The Lamp Of The Body

[Mr. M]

Mark 7:20 And He said, 

What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed

evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders,

22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,

lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

One of many disturbing facts about the world is the taking

of ideas from the Bible and applying them in a contemporary

way that clouds the truth. The evil eye is not a stare

or giving someone a dirty look.

Consider this statement by the owner in

the parable of the vineyard for insight.

Matthew 20:

14 Take what is yours and go your way.

I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my

own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?

Now, hear the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

At a most basic and essential level, every believer

must address the carnal tendency to see every fault

in others, while making every excuse

to downplay or own shortfalls.

A fine example from the teachings of Paul to elaborate.

Romans 14:

4 Who are you to judge another’s servant?

To his own master he stands or falls.

Indeed, he will be made to stand,

for God is able to make him stand. 

10 But why do you judge your brother?

Or why do you show contempt for your brother?

For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord,

Every knee shall bow to Me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then each of us shall give account

of himself to God.

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore,

but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block

or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

This becomes a critical issue when we understand

that an evil eye clouds our ability to perceive and

follow the Spirit in every area of our Christian walk.

Luke 11:

34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore,

when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light.

But when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.

35 Therefore take heed that the light which is

in you is not darkness.

36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, 

the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright

shining of a lamp gives you light.

The “good eye” receives the light of Truth, and the Lord’s discipline

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;

and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

This is central to receiving the “sure mercies of David”.

Psalm 132:17 There will I make the horn of David to bud:

I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.