Pro 27:20 | KingComments | STEP | Just as clear water is a mirror that fully reflects a face when you look into it, so “the heart of man” reflects his true nature ( ; ). God’s Word, which is compared to water ( ), is also compared to a mirror ( ). It shows every person who looks into it his own heart. What is in his heart is what he is. When a man becomes aware of that, he will be startled by it and acknowledge his wickedness and beg God for mercy. The same is true for the believer. By looking at the attitude of our heart, we come to true self-awareness. What is our heart set on? For example, when someone has retired, it often becomes clear where his priorities lie. Will he now devote all his time to traveling or fishing, for example, or will he see new opportunities to serve the Lord? We can often tell by the way a person spends his free time where his heart is, whether it is about his own pleasure and enjoyment or whether Christ is central. After the heart of man ( ), our attention is turned to “the eyes of man” ( ). The eyes of man are as insatiable as “Sheol and Abaddon”, or grave and decay, are. The eye here represents man’s lust that is never satisfied (cf. ). The apostle John speaks of “the lust of the eyes” ( ). There is a tremendous amount of supply before our eyes. We no longer just see the things happening around us, but because of television and the Internet, there is a limitless supply of things we can look at. Much of this influences us in our desires. Advertising flyers, which come through the mailbox in a ceaseless stream, also do their best to attract our eyes and arouse desire for what is on offer. Eyes devour everything they see just as Sheol and Abaddon devour all men. The lust of the eyes always continues. When it is about the lust for the things of this life, we must learn not to give in to it, but to be content with what we have ( ; ; ). When it is about coveting spiritual things, believers may “see the King in His beauty” ( ), by which they will be satisfied with His likeness ( ).

‏ Proverbs 27:20

The Heart and the Eyes of Man

Just as clear water is a mirror that fully reflects a face when you look into it, so “the heart of man” reflects his true nature (Pro 27:19; Mt 12:34). God’s Word, which is compared to water (Eph 5:26), is also compared to a mirror (Jam 1:23-24). It shows every person who looks into it his own heart. What is in his heart is what he is. When a man becomes aware of that, he will be startled by it and acknowledge his wickedness and beg God for mercy.

The same is true for the believer. By looking at the attitude of our heart, we come to true self-awareness. What is our heart set on? For example, when someone has retired, it often becomes clear where his priorities lie. Will he now devote all his time to traveling or fishing, for example, or will he see new opportunities to serve the Lord? We can often tell by the way a person spends his free time where his heart is, whether it is about his own pleasure and enjoyment or whether Christ is central.

After the heart of man (Pro 27:19), our attention is turned to “the eyes of man” (Pro 27:20). The eyes of man are as insatiable as “Sheol and Abaddon”, or grave and decay, are. The eye here represents man’s lust that is never satisfied (cf. Ecc 1:8a). The apostle John speaks of “the lust of the eyes” (1Jn 2:16).

There is a tremendous amount of supply before our eyes. We no longer just see the things happening around us, but because of television and the Internet, there is a limitless supply of things we can look at. Much of this influences us in our desires. Advertising flyers, which come through the mailbox in a ceaseless stream, also do their best to attract our eyes and arouse desire for what is on offer. Eyes devour everything they see just as Sheol and Abaddon devour all men. The lust of the eyes always continues.

When it is about the lust for the things of this life, we must learn not to give in to it, but to be content with what we have (1Tim 6:8; Heb 13:5; Phil 4:11). When it is about coveting spiritual things, believers may “see the King in His beauty” (Isa 33:17), by which they will be satisfied with His likeness (Psa 17:15).