The Life of Christ – Lesson 7 October 17, 2018 Matthew Chapters 5-7 Luke 6:20-49 The Life of Christ – Lesson 7 The Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 6:19-34 Practicing your righteousness

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body …” Matthew 6:22-23, “The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!” These verses follow an exhortation and warning from Jesus. Matthew 6:19; cf. Matthew 19:16ff “How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24).

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 The “eye” stands for the heart and what it desires or intends. Psalms 119:37, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in thy ways” Psalms 123:1-2, “Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants (look) unto the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes (look) unto Jehovah our God, until he have mercy upon us.”

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye.” The “eye” stands for the heart and what it desires or intends. Psalms 141:8, “For mine eyes are unto thee, O Jehovah the Lord: in thee do I take refuge; leave not my soul destitute.” Proverbs 4:23-25, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye.” The “eye” stands for the heart and what it desires or intends. Matthew 7:3-5; Ephesians 1:18; Acts 26:18; Hebrews 12:2

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye.” The “eye” stands for the heart and what it desires or intends. The eye of the wicked. Psalms 10:1-8 The evil eye. Proverbs 21:2, 10; 23:6, 33; Ecclesiastes 2:10 The eye of the righteous. Psalms 15:4; Proverbs 22:9

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye.” Our vision dictates our life. How do we look at life? Does our vision focus on: Recognition of men; rather than our heavenly Father? Matthew 6 Temporal rewards; or eternal? Matthew 6 Treasures on earth; or in heaven? 1 Timothy 6:9- 10; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye.” Context: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24; cf. Philippians 3:18-20 Mammon is an Aramaic word to express the idea of “wealth personified”(Strong). “Money is a good servant, but a hard master!”

Good or bad lamp? Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye.” The disciple whose eye is single can be full of light (photeinon) – “shining, bright” (LS). The one whose eye is evil, however, becomes full of darkness (skoteinon) – “covered with darkness” (Thayer). cf. 1 John 1:5-7; John 3:19ff

"Do Not Worry" Matthew 6:25-34 Anxiety is evidence of a lack of faith in God. Hebrews 11:6; Psalms 23; Acts 27:22-25 Jesus is not forbidding thought or concern. 1 Timothy 5:8; cf. Proverbs 6:6-11 Jesus is forbidding our being overly concerned, full of care, troubled, and upset with dread, so that: we do not have peace of mind; we are not able to rest; all joy is taken out of this life; we are blinded to our blessings and, therefore, fail to give thanks for them; our spiritual life is choked out and we are made useless in the Lord’s service.