Luke – The Light of the Body is the Eye
Prayer
Introduction
The use of light and dark to describe good and bad throughout scripture and in our culture is pretty universal. If you think good thoughts you are in the light. If you think bad thoughts you are in darkness.
This picture is common to all men. At any given moment half of the world is in darkness and half is in light as our day progresses and the earth spins on its axes.
Light and dark are common in our language, it can depict understanding. We might say: “I couldn't figure out the puzzle until the light came on and then I knew the the solution.” or “Man I was in the dark until you explained it to me and now I see.”
Many might remember the old Hank Williams song “I saw the Light”. What was that about? Redemption. Changing from dark to light.
John MacArthur said it this way, “Light reveals; darkness conceals.”
A person in a darkened room that is filled with clutter cannot tell if they are standing in the middle of treasure or trash until the lights are turned on.
I think we can all agree that Jesus had many people who believed His message and for them the light came on. He also had many people who did not believe His message, they remained in the dark. People who remained in the dark in the presence of Jesus must have willfully stayed in the dark. After all Jesus was the exact representation of God and he was the light.
Hebrews 1:3a (ESV) - He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
John 8:12 (HSCB) - Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
The people of that time must have willfully stayed in darkness. Why would they do that?
Jesus answered that question when He said in John 3:19-20 (HCSB) - “This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.
Let's read our selected verses for today.
Luke 11:33-36 (HCSB) - “No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. 35 Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, the whole body will be full of light, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
The Lamp is Lit Vs 33
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light.
This was very likely a common saying in the time of Jesus. He used it on more than one occasion. The idea is that you light a light so you and others can see. You don't put it in a place that would hid its light or extinguish it.
Light reveals; darkness conceals.
God has revealed all the information needed to have a relationship with Him in His Word. Chapter one of the Book of John has a lot of information for us on the Word.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.
9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. 12 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,
14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
18 No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son— the One who is at the Father’s side— He has revealed Him.
Jesus is the Word.
The bible is the word. It is there to guide us. Psalm 119:105 (HCSB) - Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
God has revealed His plan to all mankind. In our day and age the light is everywhere. The light is lit.
Light reveals; darkness conceals.
The Lamp of the Body Vs 34
34 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness.
The eye is passageway to the mind and heart. It is the conduit that lets understanding in.
“When your eye is good” This phrase is sometimes translated “When your eye is clear” meaning when it is working properly and nothing is hindering it, the whole body will be filled with light or truth.
On the other hand when you eye “is bad” (could also be translated “evil”) or not working properly or is hindered, then no light or truth gets in and you are filled with darkness.
You might also look at this verse and say: if truth is set before my eyes then I will be filled with truth. If I set sin before my eyes then I will be filled with sin. This is why Job said in Job 31:1 (HCSB) - I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman?
Strictly speaking this verse says: a healthy eye sees the light and an unhealthy eye is in darkness. A blind person cannot see.
Light reveals; darkness conceals.
Take Care Which Lamp Vs35
35 Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness.
(NLT) 35 Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.
Take care, Watch out, Be careful, that the light you think you have is not something else, like misguided wishes, bad teaching, lies, deception.
Many people will sit in a church, a temple or some other alter that they worship at their whole lives and they will be deceived. It will be wasted effort.
The Pharisees, Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses all think they have light but they are in darkness. They do not worship the One True God that has been revealed through the light of Jesus Christ. Even christian churches both liberal and conservative can have people who have missed the mark.
If you want to see the light you must turn from you sin, repent, pray for forgiveness and cleansing and then ask God Almighty to give you light and sight.
Light reveals; darkness conceals.
Having the Light is a Choice Vs 36
36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, the whole body will be full of light, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
This verse is conditional; “If therefore”. So we have a choice. 1 John 1:6-7 (ESV) - If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
This verse is expansive; “whole body”, “full of light”, and to emphasize it Jesus said each phrase twice.
This verse is complete; “with no part of it in darkness”
Light reveals; darkness conceals.
Conclusion
The people of Jesus' day had no excuse for not seeing the light. Just as today in the United States we have no excuse. The information is available.
The lamp of the body is the eye. If we seek in earnest with a good eye, we will be filled with good light. If we seek with an eye that is evil, then we will be filled with darkness.
Just as Job made a covenant with his eye not to look in lust we must not set evil before our eyes but good.
Many people say they have been enlightened but they are in darkness just as the Pharisees, Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.
The Bible is the final authority, it is the light that He gave us, the plan that He gave us. There is no other light. There is no other light needed.
Strive to fill your body, your mind, your heart with the light of His Word! Then be obedient to what the light has revealed.
Light reveals; darkness conceals.
A large portion of the sermon was taken from a sermon by John MacArthur “A Question of Sight” Grace to You website Code 42-163.
