What does it mean for your "whole body to be full of light"? The Passage in View Matthew 6:22-23: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” What “Full of Light” Signifies • Genuine spiritual illumination from God, not mere human insight • Moral purity that touches every part of life • Clear, unclouded perception of truth, keeping you from stumbling • Vibrant inner life that reflects the character of Jesus outwardly How the Eye Functions as a Lamp • The physical eye governs the intake of light for the body; the spiritual eye (your focus, motives, and desires) governs what enters the heart • A “good” eye (haplous in Greek) is single, undivided, generous, and healthy • A “bad” eye (ponēros) is evil, diseased, grudging, or covetous, letting darkness rush in Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • 2 Corinthians 4:6 — “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.” • Ephesians 5:8-9 — “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” • Philippians 2:15 — “So that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and twisted generation, in which you shine as lights in the world.” The Literal Reality Behind the Picture • Light and darkness in Scripture describe actual spiritual states, not mere symbols • God is “light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5), so living fellowship with Him necessarily fills the believer with light • Darkness is not neutral; it is the realm of falsehood and sin that blinds the mind (2 Corinthians 4:4) Indicators That Your Body Is Full of Light • Thoughts align readily with Scripture rather than with cultural drift • Words build up and give grace to hearers (Ephesians 4:29) • Actions produce “the fruit of the light,” namely goodness, righteousness, and truth (Ephesians 5:9) • Conscience is tender, quick to confess and forsake sin • Joy and peace remain even when circumstances are hard (Romans 14:17) Practical Ways to Keep the Light Flowing 1. Guard the gate of the eyes – Refuse entertainment or images that feed lust, envy, or unbelief (Job 31:1) 2. Fix your gaze on Christ – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) 3. Saturate mind and heart with Scripture daily – It renews vision and cleanses impurity (John 17:17) 4. Walk in daily obedience to revealed truth – Light increases as you practice what you already know (John 8:12) 5. Stay in fellowship with godly believers – Their encouragement and correction help keep vision clear (Hebrews 3:13) 6. Invite the Spirit’s continual filling – “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) so His brightness governs thoughts, choices, and emotions The Contrast to Avoid • A life ruled by a “bad eye” becomes progressively darker, numb to conviction, and captive to deception • Jesus’ warning “how great is that darkness” underscores the urgency of guarding the eye and pursuing the light Living as Children of Light Receive and reflect the light that comes from the Lord; let every corner of life show His radiance so that those around you “may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). |
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