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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