Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.
In Lesson 43 we are going to study the second part of 1 John 2:16 which says, “and the lust of the eyes…”
Let’s read the entire verse:
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Now, let’s take a look at the definition of the words.
“the lust” ” (3588. ho, hé, to - Article - Nominative Feminine Singular) (1939. epithumia - Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular) means the desire, eagerness for, passionate longing for, or inordinate desire. This refers to an excessive, unrestrained, or improper longing for something that ultimately leads a person away from God's will or commandments.
“of the eyes” (3588. ho, hé, to - Article - Article - Genitive Masculine Plural) (3788. ophthalmos - Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural) means of the eye or figuratively of the mind's eye. The term "mind’s eye" refers to the ability to visualize or imagine something in your mind.
In other words, the lust of the eyes is the excessive, unrestrained and improper use of the physical eyes or the mind’s eye.
People tend to move in the direction of their focus, whether it's where they are looking or what they are thinking about. If you pursue the lust of the eyes, it can lead you into sinful situations, because your actions will naturally follow the desires you're fixated on.
For example, if you see someone who you are attracted to who is not your spouse and you keep focusing on this person, this can lead you to actions that are sexually immoral.
God doesn't want this to happen because it could lead to adultery, a painful divorce, and the destruction of your marriage.
Another example is seeing a beautiful mansion on a TV, which then leads you to constantly think about owning one. This desire could drive you to pursue that goal at all costs, even at the expense of your relationship with God. Instead of dedicating your time and resources to building up the eternal kingdom of God, you end up investing them in temporary, worldly gains.
The lust of the eyes is one of the worldly temptations that can distract you and lead you away from a relationship with God. It involves craving things that are visually appealing, being enticed by outward appearances, and often leads to materialism, envy, greed, dissatisfaction, the pursuit of superficial pleasures, and moral compromise.
Instead of being captivated by the lust of the eyes, focus on placing the Word of God before your eyes and filling your mind with His truth. Meditate on the scripture, pray to Him, and seek to obey His commands through the power of the Spirit.
God wants you to be careful about what you allow your eyes and mind to dwell on.
What you see or think can have a powerful impact on your actions and decisions.
In Genesis 3:1-7, we encounter the lust of the eyes for the first time. In the Garden of Eden, God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, the enemy, in the form of the serpent, approached Eve and challenged what God had said.
When Eve saw that the tree was good for food and a delight to the eyes, she was enticed by its appearance. This led her to take the fruit, eat it, and share it with her husband. In doing so, they disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree. This passage illustrates how the lust of the eyes can lead to disobedience, as it entices us to prioritize what looks appealing over what God has commanded.
Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. (NASB1995)
In Joshua 7:20-21, we read about Achan, who was visually attracted to a beautiful cloak, silver, and gold. After seeing these items, he began to covet them. This desire led him to disobey God's instructions not to take any devoted things. Achan’s story serves as a warning about the dangers of letting what we see and desire to lead us away from God's will, showing how the lust of the eyes can result in serious consequences.
Joshua 7:20-21 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
In 2 Samuel 11:2-5, we see how the lust of the eyes led David down a path of sin. It began with him seeing a beautiful woman bathing. His initial gaze led him to inquire about her and eventually send for her. David then committed adultery with her. This story illustrates the progression from the initial temptation of the lust of the eyes to deeper and more serious sin, highlighting how unchecked desires can lead to significant moral failures.
2 Samuel 11:2-5 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. 5 And the woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
The stories of Adam and Eve, Achan, and David show us how giving in to the lust of the eyes can lead to covetousness, sexual immorality, disobedience, and moral compromise. Each example reveals the dangerous progression from initial temptation to serious sin and highlights the consequences of allowing visual desires to influence our actions.
Now that we've discussed the damage that the lust of the eyes can cause, let's look at some key verses that can help you battle this temptation.
In Psalm 101:3 we are instructed to set nothing worthless or wicked before our eyes. This means we are called to avoid looking at things that could lead us to sinful desires or thoughts. It's important to be mindful of what we allow ourselves to see and focus on, as it can influence our hearts and actions.
Psalm 101:3 I will set no worthless or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
In Proverbs 4:25, we are called continually look forward towards the Lord. Our eyes are continually drawn to what is visually appealing and can cause us to lose focus away from God.
Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
In Job 31:1, we read about Job who made a covenant with his eyes to not have lust towards young women. He made an intentional decision to guard against lustful thoughts by being extremely cautious about looking with lust. Make a covenant with your own eyes to prevent lust of the eyes.
Job 31:1 (NLT) I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
In Matthew 5:27-29, Jesus uses hyperbole to stress the importance of removing temptation. Hyperbole involves using exaggerated statements to emphasize a point. He says, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out." He is not advocating literal self-mutilation but is stressing the importance of taking drastic measures to avoid the lust of the eyes.
Matthew 5:27-29 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
In Colossians 3:2, we read that we are to focus on things above. When you focus on things above, rather than on earthly temptations and superficial desires, this will help remove the allure of visual stimuli that could lead to lustful thoughts and looking.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we are encouraged to take every thought captive. God knows that our thoughts and desires often start with what we see and allow ourselves to dwell on. Be aware of when a thought comes up that will cause you to focus on something other than God. Instead of dwelling on this thought, take it captive and put it under the authority of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
In Philippians 4:8, we read about a powerful antidote to lustful thoughts and desires. Instead of giving in to the lust of the eyes, focus on your thoughts on what pleases God. You can practically do this by reading the Bible, reflecting on God and his nature, and praying to Him.
Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, we learn a powerful strategy to battle lust of the eyes. The first thing to know is that temptation is a common human experience. You are not alone in your struggle. God gives us the encouragement that He is with us when we are tempted. He promises that there will be a way out. When you are tempted, turn to God and ask Him to reveal the escape and give you the strength to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
In Hebrews 12:2, we are called to keep our thoughts, desires, and actions focused on Jesus. He is actively working in you to perfect your faith. He went to the cross to give you the power to battle the lust of the eyes. Continually focus on Jesus. This means to look away from all else other than Him. This is the ultimate strategy to battle the lust of the eyes.
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In conclusion, the lust of the eyes is the excessive, unrestrained and improper use of the physical eyes or of the mind’s eye. The lust of the eyes leads to the acts of the flesh, which can ultimately destroy you.
We read the stories of how the lust of the eyes led Adam and Eve, Achan, and David to make sinful choices. These stories show us what can happen if we give in to the lust of the eyes.
Then, we went over some strategies to battle the lust of the eyes:
Set nothing worthless or wicked before your eyes.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Make a covenant with your eyes.
Take radical measures to prevent the lust of the eyes.
Set your mind on things above.
Take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.
Fix your eyes on what is true, honorable, right, pure, and lovely.
When tempted look for the escape that God will provide.
Fix your eyes on Jesus and trust that He is perfecting you.
Use these strategies in your battle against the lust of the eyes.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world.
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Thank you and God bless you,
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash. Maui, Hawaii, USA. Berean Standard Bible.)
Lesson 43 - 1 John 2:16...the lust of the eyes...