January 8, 2019 ● 19-02
The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then, the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matt. 6:22-23)
In my study of this passage of Scripture, I discovered through many commentaries and Greek lexicons the meaning of the word ‘clear’ literally means to be single. This makes sense. To be single-minded means to have one overall objective in your life. James wrote the, “double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,” (Jas. 1:8). Luke records that Jesus was, “determined to go to Jerusalem,” (Luke 9:51). Jesus was single-minded in purpose, He knew the cross awaited Him in Jerusalem; that was why He came and He was going to fulfill that purpose (Matt. 20:28).
This picture of the, “clear eye” is pertinent in our walk with Christ. When we are focused on serving and honoring God in our lives, then much of this world will have little interest to us. But when we start to look around at what the world has and what the world offers, we get distracted and take our eyes off Jesus, as Peter did when he stepped out of the boat and began to sink (Matt. 14:28-33).
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to, “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” (Heb. 12:2a).
Let God’s Word equip you with, “eyes of faith”; eyes that are singular in purpose, eyes that are focused on living for and honoring God in your life.