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A SINGLE EYE
A. Introduction: For a couple of months, we’ve been talking about what Jesus taught. We are now more than
half way through the Sermon on the Mount, His most famous teaching. We have more to say in this lesson.
1. Jesus came into this world to die as a sacrifice for sin and open the way for sinful men and women to be
restored to their created purpose as holy, righteous sons and daughters of God.
a. When Jesus was on earth, He urged men and women to learn from Him, and follow His example in
character and behavior, since He is the pattern for God’s family. Matt 4:19; Matt 11:29; Rom 8:29
b. The Sermon on the Mount is the most extensive example of what Jesus taught about sons and
daughters of God—both their character and their relationship with God their Father.
c. To rightly understand Jesus’ sermon we must consider it in context. That means who was Jesus
talking to and what He was trying to do through His teaching.
1. Jesus was born a Jew in 1st century Israel. Based on the writings of their prophets, the Jewish
people were expecting the Messiah (a Divine Being, the Son of Man) to come into the world,
establish God’s kingdom on earth, and bring in everlasting righteousness. Dan 2:44; Dan 9:24
2. Many in Jesus’ audience believed that He was the Messiah, but they didn’t yet know that He’d
come to die as a sacrifice for sin and open the way into the kingdom. In His teaching, Jesus
was preparing them to receive the salvation that He will provide through His sacrificial death.
2. The people in the audience knew from their sacred writings (the Old Testament) that only the righteous
will have a place in God’s kingdom. Ps 24:3-4
a. We today use the term righteousness to mean right standing with God through faith in Jesus. Paul
the apostle does use the word righteousness in this way (Rom 4:22-5:1). But the word is most often
used to mean right actions (Rom 6:16; 18-20). That’s how Jesus’ audience understood the term.
b. Everything Jesus’ audience knew about righteousness or right actions came from the teachings and
example of their religious leaders, the Scribes and Pharisees.
1. But Jesus told the audience that their righteousness had to exceed that of the Pharisees and
Scribes. This would have been astounding to the people since these leaders meticulously kept
the Law of Moses (the expression of God’s Law given to Israel at Mt. Sinai). Matt 5:20
2. The Scribes’ and Pharisees’ righteous actions seemed to fulfill every aspect of God’s Law.
But, in the centuries prior to Jesus’ coming, these religious leaders had actually added
regulations and rules to the Law which gutted the Law of its true spirit or true intent.
c. Jesus used the rest of His sermon to expose the false righteousness preached and practiced by the
Scribes and Pharisees, and to present the true righteousness that God desires from His people.
1. In Matt 5:21-48 Jesus used six examples to show how these men misrepresented God’s Law
and missed its intent: anger, adultery, divorce, oath-taking, revenge, loving your enemies.
2. In Matt 6:1-18 Jesus said that although some of their actions were correct, their motives were
wrong. They did their righteous works (fast, pray, give) to be seen and praised by men.
3. In His sermon, Jesus also revealed to His audience that God want hearts that are devoted to Him. He
wants followers who live for His praise, honor, and glory.
a. And, as Jesus was teaching, He introduced another radical concept—the idea of God as a loving,
heavenly Father who cares for His sons and daughters.
b. Jesus urged His audience to do what they do with the awareness that they have a Father in Heaven
who sees all and knows all—not only their actions, but their motives. Jesus exhorted His listeners
to live for their heavenly Father’s approval.
B. Jesus told His audience not to be like the religious leaders (hypocrites) who do what they do to impress men,
but rather to do what they do to please God. In the next section of the sermon Jesus began to deal with
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priorities or what is important, as He urged His listeners not to live for this life only, but for the life to come.
1. Matt 6:19-21—Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where
thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also (ESV).
a. Before we consider what Jesus was saying, we need to make some comments about this world and
our future. God created this world to be a home for himself and His family.
b. However, because of sin this world is not as it should be, nor as God created it to be. When Adam,
the first man sinned, not only was the human race affected, the earth was damaged. Gen3:17-19
1. The physical world was infused with a curse of corruption and death. Not only do humans die,
every living thing dies, and every non-living thing corrodes, deteriorates, and disintegrates.
2. Rom 5:12—When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death
throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned (TLB).
A. As part of His second coming, Jesus will cleanse the earth of all corruption and death and
restore it to a fit forever home for God and His family, in what the Bible calls the new earth.
