The human eye is the organ of sight, allowing us to see, perceive, and become aware of the world around us. Perception lies at the heart of the eye’s function. Life itself is experienced through our senses, and to “see” often represents experiencing or truly understanding something. That’s why the Bible frequently uses the term "see" metaphorically for spiritual experiences (e.g., John 3:3).
The Three Types of Eyes
God has equipped
us with three kinds of eyes:
- Physical Eyes
– The natural eyes that enable physical sight.
- Mental Eyes
– The mind’s ability, including imagination, to perceive and comprehend.
- Spiritual Eyes
– The heart’s capacity to see and understand spiritual realities.
While our physical
sight resides in our bodies, the spiritual and mental eyes operate within our
hearts—our inner being or “interiority.”
Two Types of Spiritual Eyes
Spiritual
eyes allow us to perceive and become aware of entities and truths in
the spiritual realm. For example, in 2 Kings 6:17, Elisha prayed for his
servant’s eyes to be opened, revealing a vast angelic army surrounding them.
The Bible
highlights two distinct types of spiritual eyes:
1. The
Prophetic Eye
The prophetic eye
is prominent in the Old Testament, where many individuals saw God, angels, or
other spiritual beings. For instance, Elisha’s servant experienced this type of
vision, perceiving spiritual forces in their midst.
In the New
Testament, John the Apostle’s visions in the Book of Revelation showcase the
prophetic eye. Through the gift of prophecy, believers today can also perceive
spiritual realities through visions or dreams.
2. The Eye of
Understanding
The eye of
understanding is less commonly recognized but is central to the New Testament.
In Ephesians 1:15-18, Paul prayed that the eyes of the Ephesians’ understanding
would be opened so they could know God deeply (epignosis). Here,
"seeing" refers to comprehending spiritual truths.
The eye of
understanding enables believers to gain experiential knowledge of God and His
purposes. This type of spiritual vision is not about seeing images but about
perceiving and grasping spiritual realities.
Gifts from the Holy Spirit
Both the prophetic
eye and the eye of understanding are gifts of the Holy Spirit, allowing
believers to see and know spiritual things in distinct ways.
When God chooses
to open our spiritual eyes, He may do so by:
- Activating
the prophetic eye, as seen in John’s visions in
Revelation.
- Enlightening
our understanding, as Paul prayed for the Ephesians.
- Or
even both simultaneously, enabling us to perceive and know His will more
fully.
A Look Ahead
How does God openour spiritual eyes? What steps can we take to grow in spiritual sight and
understanding? We’ll explore these questions in the next section.
