When learning a new language, idiomatic expressions can be confusing.
In English we have expressions like, “It’s raining cats and dogs” and “Under the weather.” As English speakers we know that these two expressions mean “raining heavily” and “feeling unwell” respectively.
At times we run into the same problem of idioms when reading the Bible. And this can get in the way of our understanding of what scripture is really telling us.
For example, read these verses from the Gospel of Matthew …
Matthew 6:22-23
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound (a good eye), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil (a bad eye), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Without an understanding of Hebrew idiomatic expressions, we might think that Jesus is talking about a person’s eyesight.
But in Jesus’ time, to have “good eyes” (Ayin Tovah) meant to care about the poor and it meant to see people with favorable eyes and not be judgmental. And to have “bad eyes” (Ayin Ra’ah) meant that one did not care about the poor or was judgmental, causing them to look upon others unfavorably.
This puts a whole new light on the meaning of these verses.
This new insight allows us to understand that Jesus is telling us that we are to have compassion for all people, including the poor. And we are to see the best in people and not be judgmental.
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
Jesus commands us to
love our neighbor and love covers a multitude of sins. In other words, if we love our neighbor, we should not be noticing our neighbor’s faults, but his or her virtues. If all we see is other’s faults, we’re not loving them enough.
The Reward For Having A Good Eye
Jesus’ words encourage us by confirming that caring for the poor and seeing the best in people brings blessings. Jesus said that our whole bodies will be full of light. And throughout scripture we are reminded of the reward of having a “good eye” …
Proverbs 19:17
He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
Of course, the ultimate reason we should live a life pleasing to God is to give Him pleasure … not for our own reward. Let us all have Ayin Tovah, good eyes, and be blessed.