be living in spiritual poverty. Today’s verses continue His teaching regarding what you treasure.   

What your eyes focus upon as they peer into the world around you, what they see as valuable indicates whether your heart is filled with darkness or light. Darkness, of course is sin and all the grief and spiritual poverty sin brings into your life. Filled with light, your heart and soul are filled with faith in Jesus, reliance upon your heavenly Father and thirst for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.   

Jesus has come “ . . . into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in (Him) should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46) “His light shines brightly in (your life), illuminating (your) path and guiding (you) through (life’s) challenges. Just like how a lamp brightens a dark room, Jesus provides clarity in (your) confusion and hope in despair. (You) can find comfort knowing that, despite the darkness around (you), (you) are never alone when (you) walk in His light.” (Biblestudyforyou.com) 

Prayer: Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit into my heart to provide me with Your light to see the path You want me to walk each day. In Your holy name. Amen. 

Renew me, O eternal Light,   
And let my heart and soul be bright;  
Illumined with the light of grace   
That issues from Your holy face. 

Remove the pow’r of sin from me   
And cleanse all my impurity  
That I may have the strength and will   
Temptations of the flesh to still. 

Create in me a new heart, Lord,   
That gladly I obey Your Word.  
Let what You will be my desire,   
And with new life my soul inspire. 

Grant that I only You may love   
And seek those things which are above   
Till I behold You face to face,   
O Light eternal, through Your grace.  

Renew Me, O Eternal Light - LSB 704