What does "blind fools" reveal about the Pharisees' understanding of holiness? Focus Verse “You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold holy?” (Matthew 23:17) Snapshot of the Scene • Jesus is in the Temple courts during Passion Week, delivering seven woes against the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:13–36). • He exposes their hypocrisy: meticulous about externals yet indifferent to the heart of God’s law. • In verses 16–22 they manipulate oath-taking, claiming some vows are binding while others are not, depending on the object invoked. Why Call Them “Blind”? • Spiritual perception is missing. They see rituals and objects but fail to discern God’s presence behind them (John 9:39-41). • Isaiah described leaders who are “blind, lacking knowledge” (Isaiah 56:10); Jesus applies that indictment here. • Blindness in Scripture points to inability to grasp truth, not a lack of information (2 Corinthians 4:4). Why Call Them “Fools”? • “Fool” (Greek môros) signals moral stupidity, not mere ignorance (Psalm 14:1). • They know Torah yet reject its intent, proving “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). • Their sophisticated casuistry masks a heart estranged from God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:20). What Their Blind Folly Reveals about Their View of Holiness • Holiness as Product, Not Presence – They treat gold and gifts as inherently sacred, forgetting that only God’s dwelling makes anything holy (Exodus 29:43). – By exalting the object over the God who sanctifies, they reverse the true source of holiness. • Holiness as Technical, Not Relational – Nitpicking oaths reduces holiness to legal fine print; covenant faithfulness becomes negotiable (Matthew 5:33-37). – Relationship with the Holy One is sidelined in favor of rule-crafting. • Holiness as Humanly Managed – If people declare certain vows non-binding, they assume authority over sacred things. – God alone determines what is holy (Leviticus 10:3). • Holiness without Heart Obedience – Jesus soon says they “clean the outside of the cup” (23:25); holiness is outward appearance rather than inward purity (Psalm 51:6). Supporting Scriptures • Exodus 3:5 – “Remove your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Holiness stems from God’s presence, not from soil quality. • 1 Kings 8:10-11 – The glory cloud fills Solomon’s temple, making it holy; the building alone was not inherently sacred. • Hebrews 9:24 – “Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary… but heaven itself.” Earthly symbols point beyond themselves. • Isaiah 29:13 – “This people draw near with their mouths… but their hearts are far from Me.” Takeaway The phrase “blind fools” unmasks a distorted theology: holiness can be manipulated by objects, formulas, or human authority. Jesus insists true holiness flows from God’s presence, received in humble, obedient hearts and reflected in truthful, wholehearted worship. |
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