A Single Eye

This was something really awesome I learned at Jumpstart during one of the Bible sessions (which were all about the Sermon on the Mount). I just knew you would be delighted for me to share it with you too. :)

Matthew 6:22 (emphasis added):
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (KJV)


It's really important that this verse is read in the King James Version. This is one of the only translations that translates that word (I made it bold so you can see which one it is) as 'single'. (Most other translations translate it as 'good', 'healthy' or 'clear'.)

Anyway, this verse tells us that if our eye is single, our whole body will be full of light.

What do you suppose that means?

If your eye has a single focus, your whole body will be full of light. Single focus! Wow! 

So it's not saying that if our eyes are good and work as they are supposed to, we'll be able to see well. That's what a lot of people think. It's saying that if we have one goal in mind, if our eyes have a single focus, our whole body will be filled with light.

Now let's look at verse 23. "But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

The Greek for that word I made bold is a word called poneros that can be translated to mean 'full of anxiety'. What happens if we are full of anxiety?

Our eyes flit around here, there and everywhere. We start looking in lots of directions. Isn't that the exact opposite of what we should have: an eye with a single focus?

I want to put it to you this afternoon that our single focus should be Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV (emphasis added):

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.