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68. The Evil Eye

3rd September 1995 by Arthur Eedle

A study on the Sermon on the Mount. Matt.6:19-34

Our Lord spoke about “the evil eye” in Matthew 6, and I began to wonder what He meant by the expression. I was aware that it is sometimes used today, so I looked it up in “Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable“, and this is what I found:-

EVIL EYE. It was anciently believed that the eyes of some persons darted noxious rays on objects which they glared upon. The first morning glance of such eyes was certain destruction to man or beast. Virgil speaks of an evil eye making cattle lean.

But was this the thought in the Lord’s mind when He uttered the words? I sensed the only way to find out was to see whether the O.T. had reference to the expression. Was the Lord using words that had been in common parlance amongst the Israelites? It occurs in Deut.15:9, Prov.23:6, & 28:22. And it is RA AYIN. RA takes on its base meaning of a “noisy, clamorous, adventurous, ambitious, self-seeking person, one who seeks riches which come from his own efforts of achievement, and which he is proud of.” (Please refer back to PT 66,67 for details of RA.) The context shows this very clearly in Proverbs 23:6-8. Literally translated it reads:-

6. Do not eat the bread of him who has an evil eye, neither desire his dainty meals, for as he estimates himself in his soul, so he is, “Eat and drink,” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. The morsel which you have eaten you will vomit up, and lose your pleasant words.

But clearly the “food” mentioned in these verses is intended to be a figure of speech for “doctrine, lifestyle.” Retranslating it becomes:-

6.Don’t listen to the false-logic of him who has an evil eye (i.e. an ambitious fleshly drive), nor crave his apparently desirable life-style, For he has a high estimation of himself, a self-made man, he encourages you to follow his example, by flattery, but he doesn’t really need you at all. You will be his pawn. After giving his ways a try for a short time, you’ll wish you hadn’t, you’ll take back all that you said in his favour, all the kind words you lavished on him.

The other passage in Proverbs (28:22) speaks in the same vein:- He who is ambitious to be rich has an evil eye, he considers not that poverty will come upon him.

And in the N.T., in Matt.20:15 (The parable about the men who were hired to work in the master’s vineyard, some of whom grumbled when they received their wage-packet,) “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own things? Is your eye evil because I am good?”

The Evil Eye, the Lord says, produces “darkness for the whole body.” It is the equivalent of serving Mammon. The Lexicon tells us that Mammon was the Syrian god of wealth, the god whom Greece called Plutus (from which we get our word Plutocracy, Plutocrat, the rule of the wealthy). According to Greek mythology, Plutus was made blind by Zeus so that his gifts should be equally distributed, not only going to those who merited them. Maybe the Lord used this knowledge when speaking about the “whole body being dark” for those who crave riches.

The man with an evil eye is an ambitious man, a vigorous and self-disciplined man, who visualises a goal and sets out to achieve it by the force of his own unbroken, fleshly character. He has plenty of self-esteem, and his goals are self-centred in that he fools himself that they are “good” and worth while achieving, but the end result is entirely of his own efforts. Hence, when the goal is apparently reached, he is proud, and expects the applause of others for the good work he has done. “Lord, I have done this, that, and the other in your name.” But instead of getting a crown he gets a dismissal.

On the other hand, the man who has a clear eye, and whose body is “full of light”, has a “let-go-and-let-God” attitude. He knows that he cannot add another cubit to his stature (lift himself up by his own bootstraps, as we say today), he has but little substance to rely on, and looks to God for his food and clothing. He lets his tomorrows take care of themselves, knowing that all necessities will be provided. The one driving force in his life, a life of faith, is to “seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness” rather than his own kingdom and self-righteousness.

Our Lord gave an example of an evil eye in his parable of the man who wanted to break down his barns and build bigger ones. (Luke 12:15-20) “Fool, this night your soul shall be required of you.”

Kipling saw the distinction between these two types of men depicted in Martha and Mary. In his poem “The Sons of Martha” he described Martha’s sons as those who are always active DOING things to achieve, whereas Mary’s sons are those who sit at the Lord’s feet and listen, to know how the promise runs. (This is not to favour inactivity, but to see the hidden motives behind people’s behavioural patterns.) “The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part, But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart.”

He concludes the poem by saying of the Sons of Mary, “They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and – the Lord He lays it on Martha’s Sons!” The evil eye lays up treasure on earth by self-effort (usually for a godly end!), whereas the one who trusts in God for his daily needs, and walks by faith, lays up treasure in heaven. The man who lays up treasure on earth usually has something to SHOW for his efforts, but the man who lays up his treasure in heaven may have nothing here to show – in fact he may be censured for his lack of effort. But in the next life there will be a role-reversal. The Jews considered our Lord’s life to be pointless, with nothing to show (that THEY could admire.) They also thought the same of the Apostle Paul. But to a man with spiritual understanding, everything is the other way up.