B. At that time, all who are in the present Heaven will be reunited with their bodies, raised
from the grave, to live on earth with the Lord forever (many lessons for another day).
2. The point for our present topic is that this world in its present condition is not our home. Right now, we
are pilgrims who are only passing through this world on our way to our Father’s kingdom, the Kingdom
of Heaven, which will one day be on earth. I Cor 7:31; I Pet 2:11
a. This life is transitory and fleeting and nothing lasts forever. In this world moths and rust corrupt,
thieves break in and steal. Material things wear out, erode away, and can be stolen. But Jesus
told His listeners that treasure in Heaven is safe from destruction.
1. Treasure means more than material wealth. It can be many things—possessions, power,
position, success, praise from men. Treasure is what is important to you, what you value.
2. Jesus wasn’t saying that you can’t have a savings account or drive a nice car. Jesus was
addressing your attitude toward your possessions. We brought nothing into this world and we
take nothing out of it. We are not permanent holders of anything in this world.
3. I Tim 6:6-8—True religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn’t bring
anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us
when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content (NLT).
b. Our hearts and priorities need to be set on, and our happiness built on, eternal things, things we can’t
lose—like praise from our Father when we see Him or people whose lives we impacted for eternity.
1. Note what Paul wrote to a group of people he led to faith in Jesus: What gives us hope and joy,
and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we
stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again (I Thess 2:19, NLT).
2. Jesus told His audience to live their lives in such a way that they store up treasure in Heaven
because, where your treasure is, your heart will be.
A. If all that you value is here on earth, then you’ll have no interest in a world beyond this one,
and you’ll be reluctant to leave it. If your eyes are on eternity you’ll hold this life lightly.
B. This life is not unimportant. But it is not an end in itself. This is the pre-life. The life to
come, going to be with the Lord, is the end and goal for which we seek.
3. When facing death Paul wrote: For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better… I’m
torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with
Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live (Phil 1:21-24, NLT).
3. Jesus then told them that they must have a single eye. Matt 6:22-23—The eye is the lamp of the body.
If your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be
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full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness (ESV).
a. A single eye is a metaphor for simplicity of intention. A single-eyed person is a person who has his
aim on the Kingdom of Heaven (the life to come), and His intention or goal is to please God.
b. You may recall that one of the statements Jesus made at the beginning of His sermon was: Blessed
are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matt 5:8. KJV). The Greek word that is translated pure
means unmixed, free from corrupt desires.
1. If you have a single eye, singleness of purpose—to store up treasure in Heaven, or live for your
Father’s glory—you’ll be full of light, the light of God.
2. If your eye is bad (focused on the glory of this world and praise from men rather than God) you
will be full of darkness, but you’ll think it’s light. That’s the kind of light the religious leaders.
4. What does this look like in real life? How do we live like this? Does it mean to be in church every time
the door is open? Does it mean find your ministry and calling is so that you can fulfill your destiny?
a. No. Those are all 20th century western ideas that have been imposed on Christianity. Jesus never
talked like that, and neither did Paul or any of the other men who walked and talked with Jesus.
1. Storing up treasure in Heaven and having a single eye has to do with your ultimate intention or
purpose. God desires sons and daughters who are devoted to Him—their aim is to please Him.
2. Jesus calls men and women to deny self or turn from pleasing ourselves to pleasing God, when
our will conflicts with His (Matt 16:24). Paul wrote that: (Jesus) died for everyone so that
those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live
to please Christ, who died and was raised for them (II Cor 5:15, NLT).
b. To appreciate what this means, we need to talk about our ultimate (or long term) intention and our
proximate (or near at hand) intention. Consider an example: If my ultimate intention or aim is to
become an effective school teacher, my proximate intentions (actions) will reflect my ultimate goal.
1. I’ll study in high school, and go on to college to learn my craft. Then I’ll apply for a job at a
school district. When I get a job, I’ll show up at school every day and do the best job I can.
2. If I have as my ultimate aim to please God in everything, it will inform or affect my proximate,
or near at hand, purposes in everything I do, down to the mundane activities of life.
3. Note what Paul wrote to slaves: Obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to
please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of
your reverent fear of the Lord. Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you
were working for the Lord rather than people. Remember that the Lord will give you an
inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ (Col 3:22-24, NLT).
c. If your ultimate intention or purpose is to please your Father in Heaven it will affect your daily life
—how you think, speak, and act. And you’ll live with and awareness that God sees and knows.
