What does "blind and shortsighted" mean in the context of 2 Peter 1:9? Setting the Scene “Make every effort to add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control perseverance, and to perseverance godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is blind and shortsighted, forgetting that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Peter 1:5-9) The Vocabulary Peter Chooses • “Blind” (Greek: typhlos) – literally sightless, unable to perceive what is right before one’s eyes. • “Shortsighted” (Greek: myōpazō) – to blink, squint, or see only what is very near; modern “nearsighted.” Peter pictures a professing believer who has eyes but will not use them, missing both present realities and future horizons. Blind: A Heart That Ignores Present Reality • Cannot discern God’s active work in daily life (John 9:39-41). • Fails to recognize ongoing sin, drifting into old patterns (1 John 2:11). • Misses opportunities to serve and bear fruit, becoming “ineffective and unproductive” (v. 8). • Mirrors Israel’s dullness: “Though seeing, they do not see” (Isaiah 42:18-20). Shortsighted: A Life Without Eternal Perspective • Sees only the immediate—the next paycheck, the next pleasure—while eternity fades from view (Philippians 3:18-19). • Neglects heavenly rewards and the coming kingdom (Colossians 3:1-4). • Lives reactionarily, not missionally; plans revolve around self, not Christ’s return (2 Timothy 4:8). • Like Laodicea: “You do not realize that you are…blind” (Revelation 3:17). Why Forgetting Our Cleansing Leads to Vision Loss • The cross is the lens through which all life comes into focus (1 Peter 1:18-19). Lose that lens and everything blurs. • Forgetting forgiveness dulls love for Christ (Luke 7:47). • Assurance erodes; doubt replaces joy; obedience becomes drudgery (Hebrews 9:14). • Memory of cleansing propels holy living (Titus 2:11-14). When that memory fades, motivation falters. Scriptures that Illuminate the Imagery • 2 Corinthians 4:4 – “the god of this age has blinded the minds…” • Ephesians 4:18 – “darkened in their understanding, separated from the life of God.” • Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.” • Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things…” • Revelation 3:18 – counsel to “buy…salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.” A Clear-Sighted Christian Walk • Keep the gospel before your eyes—remember your cleansing daily (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). • Pursue the seven virtues (vv. 5-7); growth sharpens vision. • Fix your gaze on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). • Cultivate eternity-minded habits—prayer, Scripture, fellowship, service (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). • Ask the Spirit to expose blind spots and widen your horizon (Ephesians 1:17-18). Peter’s point: a believer stagnant in virtue development chooses spiritual myopia. Remember the cleansing, keep adding the qualities, and sight is restored—both for today’s obedience and tomorrow’s glory. |
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