Matthew 6:23
Matthew 6:23 | |
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← 6:22 6:24 → | |
Book | Gospel of Matthew |
Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Matthew 6:23 is the twenty-third verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount.
Content
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
- 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 that darkness!
The World English Bible translates the passage as:
- But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be
- full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you
- is darkness, how great is the darkness!
The Novum Testamentum Graece text is:
- ἐὰν δὲ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου πονηρὸς ᾖ,
- ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου σκοτεινὸν ἔσται.
- εἰ οὖν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἐν σοὶ σκότος ἐστίν, τὸ σκότος πόσον.
For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 6:23
Analysis
The previous verse established a somewhat ambiguous metaphor of the generous/undivided eye being the source of light into the body. This verse presents the opposite stating that an evil eye plunges one into darkness. The evil eye was both an expression for jealousy and for stinginess (cf. Matthew 20:15[1]).
The verse puts great emphasis on the depth of darkness that a poor spiritual eye will place a person in, because placing too much focus on wealth or possessions can distort judgment.[2] Morris feels that it implies that those who are so blinded cannot even realize that they are in darkness.[3] John Phillips suggests that here Jesus teaches the possibility of having a "spiritual astigmatism" (failing to converge vision in one focal point), and urges the disciples to have a "single" eye to "see through the folly of laying up treasure on earth and keeps the next world in proper focus".[4]
The metaphor of light as holiness and darkness as evil is also found in the Qumran literature and in the Gospel of John.[citation needed]
Commentary from the Church Fathers
Saint Remigius: Otherwise; faith is likened to a light, because by it the goings of the inner man, that is, action, are lightened, that he should not stumble according to that, Thy word is a light to my feet. (Ps. 119:105.) If that then be pure and single, the whole body is light; but if defiled, the whole body will be dark. Yet otherwise; by the light may be understood the ruler of the Church, who may be well called the eye, as he it is that ought to see that wholesome things be provided for the people under him, which are understood by the body. If then the ruler of the Church err, how much more will the people subject to him err?[5]
References
- ISBN 9780802825018.
- ISBN 9780195288810.
- ^ Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to Matthew. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 1992.
- ISBN 9780825433924.
- ^ a b c "Catena Aurea: commentary on the four Gospels; collected out of the works of the Fathers. Oxford: Parker, 1874. Thomas Aquinas". This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Sources
- Hill, David. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981
Preceded by Matthew 6:22 |
Gospel of Matthew Chapter 6 |
Succeeded by Matthew 6:24 |