Topical Bible: The Wicked are Compared to Blind, The

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In the Bible, the wicked are often metaphorically compared to the blind, illustrating their spiritual ignorance and inability to perceive the truth of God's word and His righteous path. This metaphor underscores the moral and spiritual darkness that envelops those who reject God's commandments and live in sin.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 59:10 : "Like the blind, we grope along the wall, feeling our way like those without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead." This passage from Isaiah vividly portrays the spiritual blindness of the wicked, who, despite being in the light of day, stumble as if they were in darkness. It highlights their inability to find their way without divine guidance.

2. Matthew 15:14 : "Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Jesus uses this metaphor to describe the Pharisees, who, despite their religious knowledge, are spiritually blind. Their leadership is ineffective and dangerous, as they lead others into spiritual ruin.

3. John 9:39-41 : "Then Jesus declared, 'For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.' Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked, 'Are we blind too?' Jesus answered, 'If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.'" Here, Jesus contrasts physical blindness with spiritual blindness, indicating that those who acknowledge their blindness can be healed, while those who claim to see yet reject Him remain in their sin.

4. 2 Corinthians 4:4 : "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Paul explains that spiritual blindness is a result of the influence of Satan, who prevents unbelievers from seeing the truth and glory of the gospel.

Theological Implications:

The comparison of the wicked to the blind serves as a powerful reminder of the necessity of spiritual enlightenment through Christ. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own spiritual blindness and the need for divine intervention to gain true sight. The metaphor also warns against the dangers of following blind guides, who lead others away from the truth and into spiritual peril.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

From a moral standpoint, the metaphor calls believers to self-examination and humility, acknowledging their dependence on God for spiritual insight. It also encourages believers to be vigilant in discerning true spiritual leaders from those who are blind guides. The ethical responsibility of believers is to be a light to those in darkness, guiding them towards the truth of the gospel and the salvation found in Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Zephaniah 1:17
And I will bring distress on men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Wicked Husbandmen.
... Great criminals are often blind to their own interests ... He will miserably destroy
those wicked men, and ... endowed with many peculiar privileges, are compared to a ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xi the wicked husbandmen.htm

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... The wicked are compared to beasts of prey that live upon rapine and spoil. ...
I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame. ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

They Shall be Called the Children of God
... His love does not make him blind. ... God lets the wicked dung his people with reproaches
and calumnies, that ... The godly may be compared to that plant which Gregory ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/19 they shall be called.htm

[Shewing] that Common and Saving Grace Differ, not Only in Degree ...
... Again, conversion is often compared to a resurrection. Wicked men are said to be
dead, but when they are ... is represented as an opening of the eyes of the blind. ...
/.../edwards/treatise on grace/shewing that common and saving.htm

Letter ii. --For 330. Easter-Day xxiv Pharmuthi; xiii Kal. Mai ...
... Because they were careless and imitated the wicked, the prophet ... Lord, and with what
have ye compared Him [3944 ... their trust in them [3945] .' Being blind to the ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter ii for 330 easter-day xxiv.htm

On the Words, Crucified and Buried.
... to him alone, and what was it compared with the ... glory of the Cross led those who
were blind through ignorance ... in silence; for the mouth of the wicked, and the ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xiii on the words.htm

The Old and New Testaments have Many Things in Common -- Far More ...
... dumb; and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb ... so shall it be also unto
this wicked generation." Who ... the next world; as Acts 1:25 compared with Rev.11 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the old and new testaments.htm

The Parable of the Tares, by Bishop Latimer, Preached on the 7Th ...
... one end; as in this place, Christ compared the word ... most horrible and dreadful sentence
unto the wicked, commanding his ... and live godly; but is so blind and mad ...
/.../knox/the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /the parable of the tares.htm

The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart
... a good man, who can know the heart of a wicked one, which ... 7. Did that right honourable
wretch, compared to whom Sir R[obert ... Yet is she blind, and ignorant of all ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 123 the deceitfulness of.htm

The Morning Light
... What is the Jupiter of Homer, compared with the God ... double darkness, and become more
infatuated and wicked than those ... they which see might be made blind (John 9 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon vii the morning light.htm