Manslick Road church of Christ

Blind Followers and Leaders

“Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Mt. 15:14 ).

These words of Jesus have become a proverb used even in secular contexts. In their original application, they remind us in a picturesque way of four vital spiritual truths.

There is such a thing as spiritual blindness. It is not fashionable these days to speak of right and wrong in religious matters. Many would have us think that all beliefs are equally valid, and any differences are just a matter of “your interpretation” versus mine or “my truth versus your truth.” Jesus knew better. He saw a world full of spiritual blindness, people groping about in the dark (Jn. 12:35, 46 ).

The setting of this proverb is a perfect illustration. Read Matthew 15:1-9 . Some scribes and Pharisees criticized Jesus because His disciples did not follow their ideas of right and wrong. But their ideas were not God’s. In fact, they had cleverly devised ways to dismiss God’s plain commands, replacing them with their own standards. God’s assessment was, “In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”

Blindness may characterize religious leaders. It is sometimes hard for people to admit that their beloved spiritual leaders— teachers, pastors, preachers, authors, etc.—might be wrong. After all, these men are scholars. They have studied long and hard. And they have such godly character and are so sincere. All that may be true, but they are still men, and men are subject to error.

Was anyone blinder in Jesus’ day than Israel’s leaders, who “recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these be condemning Him”( Acts 13:27 )? Why should it be any different in our day? Search the Scriptures. Verify what you are told (Acts 17:11 ).

Blindness results in being in a pit. Some translations say a ditch. The point is the same. Walking life’s road blindly is disastrous. God’s word is the lamp to our feet and light to our path (Ps. 119:105 ). Jesus is the light of the world (Jn. 8:12 ). His word is the truth that makes us free (Jn. 8:32-33 ). Apart from it, we are headed for the pit of eternal punishment.

Sincerity does not prevent the consequences of wrong belief. Have you heard that it does not matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere? The Bible nowhere says that. And that is not what Jesus’ proverb teaches. We pity the poor blind man who chooses another blind man as a guide; however, his sincerity in that choice or in the wrong path taken will not keep him out of the pit. Sincerity is vital, but so is following the truth.