Lamp Of Light Series

Sermon on the Mount

Pt 9

Lamp of Light

Matthew 6:22-23

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore you eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! [NKJV] – (cf. Luke 11:33-36)

OPENING REMARKS

Viewed with the Eye

Magazines (junk, sports, Christian) -- Newspapers (local, gossip, religious) -- Books (fiction, non-fiction, secular, Christian) -- TV (local and cable) -- Surf the Internet (search engine to search engine – just be careful what you click on) -- Movies (G to XXX), etc.

1. The majority of what we learn and know is normally brought about because of our eyesight.

a. We read magazines, newspapers, and books.

b. We watch TV, search the Internet, and go to the movies.

c. We observe all that goes on around us.

2. If an object is visible to us it is transported to our mind thus influencing our thoughts and thinking.

a. Because of the type of objects our eyes observe - often our way of life will reflect its contents.

b. Whatever we focus on we begin to prioritize.

i. Earthly matters – worldly mind.

ii. Heavenly matters – Godly mind.

TEXT

22

I. The lamp of the body is the eye.

1. Lamp – Gk. lychnos means: literally a lamp (other than a candle – a bowl with oil and a wick off to the side), light.

a. OT | NT or today – a lamp is an object that we associate with light.

i. Light – represents the difference between good | bad; right | wrong; worldly (unrighteous) | godly (righteous)

Psalm 119:105

Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

2. Eye – is the focus point (one of the five senses) that we associate immediately within our mind of the world around us and all it pertains.

a. We use the eye (1) to look and observe and (2) to read and learn.

Matthew Henry

The eye is [used in] discovering and directing. [A Commentary on the Whole Bible: Matthew to John, vol. 5, (Old Tappan, New Jersey, Revel, n.d.) p. 80]

A. If therefore you eye is good [clear – NAS, healthy – ESV, single – KJV], your whole body will be full of light.

Good – Gk. is difficult to translate to English, it has various meanings (see above examples). Here the text seems to indicate its usage. Thus either a clear or single perspective with the eye may be an appropriate translation.

It is important in how you invest the use of the eye.

1. If all we do is watch R rated movies – that is where our mindset will stay.

a. Instead we should watch movies that we would not worry about our children walking in on.

2. If all we do is watch soap operas – that is what will seem normal within our marriages.

a. Instead we should take the time to observe those in happy marriages in church or family.

3. If all we do is watch talk-shows – the prevailing opinion of the host will become ours as well.

(Oprah – The View – late night shows, etc.)

a. Instead we should be well versed to our world around us so that we can form honest/correct opinions.

4. If all we read are gossip magazines – we will be caught up in falsehood aggressively.

a. Instead we should read reputable magazines that we know are faithful to the truth.

5. If all we read are Steven King novels – we will be caught up in the fantasy of strange.

a. Instead we should read some of the classics, biographies, historical works, Scripture.

6. If all we do is surf the internet for the latest craze – we will soon be found addicted to its vices.

a. Instead we should shut off the computer, find some hobbies | friends that we will enjoy our time.

NOTE: As disciples of Christ | children of God – noting here the importance of how we should invest the use of the eye in what enters the mind then we should seek to strive to understand that we accomplish this by making application of God’s Word.

Proverbs 19:8

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Colossians 3:1a, 2-3

If … you were raised with Christ … Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

NOTE: What you put into your mind through your eye will be reflected back through your manner of living. ----- If all you put into your mind is worldliness – then all you will manifest is that you are of the world. ----- But, if you put into your mind biblical | scriptural matters – then you will manifest that you are a child of God, a Christian. ----- WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE REFLECT?