Luke records some of the sayings of Jesus which require careful consideration to arrive at a true meaning. In verse 33 he comments on the correct use of lamps and then speaks of darkness as being both literal and spiritual. Jesus then says, “Your eye is the lamp of your body” (verse 34). “When your eye is healthy your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.” What kind of eye is this and what is the “light”?

Job agonized about how God had allowed all the troubles into his life. His friends were sure of the reason – troubles only come as a punishment for sin! Although Job could not understand why, he knew better. After the Almighty speaks to him Job says, “I know that you can do all things, that no purpose of yours can be thwarted … I have uttered what I did not understand … I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent …” (40:2,3,5,6).

Job now saw with his mind’s eye the ways of God! This is what Jesus is talking about; the minds of his hearers were “full of darkness” so he warns, “therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body be full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright …” (verses 35,36). How wonderful. So often human beings only look at the physical and not the spiritual. In verse 27 there was a woman in the crowd who saw clearly. “Blessed is the womb that bore you …” But Jesus responded, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it”. Today we can say, ‘Blessed are those who read the word of God – and after reading it, keep it – and then the “eye” of their thinking will be healthy.’