1. Note what Paul wrote in the context of eating meat offered to idols: Whatever you eat or drink
or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God (I Cor 10:31, NLT).
2. Paul’s point: You must consider the effect that your freedom to eat will have on those around
you. If your ultimate intention is to please God then a short term intention like eating food will
be directed by the fact that God is not pleased if you harm another person through your actions.
d. Jesus said that if your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light. In other words, if your
ultimate aim (intention) is to please God, then all of your proximate actions will be pleasing to God.
1. Jesus told the audience: No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
money (Matt 6:24, ESV).
2. Jesus was emphasizing how important a single eye is. Without it, your devotion will be
divided between God and other things such as the power of money. The word that is translated
money includes all kinds of possessions and earnings. (Hate means to love less.)
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5. This would have been a revolutionary concept to His listeners because money (wealth) has the power to
get the basics of life—food, clothing, and shelter. His audience no doubt wondered, if we don’t serve
money, if we don’t store up treasure on this earth, how will we live?
a. Jesus went on to tell them not to worry about where the basics of life will come from since they have
a Father in Heaven who cares for them and will provide what they need as they seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt 6:33). In other words, set your priorities.
1. Seek first the kingdom of God is another way of saying store up treasure in Heaven, have a
single eye, and serve God not money. The point is what is your ultimate aim in life?
2. Remember, Jesus just told them how to pray: Approach God as your Father, with reverence
for the fact that He is holy. Desire first of all that His kingdom come and His will be done on
earth as it is in Heaven. Then ask for your daily bread Matt 6:9-13
b. In the context of serving God not money Jesus said: Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about
your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is
not life more than food and the body more that clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither
sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them (Matt 5:25-26, ESV)?
1. Jesus’ point is: God gave you the life and body that you’re worrying about. If He gave you
life, why would He not give you what is needed to sustain life? Jesus reminds them that our
life and body is about more than food and clothing. Both are for God’s kingdom and glory.
2. Jesus reminded them that no good Father takes care of his animals, but not his children. If God
cares for the birds and flowers, He’ll take care of you because He’s a good Father.
d. Then Jesus said: And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life (Matt
5:27, ESV)? Do you recall Jesus’ opening statement in His Sermon on the Mount? He said:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God (Matt 5:3, ESV).
1. Poor in spirit is your attitude toward yourself. You recognize your complete dependence on
God for everything. Without God I am nothing (Gal 6:3), I know nothing (I Cor 8:2), I have
nothing (I Cor 4:7), and I can do nothing (I Cor 15:5).
2. Poor in spirit is the complete absence of pride, self-assurance, and self-reliance. Poor in spirit
spirit is humility: Blessed are the poor in spirit (the humble, rating themselves as insignificant)
(Matt 5:3, Amp). Poor in spirit recognizes I am a dependent creature, now and forever
C. Conclusion: We have more to say next week, but consider these thoughts as we close. Human beings were
created to be sons and daughters of God who are like Jesus in character and behavior. Anything else is
abnormal. Jesus’ audience didn’t yet know it, but Jesus has come to restore them (and us) to normal.
1. In His Sermon Jesus described the kind of sons and daughters that God desires, the kind of character and
behavior that God wants in them, and the kind of relationship that God desires to have with them.
a. God’s sons and daughters are humble, meek, merciful, and desire to do and be right. They’re sorry
for sin, are devoted to God, and make an effort to get along with others. Matt 5:3-10
b. They are people who are interested in eternal things, or things that will impact eternity and last past
this life, people who desire to glorify God by the way that they live. Matt 5:16
2. I realize these lessons can seem overwhelming because none of us are fully Christ-like in character and
behavior. These lessons are meant to challenge us and move us to work on growing in Christ-likeness.
a. In His sermon Jesus urged His listeners to be perfect, even as their Father in Heaven is perfect (Matt
5:48). Remember, perfect doesn’t mean no more mistakes. Perfect has to do with your ultimate
intention. Is your aim in life to deny self and live for God’s praise and approval? Then your heart
is perfect, even though your short term intentions don’t yet fully match your ultimate intention.
b. If God is your treasure (seeking Him, pleasing Him) then your affection and desires (short term
actions and intentions) will increasingly be turned to things above. Much more next week!