What is the meaning of this phrase, ‘the lamp of the body is the eyes’

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses the phrase "the lamp of the body is the eyes" to teach about the importance of spiritual and moral purity. The full passage reads, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" (Matthew 6:22-23, ESV).

At first glance, this phrase may seem perplexing. How can the eyes, which are physical organs, be responsible for the spiritual state of the body? However, Jesus is using a metaphor to convey a deeper truth. Just as a lamp provides light to a dark room, our eyes provide light to our whole being. They allow us to see and perceive the world around us, and the things we look at can have a profound impact on our spiritual and moral health.

The word "healthy" in this passage can be translated as "generous" or "single." In other words, if our eyes are focused on good things, our whole being will be full of light. However, if our eyes are focused on bad things, our whole being will be full of darkness. This is why Jesus warns against "eye-gate," the idea that what we look at can affect our spiritual and moral well-being.

In a world where we are bombarded with images and messages from all sides, it can be difficult to control what we look at. However, as Christians, we are called to guard our eyes and focus on things that are good and wholesome. This means being intentional about the media we consume, the people we follow on social media, and the conversations we engage in.