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By lamp, this verse may mean that the eye is a metaphorical window by which light enters the body. Alternatively the lamp might not be meant as a source of light, but rather as a guide through darkness, just as the eye is a guide through life. In this case the verse is almost certainly speaking of a spiritual eye rather than the literal organ.
The evil eye was both an expression for jealousy and for stinginess (cf. Matthew 20:15 [1]). The verse puts great emphasis on the depth of darkness that a poor spiritual eye will place a person in, because placing too much focus on wealth or possessions can distort judgment. [ 2 ]
This verse begins in the same style as the earlier antitheses, that natural desire for retaliation or vengeance can be conveniently justified with a reference to the Old Testament: [1] An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, known as the principle of lex talionis ("the law of retribution"), is an ancient statement of the principle of retributive punishment dating back to the Code of Hammurabi.
[12] [13] [14] The "only one eye for one eye" was to restrict compensation to the value of the loss. [2] The English translation of a passage in Leviticus states, "And a man who injures his countryman – as he has done, so it shall be done to him [namely,] fracture under/for fracture, eye under/for eye, tooth under/for tooth. Just as another ...
The word translated as beam refers to a rafter or a log [2] such as would hold up the roof of a house. [3] A beam is a difficult thing to get in one's eye, but it functions as a humorous and hyperbolic metaphor for an extreme flaw. [3] The metaphor comes from woodworking and carpenter workshop. [1]
Schweizer notes that this is how the word is used in Deuteronomy 19:18 and Isaiah 50:8. [2] To France, and many other scholars, this verse is just one part of a discussion of legal principles, similar to the previous and subsequent verses. The interpretation as a general rule of non-violent resistance is a misunderstanding of the original. [1]
[2] The previous verse stated that, unlike the hypocrites, Jesus' followers should present a clean and normal appearance even when fasting. This verse closely parallels Matthew 6:4 and Matthew 6:6, and as in those verses, the message is that even if your piety is kept secret from those around you, God will still know about it and reward you. [3]
There is a tradition that when David had earlier entrusted his family to the King of Moab (cf. 1 Samuel 22:3–4) the latter slew the entire family, except for one of David's brothers who had escaped and found asylum with Nahash. [3] Jerome suggested that David's sympathy was because both he and Nahash were enemies of Saul. [4]