Matthew 6
Understanding Matthew 6: Living Without Worry and Guarding Our Eyes
As we reflect on Matthew 6, we're diving into a chapter that has practical and spiritual significance for our everyday lives. Over the past few weeks, we've been exploring this passage during our Wednesday podcasts and in our sermons, especially focusing on how Jesus calls us to righteousness. In this chapter, He lays out instructions on how to live out our faith through acts like giving to the needy, praying, and fasting, but He also speaks deeply about our inner life—our eyes and our hearts, and how we handle worry.
Let’s break it down.
The Lamp of the Body: Our Eyes
One of the key teachings in Matthew 6 is about our eyes. Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matthew 6:22-23)
This passage stood out to us because it reveals a profound truth: what we focus on shapes our inner being. It's not just about what we see on the outside—it’s about how our eyes affect our hearts and how our hearts influence how we interpret the world.
You might have heard the debate about whether light enters the body through the eyes, or whether there’s light within us that shines through our eyes. Historically, this was a point of intense discussion, but spiritually, Jesus offers a holistic view: what we allow our eyes to look at affects what we feel and believe in our hearts. For example, if we focus on negativity or view life through a lens of victimhood, it’s easy to see the world as an adversary. If our hearts are consumed by lust or materialism, our eyes will turn everything into an object to satisfy our desires. Our inner beliefs—the state of our heart—directly impact how we interpret the world.
It’s a two-way street: the eyes bring light into the heart, and the heart determines how we perceive what’s in front of us.
The Seriousness of Our Eyes
It’s no wonder that Jesus treats this subject seriously. In another passage (Matthew 5:29-30), He uses strong language when He says, “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.” While this is clearly hyperbole, the point is still powerful: we must protect our hearts by being cautious of what we allow our eyes to consume. In today’s world, our phones, TV screens, and social media are filled with content that can either nourish or poison our hearts. Just think about the latest research showing how screen time—even the colors on your phone screen—can affect your brain's chemistry. It’s not just an issue of what we see but also how it impacts our emotional and spiritual health.
We must remember that what we look at gives access to our hearts. When we focus on unhealthy things, we invite them into our very souls. As Jesus warns, “The light within you could actually be darkness.” Our eyes are precious, and we need to guard them with the seriousness they deserve.
Jesus and Worry: A Lesson in Trust
Another powerful part of Matthew 6 is the section where Jesus addresses worry. We can all relate to this, right? Life is full of uncertainties, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of worrying about everything from our finances to our health, our relationships, and beyond. But Jesus has a simple and profound message for us: don’t worry.
He uses the example of the birds and the flowers to remind us of God's care. “Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:26-27). This verse stopped us in our tracks. How often do we spend our days consumed by worry, believing it somehow helps us solve problems? Yet, worry does nothing except steal our peace. God provides for the birds and clothes the flowers, and He will surely care for us, His beloved creation.
Worry is natural, but it doesn't change anything. It's a reminder to trust God with our needs and focus on His provision instead of the uncertainty we face. We are more valuable to Him than the birds and flowers, so we can rest in His faithfulness.
Practical Takeaways for Today
Guard Your Eyes: What we look at impacts how we feel and act. Let’s be mindful of the media we consume and the way it shapes our hearts. Just like we wouldn't hand over the keys to our home to a stranger, we shouldn't give access to our hearts to whatever comes our way through our eyes. Let’s choose wisely.
Let Go of Worry: As much as it feels natural to worry, we must remember that it doesn’t add anything to our lives. Jesus invites us to trust Him with our future. Worrying about things we can't control doesn’t change them—it only robs us of the peace God desires to give.
Trust God’s Provision: Just as God provides for the birds and the flowers, He will provide for us. We may not have all the answers or solutions, but we can trust that God sees us and knows our needs. Let’s lean into that trust.
In closing, as we reflect on Matthew 6, we’re reminded of the importance of what we focus on and how worry can steal our joy. Let’s take these teachings to heart, remembering that our eyes, our hearts, and our trust in God shape the way we experience life. And remember, as we live out these truths, we don’t have to do it alone—God is with us every step of the way.
Let’s choose light, trust in His provision, and allow our hearts to be full of peace, not worry.
Thanks for reading, and we hope this message encourages you today!
