Topical Bible: The Eye: Not Evil Thing to be Set Before

◄ The Eye: Not Evil Thing to be Set Before ►

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The concept of the eye in biblical literature often extends beyond its physical function, symbolizing spiritual insight, moral perception, and the gateway to the soul. The Bible frequently addresses the importance of guarding one's eyes against evil, emphasizing the moral and spiritual implications of what one chooses to view.

Biblical References and Symbolism

The eye is frequently mentioned in Scripture as a metaphor for discernment and moral clarity. In Matthew 6:22-23 , Jesus teaches, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 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!" Here, the eye represents the means by which spiritual and moral light enters a person, suggesting that what one allows into their vision can influence their entire being.

Guarding the Eyes

The Bible admonishes believers to be vigilant about what they set before their eyes. Psalm 101:3 states, "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me." This verse underscores the commitment to avoid exposure to evil or morally corrupting influences, recognizing the potential for such exposure to lead one astray.

The Eye and Temptation

The eye is often the initial point of temptation, as seen in the account of Eve in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:6 describes how Eve saw that the tree was "good for food and pleasing to the eyes," leading to the first act of disobedience. This narrative illustrates the power of visual temptation and the need for discernment and self-control.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The teachings of Jesus further highlight the moral implications of what one chooses to view. In Matthew 5:28 , He warns, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This passage emphasizes the connection between the eyes and the heart, suggesting that sinful desires can be cultivated through what one chooses to gaze upon.

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to exercise discipline over their eyes, aligning their vision with God's standards. Job exemplifies this commitment in Job 31:1 , where he declares, "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?" This covenant reflects a proactive stance in maintaining purity and integrity.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on the eye as not setting evil things before it serves as a call to vigilance and moral integrity. By guarding what one allows into their vision, believers can protect their hearts and minds, fostering a life that reflects the light and truth of God's Word.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 101:3
I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not stick to me.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Matt. xii. 33
... and summon a court of justice, but simply, If thou speak evil, though within thyself ...
And thou, while into the apple of thine eye thou sufferest not so much ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xlii matt xii 33.htm

Ahab and Elijah
... reason; then flashes and flares before the eye the vivid ... though perhaps not in the
same degree"not in the ... There is never an evil thing which"knowing it to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/ahab and elijah.htm

Earnest Expostulation
... to him: they do, as it were, touch the apple of his eye. ... God and of knowing that
it is an evil thing to do ... speak well of a gospel which you will not accept for ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 29 1883/earnest expostulation.htm

Colossians iii. 7-May
... it is not "upon the earth"; when the hand doeth no evil thing"these are not of things ...
So Christ also saith, "If thy right eye causeth thee to stumble ...
/.../homily viii colossians iii 7-may.htm

Psalm LI.
... thing was the touching of another's wife, and how very evil a thing ... brother's eye,
when there is a beam in my eye; [1818] my sin is before me, not behind me ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm li.htm

The Cities of Refuge
... 'An eye for an eye, and a ... would only have led to weakening the restraint on evil,
and would ... But not the Tabernacle or Temple, but the priestly cities, were ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the cities of refuge.htm

Felix Before Paul
... My dear young friend, 'If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. ...
It is a better thing not to know the depths of evil than to know them ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/felix before paul.htm

The Evil and Its Remedy
... learn that sin is an exceeding great and evil thing; and he ... so infernally full of
pride, that one need not marvel that even a sin in the little eye of man ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the evil and its remedy.htm

God, the All-Seeing One
... Have you never imagined an evil thing? ... And may not even the divine in his closet
be conscious that ... beloved, it is a sight that no human eye could endure: the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/god the all-seeing one.htm

Christ Foreseeing his Passion
... Note how the Master, with that clear eye which saw to ... the rightful dominion of the
king of evil when they ... There is one Man who died, not of physical necessity ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/christ foreseeing his passion.htm