Proverbs 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
Pride hidden in the heart reflects through the eyes. There are seven things the Lord hates and haughty eyes stand first in the list. There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17). A person’s eyes can reveal their moods, emotions and feelings. Eyes can convey warm, bright and welcoming vibes or cold, angry and repelling attitude. Without speaking a word the eyes can convey volumes of opinions, perspectives and judgments. The eyes are the central part of the non-verbal communication. They convey a range of emotions that words won’t always convey. This is why it is important to make eye contact during a conversation. Eye contact plays an important part to affirm our honesty in a discussion.
Spiritual eyes reflect the condition of the heart. The lamp or the light from which the proud receive their direction is from their puffed-up heart. Hence their eyes emit evil, arrogance and smugness. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him (Proverbs 26:12). The proud are opinionated that they are better than others which is reflected through their haughty eyes. “An evil eye can see no good.” — Danish proverb.
Physical eyes take in light from the world around us and sends visual information to our brain to form images but the spiritual eyes take the light from the heart to visualize the world around us.
The incident where Jezebel decorated her eyes is misinterpreted by the legalist that eye make-up is a sin! However, it is a detail that reflects the condition of her heart. When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, so she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from the window (2 Kings 9:30). Jezebel was full of deceit and conceit and her eyes described the masquerading deception of her heart.
Eyes are the window to the soul:
1. Haughty: The humility in the heart is not conveyed by words but through the emotions of the eyes. The way we think about ourselves or judge others are communicated through the eyes. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me (Psalm 131:1).
2. Hate: Pride in the heart turns to hate in the eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful (Psalm 36:2).
3. Happy: Both happiness and haughtiness are contagious. ‘One bad apple spoils the bunch’. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart (Proverbs 15:30a). Cheerful, happy and joyful eyes can cheer-up others but sad, sour and haughty eyes can embitter the crowd around them.
Eyes convey the emotions, feelings and moods of the heart.
Psalm 131:1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me your graceful eyes that emit love, care and concern to those around me. May my eyes radiate the compassion in your heart. Amen.
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