1. Matthew 6:22 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does it mean for the eye to be the lamp of the body?

Matthew 6:22 (ESV)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,

The eye metaphor is difficult to understand and has been interpreted in lots of different ways. It could refer to the practice of looking on others generously, a proper view of possessions1 or an undivided focus.2 Given the context, it most certainly has something to do with the focus of a person’s life. What the eye sees is what the mind reflects on. If the eye lets in light, it benefits the body.