The man with the evil eye says, “I am rich, I have need of nothing.” (Rev.3 – the Laodicean church.) But the Lord’s own estimation of him is that he is “miserable, poor, blind, wretched and naked.” Blind, yes, because his whole body is in darkness. The prosperity movement of the present day has fallen into this trap.

The man who follows the Lord, and seeks His righteousness will receive the Lord’s commendation – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”

The evil eye is equivalent to lawlessness, because it will not conform to God’s own character, or to the words of the Lord, but seeks to emulate the character of Lucifer. “The lawless are like a troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, to the lawless.” Isa.57:20-21.

But the man of God takes note of the Lord’s words in Matt.11:28. “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest for your souls.”

The word “rest” contains the thought of “quietness” as well as “ceasing from labour.” Hence it is the opposite of RA, “noisy.”

And Matt.12:19-20 “My Chosen, my Beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my spirit upon Him – – He shall not strive, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax He shall not quench.”

And 2 Cor.10:1 “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – -.”

And the whole of Psalm 131 –

“Lord my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty, Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself As a child that is weaned of its mother. My soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.”

No wonder the Lord spoke so firmly about the need for His followers to become “like little children.” As we grow up we tend to think of little children as charming but irrelevant to the weightier matters of life. But the Lord had to correct this impression. He wants us to observe the ways of a small child, and learn of the simplicity, the trust, the craving for affection, and the willingness to accept parents as “god”. A surrogate God perhaps, but family life was intended to be this way. As the child grows, the affections of the heart can easily be transferred to the Unseen God, because it has been tutored towards those who are “seen.” A child’s RELATIONSHIP with his parents, and his TRUST in his parents should then be transferred in adult life to one’s RELATIONSHIP with God and a TRUST in Him. This counters the “Do-it-yourself” tendency of many “grown-ups” in the Christian community.

The Bible uses the symbolism of Babylon and Jerusalem to describe the differences between the way of the Evil Eye and that of the Clear Eye. Rev.18:7 we read that Babylon “glorifies herself” but in Hebrews 5:5 we read that “Christ glorified not Himself.” Neither do His true and faithful witnesses.

The whole of Revelation 18 is a picture of what will happen when the truth finally emerges about God’s character, the One who is meek, quiet, lowly, unostentatious, shy, retiring, embarrassed by sin, giving rest to the weary, bringing salvation to the sinner, having infinite patience and longsuffering towards the rebellious and lawless.

When the “Great City” falls, there is a devastating cry. The whole system collapses like a house of cards, and those who energetically and enthusiastically advanced her false ideals stand aghast at the ruin. See the list of riches that she possessed! All gone in one hour!

Many today, even in the churches, might smile with slight patronism or even scorn at the words of this children’s hymn, but maybe it does have the truth after all – (words by Charles Wesley.)

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little child, Pity my simplicity, suffer me to come to Thee.

Fain I would to Thee be brought, Blessed Lord, forbid it not, In the Kingdom of Thy grace, give a little child a place.

Fain I would be as Thou art; give me Thy obedient heart; Thou art pitiful and kind, let me have Thy loving mind.

Let me above all fulfil God my heavenly Father’s will; Never His good Spirit grieve, only to His glory live.

Lamb of God, I look to Thee, Thou shalt my example be, Thou art gentle, meek and mild, Thou wast once a little child.

Thou didst live to God alone, Thou didst never seek Thine own; Thou Thyself didst never please, God was all Thy happiness.

Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb, In Thy gracious hands I am, Make me, Saviour, what Thou art, live Thyself within my heart.

I shall then show forth Thy praise, serve Thee all my happy days; Then the world shall always see Christ, the Holy Child, in me.

Filed Under: Original Series Tagged With: Expository Items, Good and Evil

About Arthur Eedle

Arthur was born in 1931, and became a Christian in 1948. At London University he gained a 2nd honours degree in Physics. He went on to get a Teaching Diploma, and throughout his career life taught physics in England, Kenya, and Hong Kong. Coupled with his love of science, he was a keen student of Greek and Hebrew, and gave many lectures on Biblical subjects. Read more

The Prophetic Telegraph

1a. Why settle for half the gospel?

