Bind Leading the Blind

Luke 6:39-40 reads, “He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

If one is physically blind, he cannot keep another blind person from falling into a ditch. In this same way, one who is spiritually blind cannot keep others from “falling into a ditch,” along the path of righteousness.

(In truth, we are all spiritually blind-- but some have partial sight.) “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known,” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Because all are born dead, in trespasses and sins, we are all born blind (spiritually speaking). If God, by His Spirit, makes us alive, we then begin to see. We will never fully see and understand scripture’s teaching...and will not attain perfection while in these earthly bodies...but we will see enough to follow the path of righteousness.

Each of us is at a different point on that pathway. The more spiritually mature are walking closer to God than others, with a better understanding of His word. As we seek God through His word, and are sanctified by Him, our blinded eyes see more and more clearly. We become increasingly mature in the faith and grow closer to God, by the work of His Spirit in us. (The more we seek God through His word, the more mature we become in the faith as he sanctifies us). It is God (alone) who can make our blind eyes see. Psalm 146:7 reads, “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.” (God enables us to see more clearly (by the work of His Spirit)- as we live in obedience to His teaching.)

Psalm 119:104-105 reads, “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word, and His word alone, can open our eyes to see more clearly. None of us will have 20/20 spiritual vision until we reach glory, (when we are fully sanctified), but we must strive for it by reading God’s word (and praying for a right understanding). (We do so in order to understand scripture’s teaching progressively, by His Spirit.) Proverbs 4:18-19 reads, “..the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (As disciples of Christ- we will not be fully trained until we are fully glorified one day- in heaven. Only then will our path shine as bright as full day.)

As, in obedience to God through the teaching of His word, we will grow in wisdom and understanding as men and women of God. In 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Paul is telling Timothy, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

It is important to seek scriptural teaching from those whose eyes have been opened more fully to the truths of God’s word and whose teaching lines up with God’s commands—most importantly the great command to, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

If others’ teaching is not in line with God’s commands they are spiritually blind, and we should not sit under their teaching. As scripture warns, “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?”

May God reveal to us... more and more... the truth of His word...and may we be conformed... more and more... into the image of Christ.