The Lamp of the Body
TRANSLATION
(27) As he said these things, a woman in the crowd called out to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!” (28) But he responded, “Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it!”
(29) As the crowds were increasing he said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. (30) For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man become (a sign) to this generation. (31) The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom, and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here. (32) The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
(33) “No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. (34) Your eyes are the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be filled with light, but when they are unhealthy, your body will also be filled with darkness. (35) Therefore, be careful that the light in you is not darkness. (36) If then your whole body is full of light and no part of it is dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
OBSERVATIONS
This segment contains many important repetitions that help us discern its message. In the first paragraph the twofold use of “blessed” (vss. 27 & 28) emphasized what Jesus considered to be of greatest value, namely, hearing and obeying God’s Word. In the next section, “generation” was repeated five times (vss. 29, 30, 31, & 32) while “sign” is found four times (vss. 29 & 30). The name of “Jonah” was mentioned four times (vss. 29, 30, & 32) while “Ninevah” and “Solomon” were both repeated (vss. 30, 31, & 32). Here Jesus condemned his fellow Jews for having failed to recognize the significance of his ministry.
In the final paragraph “light/lighting” occurred six times while “lamp” is found three times (vss. 33-36). “Eyes” occurred twice (vs. 34) and “body” is found three times (vss. 34 & 36). Here Jesus warned his listeners about their lack of spiritual discernment.
OUTLINE
I. Jesus declared that only those who hear and obey God’s Word are truly blessed. (27 & 28)
II. Jesus declared Jonah to be a sign for his wicked generation. (29-32)
III. Jesus explained the need for spiritual discernment. (33-36)
IDEA STATEMENT
Rightly relating to God’s Word requires a deep longing for spiritual discernment.
APPLICATION
It was Isaiah’s painful burden to proclaim the message of God’s judgment to his fellow Israelites. The following is a summary of what God commanded him to communicate to the sinful nation: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed” (Is. 6:9 & 10). This was essentially Jesus’ message to his fellow Jews in Luke 11. First, he had to correct the misunderstanding of the woman who saw more value in Jesus’ mother than in the Son she had borne, the one who had come as the Word of God to reveal God’s truth to the world (vss. 27 & 28). Then he had to rebuke those who were seeking more signs when God had already revealed himself to them in the Son (vss. 29-32). Finally he spoke directly to the issue of spiritual discernment when he taught about having healthy eyes that are able to perceive God’s light when it is clearly revealed (vss. 33-36).
In the introduction to his Gospel, John wrote this about Jesus: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (Jn. 1:9). He then added, “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (Jn. 1:12). In essence, the ability to see God’s truth with healthy eyes depends entirely on our relationship with Jesus. If we place our faith in him, we will be able to see the truth God intends for us to see. If we do not, we remain in the darkness, spiritually blind, confused, and without hope.