2nd April 1986 By Arthur Eedle

1b. The time has almost run it’s course

1st May 1986 By Arthur Eedle

1c. The Apocalypse of Abraham

1st June 1986 By Arthur Eedle

2. The New Bus

1st July 1986 By Arthur Eedle

3. Lifting the mat

1st August 1986 By Arthur Eedle

4. Sleep and Dreams

1st January 1987 By Arthur Eedle

9. The Law

1st January 1987 By Arthur Eedle

10. Atonement

2nd January 1987 By Arthur Eedle

11. Which Temple? Which City?

2nd January 1987 By Arthur Eedle

12. Which Nation?

3rd January 1987 By Arthur Eedle

5. Man’s Sensory Apparatus

1st February 1987 By Arthur Eedle

6. Gods of the market place

1st February 1987 By Arthur Eedle

7. Protocol & Etiquette

1st February 1987 By Arthur Eedle

13. The House of the Soul

1st February 1987 By Arthur Eedle

14. The Fence Makers

1st May 1987 By Arthur Eedle

15. The Fence Breakers

2nd May 1987 By Arthur Eedle

8. Worship

1st June 1987 By Arthur Eedle

20. Every Knee shall Bow

21st March 1988 By Arthur Eedle

22. Behold He Comes!

1st September 1988 By Arthur Eedle

23. Jesus the Firstborn

1st May 1989 By Arthur Eedle

24. An Ancient Scroll is Found

1st June 1989 By Arthur Eedle

26. Discipleship

1st November 1989 By Arthur Eedle

27. A God of Justice

2nd November 1989 By Arthur Eedle

28.Enmity

3rd November 1989 By Arthur Eedle

30. Noah’s Vineyard

1st October 1990 By Arthur Eedle

31. God’s Pleasure

1st December 1990 By Arthur Eedle

32. Chasing the Glory

2nd December 1990 By Arthur Eedle

33. Glory

3rd December 1990 By Arthur Eedle

34. Money Lovers

1st January 1991 By Arthur Eedle

36. On Your Toes!

1st February 1991 By Arthur Eedle

37. Flesh & Spirit

2nd February 1991 By Arthur Eedle

38. Babylon & Jerusalem

3rd February 1991 By Arthur Eedle

39. The Human Will

4th February 1991 By Arthur Eedle

40. The Mirror

1st July 1991 By Arthur Eedle

41. The Image

2nd July 1991 By Arthur Eedle

42. I Believe!

1st December 1991 By Arthur Eedle

43. Chasing Shadows

1st September 1992 By Arthur Eedle

44. National Identity

2nd September 1992 By Arthur Eedle

45. The “Full” Gospel

3rd September 1992 By Arthur Eedle

46. Confession and Torment!

1st October 1992 By Arthur Eedle

47. “Too Hard”

2nd October 1992 By Arthur Eedle

48. Freewill

1st November 1992 By Arthur Eedle

49. Vengeance

2nd November 1992 By Arthur Eedle

50. The Golden Section

1st January 1993 By Arthur Eedle

51. The Dark Day of May 1780

2nd January 1993 By Arthur Eedle

53. The Power of Thought

1st February 1993 By Arthur Eedle

16. Hidden Treasures of Genesis. Part 1

1st July 1994 By Arthur Eedle

54. A Gross Exaggeration

1st July 1994 By Arthur Eedle

17. Hidden Treasures of Genesis. Part 2.

1st August 1994 By Arthur Eedle

55. Millenial Kings and Priests

1st August 1994 By Arthur Eedle

56. Is This the Antichrist?

1st September 1994 By Arthur Eedle

57. The New Blindness

2nd September 1994 By Arthur Eedle

58. Exclusivism

3rd September 1994 By Arthur Eedle

59. Armageddon

1st October 1994 By Arthur Eedle

60. Perplexity, Confusion & Polarisation

1st November 1994 By Arthur Eedle

61. In Praise of Little Things

1st January 1995 By Arthur Eedle

62. Character Reference

2nd January 1995 By Arthur Eedle

64. The Exaltation of Christ

1st March 1995 By Arthur Eedle

65. Comparison and Contrast

1st July 1995 By Arthur Eedle

66. Adam and Eve

1st September 1995 By Arthur Eedle

67. “The Big Noise”

2nd September 1995 By Arthur Eedle

68. The Evil Eye

3rd September 1995 By Arthur Eedle

69. “Christian Theatre”

