Matthew 6 22

Matthew 6:22 kjv

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Matthew 6:22 nkjv

"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

Matthew 6:22 niv

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

Matthew 6:22 esv

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

Matthew 6:22 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.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 22 Meaning

Matthew 6:22 reveals that the eye serves as the "lamp" or window of the body, signifying the internal spiritual state and how one perceives the world. A "good" eye (haplous in Greek) implies spiritual clarity, purity of motive, and a single-hearted devotion to God, free from double-mindedness or covetousness. When this inner spiritual faculty is sound and sincere, the whole inner being (metaphorically, the entire person or 'body' as the realm of one's thoughts and actions) is filled with divine light, enabling righteous living and clear spiritual understanding. It contrasts with an "evil" eye, which would lead to spiritual darkness.

Matthew 6 22 Context

Matthew 6:22 is a crucial part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, specifically nestled within His teaching on treasure, worry, and ultimate devotion. It follows directly after the admonition to "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:20-21). This establishes the immediate context that the "eye" refers not merely to physical sight but to one's spiritual perception, inner disposition, and the core motivations of the heart concerning earthly vs. heavenly values. The verses immediately following (Matt 6:23, 24) elaborate on the contrasting "evil eye" and the inability to "serve two masters," God and mammon. This places the eye's condition directly in the theological conflict of allegiance, highlighting whether one is single-mindedly devoted to God or divided by worldly pursuits. Culturally, the Jewish understanding of a "good eye" ('ayin tovah) and an "evil eye" ('ayin ra') would have resonated deeply with Jesus's audience. A "good eye" was synonymous with generosity and contentment, while an "evil eye" represented stinginess, envy, and covetousness. Thus, the passage makes a clear polemic against the materialism and spiritual compromise prevalent in society, urging undivided spiritual focus.

Matthew 6 22 Word analysis

• The lamp of the body is the eye.

  • The lamp (λύχνος, luchnos): Refers to a portable oil lamp, a source of light. In this metaphor, the eye functions as the light-giving or light-receiving mechanism for the entire body (person). It's the primary way light enters or is processed.
  • of the body (σώματος, somatos): Here, "body" often refers not just to the physical body but metaphorically to the whole person, the entire inner and outer being, or the realm of one's consciousness and actions.
  • is the eye (ὀφθαλμός, ophthalmos): The physical organ of sight, but here it symbolizes the mind, the spiritual perception, intention, or the soul's inner lens through which one interprets and acts upon the world. It’s the faculty by which one takes in, or allows to penetrate, light or darkness, influencing one's moral and spiritual state.

• If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

  • If therefore (ἐὰν οὖν, ean oun): Introduces a conditional statement, logically building on the initial metaphor. "Therefore" connects it directly to the preceding discussion of treasure and the heart.
  • your eye (σου ὁ ὀφθαλμός, sou ho ophthalmos): Reinforces personal responsibility for one's spiritual vision.
  • is good (ἁπλοῦς, haplous): This is a critical word. Unlike agathos (morally good) or kalos (beautiful/fitting), haplous carries several connotations:
    • Simple/Uncomplicated: Not divided, unadulterated.
    • Healthy/Sound: Functioning properly, unobstructed.
    • Single/Whole-hearted: Undivided in focus, sincere in purpose, not having conflicting aims.
    • Generous/Sincere: This is arguably the strongest interpretation in the context of Mammon. In the Septuagint (Greek OT) and Jewish writings, "good eye" was an idiom for generosity and a lack of envy (e.g., Deut 15:9, Prov 22:9, Sir 14:10). An haplous eye is the opposite of an "evil eye" (ponēros, used in Matt 6:23), which represented envy, covetousness, and stinginess.This suggests that an eye that sees wealth and possessions with generosity, a pure heart, and single devotion to God (as opposed to being envious or covetous) is "good."
  • your whole body (ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου, holon to sōma sou): Emphasizes that the effect of a good or evil eye impacts the entirety of one's being and actions, not just a part.
  • will be full of light (φωτεινόν, phōteinon): This implies complete illumination, spiritual clarity, understanding, and integrity. When one's internal spiritual "eye" is pure and focused on God's kingdom, one's life is characterized by transparency, discernment, and actions that align with God's will. It’s a state of inner righteousness and wisdom, a spiritual well-being that manifests outwardly.

Matthew 6 22 Bonus section

The metaphor of the "eye" as a lamp extends beyond simple physical vision. It connects deeply to the biblical theme of God as the ultimate source of all light—spiritual, moral, and intellectual. A "good eye" allows divine light to illuminate our being because it is aligned with God's truth and priorities. This internal light isn't just about knowledge; it’s about transformation. When the whole person is "full of light," it implies integrity and an authentic life reflecting God's character. This state enables clear judgment in a world full of spiritual deceptions and false priorities, offering a guiding beacon from within.

Matthew 6 22 Commentary

Matthew 6:22 acts as a profound pivot in Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, bridging the concept of heavenly vs. earthly treasures with the inability to serve two masters. Jesus employs the common analogy of the eye as the "lamp" of the body, meaning it is the primary organ through which light enters and thereby illuminates one’s physical existence. However, Jesus elevates this to a spiritual truth: the eye represents one’s inner spiritual faculty, the soul’s lens, which dictates moral vision and spiritual perception.

The key to understanding the verse lies in the word "good" (ἁπλοῦς, haplous), which in this context means healthy, sincere, single-minded, and generously motivated. It contrasts with an "evil" eye (Matthew 6:23), which in Jewish thought signifies envy, stinginess, and covetousness. Thus, if one’s inner eye—the heart's intention concerning wealth, priorities, and God's kingdom—is genuinely singular in its devotion to God and benevolent towards others, then the entire "body" (the whole person's actions, thoughts, and spiritual state) will be bathed in spiritual light. This light signifies spiritual understanding, moral clarity, righteousness, and wisdom. Conversely, a self-centered, covetous, or double-minded focus ("evil eye") leads to profound spiritual darkness and moral blindness, resulting in a life confused and without true divine illumination. The verse underscores that internal spiritual alignment (a pure and generous focus on God's kingdom) is the prerequisite for a life lived in spiritual light, making clear one's path and purposes according to divine will.