The Light of the Body

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

SUMMARY: In the Old Testament, an evil eye was a metaphor for being stingy or covetous. Unfortunately, there is little commentary on this passage within the ANF, apart from a fragment called "On the Gospel of Matthew." This is considered a spurious writing, and it is attributed to Gregory Thaumaturgus, for the light of the body is the eye, says the scripture. By this, the inside is lit up by the shining light; the single eye is sincere love. For when the body is enlightened by it, it shows, through the outer parts of the body, only things that perfectly match the inner thoughts. But the evil eye is pretended love. It is also called hypocrisy. By it, the whole body of the man is made darkness. We have to consider that deeds fit only for darkness may be within the man, while through the outer parts of his body he may produce words that seem to be of the light. For there are those who are really wolves, even though they may be covered with sheep's clothing. Such are those who wash only the outside of the cup and platter. They do not understand that unless the inside of these things is cleansed, the outside itself cannot be made pure. Therefore, to clearly refute such people, the Savior says, "If the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness?" That is to say, if the love that seems to you to be light is really a work fit for darkness because of some hypocrisy hidden in you, what must your obvious sins be? Early Christian commentary of the Sermon on the Mount appears: Clement of Alexandria. To see God belongs to the pure heart, out of which no longer proceeds an evil eye. Origen. Matthew 6:22 and following. TATIAN: The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body also shall be light. But if your eye be evil, all your body shall be dark. And if the light which is in you is darkness, how great is your darkness! Be watchful that the light which is in you is not darkness, because if your whole body is light and has no part dark, it shall all be light, as the lamp gives light to you with its flame. The Diatessaron.

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Feminine movements, loose behavior, and luxury must be completely forbidden. The steps of prostitution do not lean toward the truth because they do not come near the paths of life. Her tracks are dangerous and not easily recognized. The eyes, especially, must be used with restraint. It is better to slip with your feet than with your eyes. So the Lord cures this problem very directly. If your eye offends you, cut it out, He says. He is pulling lust up from the root. But weak, longing looks, and ogling, which means winking with the eyes, are nothing else than committing adultery with the eyes. Lust fights through them, for of the whole body, the eyes are the first to be destroyed. The eye contemplating beautiful objects gladdens the heart; that is, the eye that has learned to see rightly gladdens. Winking with the eye with guile heaps woes on men. In this way they bring in the soft and womanish Sardanapolis, king of the Assyrians. He is sitting on a couch with his legs up, fumbling with his purple robe and rolling his eyes so the whites show. Women who follow such practices by their looks offer themselves for prostitution. For the light of the body is the eye, says the scripture. By it, the inside, lit up by the shining light, is made visible. Fornication in a woman is in the raising of the eyes. Origen: seeing God belongs to the pure heart. From that heart no longer come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies, the evil eye, or any other evil thing.