“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,
Parallel translations
- WEB “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
- KJV The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
- BSB The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
- NKJV “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
- NASB “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
- NLT “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The eye is like a lamp; a healthy eye fills the whole body with light. A clear, single-minded devotion to God brings spiritual health.
Overview
Using the eye as a metaphor, Jesus teaches that one's inner outlook governs the whole person. A 'sound' eye—singular and generous in its focus on God—floods life with light. In context this continues the theme of treasure and undivided loyalty, contrasting wholehearted devotion to God with a divided or covetous outlook.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Luke 11:34–36The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness.
- 2 Cor 11:3But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
- Col 3:22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
- Eph 6:5Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;
- Acts 2:46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 6:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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