The phrase “the blind leading the blind” is found in Matthew 15:14, where Jesus says, “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” This metaphorical statement provides insight into Jesus’ view of the religious leaders of his day and serves as a warning for all.
The Context
To understand the meaning and significance of this statement, it’s important to look at the broader context. In Matthew 15, Jesus is confronted by some Pharisees and scribes who question why his disciples do not follow the ceremonial hand-washing traditions of the elders. Jesus responds by pointing out their hypocrisy – they focus on manmade rules while breaking direct commandments of God.
Jesus then turns to address the crowd, declaring that it’s not what goes into a person that defiles them, but the sin that comes out from their heart and mouth. When the disciples tell Jesus that He offended the Pharisees with this teaching, He replies that the Pharisees are “blind guides” and pronounces the maxim about the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14).
A Metaphorical Warning
By referring to the Pharisees as “blind guides,” Jesus is accusing them of being spiritually blind – unable to perceive divine truth and lacking spiritual understanding, despite their expertise in the Mosaic law. As blind guides, they cannot show others the right way to God. On the contrary, their flawed guidance and hypocrisy will only lead their followers into the same spiritual blindness and condemnation that awaits them.
The metaphor goes further – if blind people try to guide other blind people, they will both “fall into a pit.” The danger of following spiritually blind leaders is that they cannot see where they are going. So blind followers will likewise stumble in the darkness and both end up harmed. There is safety only in following those with spiritual vision who can lead according to God’s light and truth.
Warnings Against Spiritual Pride
At a deeper level, Jesus’ statement seems to be a warning against spiritual pride and blindness. Despite seeing themselves as sighted leaders guiding Israel in the right path, the Pharisees were actually blind to the Messiah and God’s work being accomplished through Him. Their obsession with minor legal details prevented them from perceiving God’s bigger picture. Spiritual pride had blinded them to their own faults and need for a Savior.
This remains a danger for all religious people, especially leaders. When we become proud and confident in our own spiritual wisdom and insight, we become blind to God’s truth. We hinder others by passing on our errors and leading them down wrong paths. Our blindness may not be obvious to us, but the consequences lead to spiritual tragedy.
All Need God’s Light
Jesus’ maxim underscores that we all face the danger of spiritual blindness without God’s intervention and revelation. As finite creatures, our perception and understanding are limited. We need the light of divine guidance to illuminate our path. The Pharisees show that diligent study of Scripture, religious zeal and sincerest intentions cannot substitute for dependence on God’s mercy and wisdom.
The only sure guide is Jesus himself, the “light of the world” (John 8:12). He alone is the good shepherd who leads His sheep in the Father’s ways (John 10:11). We must humbly seek Him, follow Him, and rely on the wisdom of His Spirit who enlightens our hearts and minds. Then we can walk in the light and truth of God’s kingdom.
A Call to Examine Ourselves
Christ’s teaching serves as a sobering call for self-reflection. It encourages us to prayerfully examine our spiritual condition before presuming to lead and teach others. Are we humbly dependent on God for understanding, or confident in our own wisdom? Do we faithfully obey God’s commands, or rationalize ignoring aspects inconvenient to us? Is our focus on outward appearance or inner transformation?
As important as theological knowledge or ministry skills are, they mean little if our hearts are far from God. We do others no favors by passing on spiritual blindness. We can only point them to the light of Christ when we are walking in submission to Him ourselves. Otherwise, we lead only to “pits” of confusion, hypocrisy, and condemnation.
The Need for Discernment
Jesus’ metaphor also teaches the need for discernment in who we allow to influence us spiritually. Not all who claim to be guides see clearly. When blind leaders promote ideas contradicting God’s Word or justify ungodly conduct, we must reject their path. Their blindness and rebellion will only lead us astray if we follow them. We must be cautious in choosing teachers and pastors committed to biblical truth over outward piety or popularity.
Nevertheless, we should still approach criticism of leaders cautiously and with humility. The Pharisees pronounced godly prophets like Jeremiah blind fools. Those who called out Jesus as a dangerous radical were themselves the truly blind ones. We must seek God’s wisdom to properly discern between true and false teaching, guided by Scripture rather than human opinions.
Avoiding Spiritual Pitfalls
How can believers avoid the spiritual “pits” that await those following blind guides? We must continually return to God’s Word as the light for our path (Psalm 119:105). We should pray for insight from the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17-18). Accountability and counsel from biblically grounded mentors can protect us from veering off course. Most importantly, fixing our eyes on Jesus daily guards us against the spiritual blindness that stems from self-sufficiency.
As Christ-followers, we are called to manifest His light in a spiritually confused world. We shine as lights by building our lives on the sure foundation of His teaching and demonstrating His character in all we do (Matthew 5:14-16). While we can gently help remove the blindness of others through compassionate witness, only God can grant sight to the spiritually blind. We must faithfully reflect His truth in love, while praying for lost sheep to find His way.