What does the Bible say about eyes?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that our eyes are gifts from God, meant to receive his light, discern his works, and be guarded from sinful desire. Jesus says in Matthew 6:22 and Luke 11:33-36 that a healthy eye reflects a heart directed toward God, while darkness within distorts the whole person. God looks beyond outward appearance to the heart, as 1 Samuel 16:7 teaches, yet he calls us to covenant faithfulness in what we choose to see. Psalm 101:3 and Matthew 5:28 warn against fixing our gaze on evil or lust. We should pray with Psalm 119:18 for opened eyes to behold God's truth, trusting him to give spiritual sight as in 2 Kings 6:17.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Matthew 6:22

    "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.

  • Psalms 101:3

    I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Yahweh sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart."

  • Psalms 119:18

    Open my eyes, That I may see wondrous things out of your law.

  • 2 Kings 6:17

    Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, Please open his eyes, that he may see. Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

  • Luke 11:33-36

    [33] "No man, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar, nor under a basket, but on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light. [34] The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. [35] Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn't darkness. [36] If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."

  • Matthew 5:28

    but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

  • Proverbs 20:12

    The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.

  • Mark 8:25

    Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.

  • Matthew 5:29

    If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

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