4th September 1995 By Arthur Eedle

71. In Pursuit of Excellence

1st October 1995 By Arthur Eedle

72. Capernaum, Bethsaida & Chorazin

1st November 1995 By Arthur Eedle

74. The Secrets of the Lord

1st December 1995 By Arthur Eedle

75. Caterpillar Magic

2nd December 1995 By Arthur Eedle

76. Amazing Historical Evidence

3rd December 1995 By Arthur Eedle

77. The Tin Islands

1st January 1996 By Arthur Eedle

77a. The Ancient Mining of Tin

1st January 1996 By Arthur Eedle

79. Sodom’s Great Secret

1st January 1996 By Arthur Eedle

80a. “A Precious Cornerstone”

1st February 1996 By Arthur Eedle

80b. Nature’s Hidden Model

2nd February 1996 By Arthur Eedle

80c. Further Secrets Revealed

3rd February 1996 By Arthur Eedle

81. Toils and Burdens

4th February 1996 By Arthur Eedle

82. The Sabbath Day and Sunday

5th February 1996 By Arthur Eedle

83. The “Jewish Sabbath”

1st March 1996 By Arthur Eedle

83a. About “Jots and Tittles”

2nd March 1996 By Arthur Eedle

84. About the Sabbath Day and Sunday

2nd April 1996 By Arthur Eedle

85. Contempt

1st May 1996 By Arthur Eedle

86. The Crowning Day. Part 1

1st June 1996 By Arthur Eedle

87. The Crowning Day. Part 2

2nd June 1996 By Arthur Eedle

88. The Enthronement

3rd June 1996 By Arthur Eedle

89. The Ark of the Covenant

4th June 1996 By Arthur Eedle

90. The 1979 Prophecy

5th June 1996 By Arthur Eedle

90a. The Biography of Jane Leade, 1623 – 1704

6th June 1996 By Arthur Eedle

78. The Ark of the Covenant

1st August 1996 By Arthur Eedle

91. The Ron Wyatt Tour of Britain

1st November 1996 By Arthur Eedle

93. Lucifer’s Glorious Beginning

2nd November 1996 By Arthur Eedle

94. Lucifer’s Fall from Glory

3rd November 1996 By Arthur Eedle

95. Lucifers History

4th November 1996 By Arthur Eedle

96. The Trinity

1st January 1997 By Arthur Eedle

99. “Just a Wearyin’ For You”

1st June 1997 By Arthur Eedle

100. Pre-Existance. Part 1

1st September 1997 By Arthur Eedle

101. Pre-Existance. Part 2

2nd September 1997 By Arthur Eedle

102. Pre-Existance. Part 3

3rd September 1997 By Arthur Eedle

103. Pre-Existance. Part 4.

4th September 1997 By Arthur Eedle

104. Pre-Existance. Part 5

5th September 1997 By Arthur Eedle

105. Secret Numerical Codes in Biblical Hebrew and Greek

1st October 1997 By Arthur Eedle

106. An Everlasting Problem

1st October 1997 By Arthur Eedle

107. Pre-Existance. Part 6

1st February 1998 By Arthur Eedle

108. El-Shaddai

1st March 1998 By Arthur Eedle

110. Triangle Numbers

2nd March 1998 By Arthur Eedle

111. The Secret of 153

3rd March 1998 By Arthur Eedle

112. The Secret of 276

4th March 1998 By Arthur Eedle

113. “In the Beginning”

5th March 1998 By Arthur Eedle

114. Good and Evil

1st March 1999 By Arthur Eedle

115. Quietism

2nd April 1999 By Arthur Eedle

116. Meditate on these things

3rd April 1999 By Arthur Eedle

Article Series

  • All our Yesterdays (30)
  • Before He comes (13)
  • God's Spoken Word (37)
  • Mysteries of Science & Faith (8)
  • New Series (101)
  • Newsletter (2)
  • Original Series (109)
  • Prophecy considerations (5)
  • Recognising the Hand of Judgment (33)
  • Resurrection and Change (16)
  • Seekers Corner (14)
  • Simple Statements on Serious Subjects (6)
  • The City of God (18)
  • The Millennial Octave (23)
  • The Restitution Times (22)
  • The Song of Solomon (6)
  • The Standard (19)
  • The Wayside Pulpit (107)
  • The Wayside Pulpit 2015 (96)
  • The Wellspring (101)
  • The Wellspring 2017 (55)

Index of Topics

Arthur & Rosalind Eedle's Personal Testimonies Discipleship Expository Items Good and Evil Human Pre-Existance Jane Leade. Philadelphian Numerology in the Bible Quotations from other Authors Resurrection and the Change Ron Wyatt. Archaeology Science Topics The Kingdom of God the Millennium and the Return of Christ The Sabbath Day Universal Reconcilliation

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