Topical Bible: Blindness: Scribes

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In the context of the Bible, "blindness" often refers to a lack of spiritual insight or understanding, rather than just a physical inability to see. The scribes, who were experts in the Law and held significant religious authority in Jewish society, are frequently depicted in the New Testament as suffering from this form of spiritual blindness.

The scribes were responsible for copying, teaching, and interpreting the Scriptures. They were highly respected for their knowledge and expertise in the Law of Moses. However, despite their extensive knowledge, the New Testament portrays them as often missing the deeper spiritual truths of the Scriptures they so diligently studied and taught.

In the Gospels, Jesus frequently criticizes the scribes for their spiritual blindness. In Matthew 23, Jesus delivers a series of "woes" to the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting their hypocrisy and lack of true understanding. He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter" (Matthew 23:13). This passage underscores their failure to recognize the coming of the Kingdom of God and their role in obstructing others from entering it.

The scribes' blindness is further illustrated in their interactions with Jesus. Despite witnessing His miracles and hearing His teachings, they often sought to challenge and discredit Him. In Mark 3:22, the scribes accuse Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul, saying, "By the prince of demons He drives out demons" . This accusation reveals their inability to see the divine power at work in Jesus' ministry.

Moreover, the scribes' focus on external adherence to the Law rather than its spirit is another aspect of their blindness. Jesus addresses this in Mark 7:6-8, quoting Isaiah: "These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men. You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men" . Here, Jesus points out that their emphasis on human traditions over God's commandments blinds them to the true purpose of the Law.

The Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee and expert in the Law, also speaks to this spiritual blindness in his letters. In 2 Corinthians 3:14-15, he writes, "But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts" . Paul suggests that the scribes and others who rely solely on the Law without recognizing Christ remain spiritually veiled.

In summary, the scribes' blindness in the New Testament is characterized by their inability to perceive the true nature of Jesus and the fulfillment of the Scriptures in Him. Their focus on legalism and tradition, coupled with their resistance to Jesus' message, serves as a cautionary example of how knowledge without spiritual insight can lead to a hardened heart.

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Matthew 9:3
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemes.
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Library

The King's Farewell
... The first four woes are directed mainly to the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees ...
and let out the foul matter below"namely, our own blindness to God's ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the kings farewell.htm

The Mistakes of Christ's Foes and Friends
... The scribes recognised that here was a man who was in touch with the unseen ... Their
malicious blindness is hurrying them towards a sin which hath never forgiveness ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the mistakes of christs foes.htm

The Teacher with Authority
... utterly from the pedantic carefulness for words which marked the scribes they are ...
absorption in heavenly truth was not accompanied by any blindness to earthly ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/ii the teacher with authority.htm

The God of the Rain
... From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred,
and ... ever fall into that frame of mind (as did the scribes and Pharisees ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xvii the god of.htm

For they Loved the Praise of Men More than the Praise of God. John ...
... He hath a devil." "Why, he is denouncing sour doctors of divinity, and all our best
men, and even dares to call the scribes and pharisees ... for their blindness! ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/for they loved the praise.htm

From Persecutor to Disciple
... And having fully decided that the priests and scribes were right, Saul became very ...
He believed that this blindness was a punishment from God for his cruel ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 12 from persecutor to.htm

The Descent from the Mount
... Surely they were right in expecting this interference, as the scribes had taught. ...
we shall wonder more at our own refusals of reverence, our blindness to the ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 9 9-13 the descent from.htm

Woes on the Pharisees
... Jesus continued: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ... They
wonder at the blindness of the Jews in rejecting Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 67 woes on the.htm

John ix. 34-36
... not say, "We did not refuse to come to thee owing to our blindness, but we ... And by
saying, "climbeth up some other way," He alluded to the Scribes, because they ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lix john ix 34-36.htm

"The Things of God," Says St. ...
... about the truth of immediate continual divine inspiration, is a degree of blindness
greater than can be charged upon the old Jewish scribes and Pharisees. ...
/.../address 85 0 0 the things of.htm