6th November 2024

6th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:19-24 focus v22-23)


Message (Alan Burke)


Our eyes are really important, I know to some degree the effect that poor eyesight has but I can live my life relatively unhindered with a pair of glasses on and it suits because I like the face furniture so does Scott it seems. There are those though for whom they have experienced failing eyesight, conditions that mean that there is nothing but shadows, eyes are important to us, it is through them that we see, they give light to the bodies. Here Jesus uses our eyes to make a point, in effect they are the lens, the lamp, the window of the body and they can either impact it for good or bad. We all know what a metaphor is, don't we? a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. 


Well here Jesus uses a metaphor, of one's eyes. This metaphor would've been easily understood by those who were hearing this in Jesus day the reason is that it was commonly understood in rabbinical teaching and the eyes are the organ that makes sight possible but more than that they are the lens in which we see the world though. So Jesus takes this metaphor and makes the point how the eye are effectively the lamp, another way of putting it is a window even 


With a good eye your whole body will be filled with light a bad eye your whole body will be filled with darkness. Paul in 2 Corinthians asks; For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?  (2 Co 6:14). Therefore, light can be seen with the righteousness of Christ darkness well darkness is lawlessness, moral evil. In this Jesus saying, you cant have righteousness and evil together, and if you think back to what Jesus had earlier taught in the sermon on the mount in chapter 5:16 Jesus told his disciples to let their light shine. True light dispels the darkness, if we are those who are in Christ Jesus then darkness will be dispelled, In Ephesians Paul teach us that …you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (Eph 5:8). There are many examples in the the gospel of John that uses darkness and light for spiritual health (John 3:19-21; 8:12; 11:9-10; 12:35-36, also Luke 16:8. 


The eyes are the conduit to the heart, to the inner reality of who we are, and the more that we focus on it the more that evil fills the inner person. Think to context what is Jesus teaching here, he is teaching us about storing a treasures and have them versus treasure on earth, what is our focus in this life, treasures on earth or treasures in heaven, what is our eyes focus, what is in our minds eyes either fills us with light or darkness. 


Look how Jesus concludes this he said “if then the light with you is darkness how great is the darkness?” if not which is coming into us as in reality darkness that's what we're looking at at the lamp of our eye is only darkness then what is within us is truly dark, there is not the light of God the love of God the pursuit for the kingdom of God we are not learning by kingdom principles we are not living as disciples of Jesus. If you are putting darkness before you, by what you look at, what you consume, the constant desire for more treasure here on earth and not in heaven then you need to address that, repent of your sin and look to the light of Jesus Christ and be filled with that light.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
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