The Evil Eye

[Minister Monardo]

Mark 7:
20 And He said, What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

One of many disturbing facts about the world is the taking of ideas
from the Bible and applying them in a contemporary way that clouds
the truth. The evil eye is not a stare or giving someone a dirty look.
Consider this from the parable of the vineyard for insight.
Matthew 20:
14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as you.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?
Or is your eye evil because I am good?

Now hold that thought and hear the words of the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put
bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

At a most basic and essential level, every believer must address
the carnal tendency to see every fault in others who are striving
to walk with the Lord, while making every excuse to downplay
our own shortfalls. A fine example from Paul to elaborate.
Romans 14:
4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master
he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for
God is able to make him stand....
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show
contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before
the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall
bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather
resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall
in our brother’s way.

This becomes a critical issue when we understand that
an evil eye clouds our ability to perceive and follow the
Spirit in every area of our Christian walk.
Luke 11:
34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your
eye is good, your whole body also is full of light.
But when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.

 

[RileyG]

What translation are you using? I thought the evil eye was mostly a middle Eastern thing that was common amongst Muslims.

 

[Minister Monardo]

What translation are you using? I thought the evil eye was mostly a middle Eastern thing that was common amongst Muslims.

Any literal or older translation will do. Many modern
translations.....aren't.
poneros ophthalmos=evil eye.
Mark 7:22
KJV Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness,
an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
ASV covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness,
an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness.
YLT thefts, covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, arrogance,
an evil eye, evil speaking, pride, foolishness.
DBY thefts, covetousness, wickednesses, deceit, licentiousness,
a wicked eye, injurious language, haughtiness, folly.
WEB Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness,
an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
HNV covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.

This illustrates how interpretation damages literal
translation, for this is so much more than envy, as
the content of the OP illustrates. Especially with the
illustration of parable of the vineyard, and the Lord's
statement on being filled with darkness!