There Are None So Blind

(John 9:35-41)

Who is really blind? Is it those who have a problem preventing them from using their eyes or is it those who have perfect vision but choose not to see? Is it not the second group? As the saying goes, there are none so blind as those who will not see.

This is what Jesus was talking about in this scripture and the issue that existed then still exists today. There are people today who have closed the eyes of their heart and the eyes of their mind and choose not to see. So let us have a look at this matter.

Those who cannot see

There are some who are born blind, some who become blind through accident or illness and then others who will not see. For too long we called those whose eyes are darkened handicapped, but they are no more handicapped than anyone else. Especially in those things that are really important.

People who have vision problems can make friends, love, have families and most importantly can have the faith to follow Jesus and love God. These are the things that are important and are the things that matter most in this life. So they may not be able to do some things a sighted person can. So what? They are more than capable of doing all of the important things and many things anyone else can do.

Those who will not see

But we also see many people who have 20/20 vision but are so blind that they are badly and horribly handicapped. They suffer from prejudice and bias, they despise those who are different and they do not seek the things that make for love and peace in this life. They live lives of vanity and wastefulness and care nothing for anyone but themselves.

Jesus had this to say about the Pharisees who fell into this category.

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

The Pharisees could not see that they were blind. They did not think there was anything wrong with how they thought and behaved. And yet so often we saw Jesus condemn their actions and behaviours as hypocrisy.

They didn’t get it. That is why they were blind. They thought they were OK but they were not.

What about now?

Does this same blindness still exist in the church today? Yes it does. There are some in the church who, like the Pharisees, pride themselves on their position, seek what they can gain from being a minister of The Lord and spend more energy fleecing the flock rather than caring for them.

Look at those who promote wealth ministry. Is it really God’s will for his people to be wealthy as these so called ministers teach? Think about some of the scriptures pertaining to this matter for a moment.

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24)

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:16-17)

There are other scriptures as well that point to the fact that financial gain and wealth is not part of the plan of God, and yet so many people are fooled by ministers who are doing and teaching such things for self gain.

How do you overcome?

Well the victory is in Jesus Christ. He is the one whom we serve and worship, not the God of mammon that the rest of the world worships. We overcome by following in the ways of The Lord. We overcome by learning His ways and applying them in our life. We overcome by doing as The Lord instructed. We follow him in faith, repent of our sins, get baptised and learn what it means, receive the Holy Spirit and allow the spirit to,work the transformation in our lives.

When we do all of these things and shun the ways of this world that unfortunately have come into the modern church by stealth, then we will see. Then we will no longer be blind, but will see the fullness of the glory that Jesus has promised to those who love and serve him.

Find the truth. Search for it diligently. Do not listen to anyone who would bring you into bondage, but test everything you hear against the words of the truth in the Bible. When something you read or see does not seem quite right, wait and ask The Lord for wisdom and guidance before acting on it. The Lord has promised that he will show the truth to those who seek it. And then you will no longer be spiritually blind but will have perfect spiritual vision in The Lord.