THE TWO EYES
November 3, 2002 AM
Sermon Outline
Mt 6:22,23
INTRO: I have often wondered which human faculty I could best do without. Would it be the faculty of taste? I know folks who have lost that wonderful faculty. What about our sense of smell? Again, I have known folks for whom that sense has become inoperative. Well, after thinking through the exercise, I have decided I would not enjoy losing any of these basic faculties. We take good care of our hearing ... and better care of our sight. Maybe the loss of sight would be the worst loss for most of us. Our text is a contrast between healthy and impaired vision.
I. THE LAMP OF THE BODY? THE EYE
A. Virtually all the body does depends on seeing
1. what hands and feet accomplish depends on seeing
2. true, blind people can cope - but they are in darkness
B. The eye in our text is the heart - the understanding
1. note Prov 23:26 connection of heart and eyes
2. the heart, the understanding determines the whole course of life (practical judgment)
II. THE HEALTHY EYE ...
A. It admits light (Ps 111:10)
1. Ps 119:130 the entrance of thy words ...
2. Ps 119:105 thy word is a lamp ... a light
3. Ps 119:18 open my eyes ...
4. the healthy eye permits the entrance of that which leads to wisdom, to understanding
5. the healthy eye does not distort but sees the truth as it really is
B. It discerns between things that differ
1. it is able because of the word which informs
2. note Phil 1:9,10 approve things that are excellent
3. 1 Thes 5:21 how, without the enlightening word?
4. in a world of great confusion and darkness disciples must be able to make these judgments
5. the worlds view is often, Oh, it doesnt make any difference - but more often than not, it does make a difference
C. It then determines the action to be taken
1. instructed, judging ... now acting
2. notice Mt 19:22 the action taken was not compatible with sound sight ... he had eye trouble
3. by contrast: Acts 19:18,19 a right action taken
4. the only way the whole body can be full of light is for the light to enlighten every action
5. but if actions do not conform to light, the eye is not functioning properly ... its diseased
III. THE EVIL EYE ...
A. It is blind ... there is only darkness (Eph 4:18)
1. this eye does not receive light
2. notice Rom 1:21 - they knew God ... but refused to glorify Him as God!
3. the diseased eye refuses light ... it makes a choice (unlike physical blindness)
B. It puts trust in the wrong places
1. further, in Rom 1:22,23 - professing ... to be wise!
2. Prov 12:15 way of a fool is right in his own eyes
3. it will stumble, mislead, ruin in falling
C. Note that there is no twilight here
1. Mt 6:23b how great is that darkness
2. if we are not walking in the light (1 Jno 1:7) we are walking in great darkness - so, Prov 4:19
3. still, we do have a choice here ... we are not consigned to darkness against our will ... we can open our eyes to the light if we so desire
CLOSE: There is no hope in darkness. The contrast is stark! One, or the other. I hope you will choose to permit the light of the gospel to shine into your life! Note Deut 12:8-11.
Cecil A. Hutson
03 November 2002