The Parable of the Blind It is a teaching that Jesus gave to reveal the importance of walking in integrity, and thus be able to lead others in the right way.
Jesus told it criticizing the behavior of his detractors Pharisees, scribes and chief priestswho acted as the guides of that time, and had to change their teaching methods and above all their life behavior.
The parable goes like this:
«And he told them a parable: Can a blind man lead another blind man? Wont both fall into the hole? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; but everyone who is perfected will be like his teacher. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, and fail to see the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother: Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye, while you are not looking at the beam that is in your eye? You hypocrite, first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:39-42).
Clearly, the parable does not refer to blind, It is an analogy that Jesus makes of how the people of Israel were governed by its leaders who were full of ambition for power, envy, resentment and thus guided a people weak in knowledge.
Knowing the meaning of the Parable of the Blind
Jesus, as in all his parables, left a message for all people to improve their lives, and could be entities of help and blessing to others.
a blind guide
“Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a ditch?”
Jesus uses two rhetorical questions to begin this parable, seeking to obtain the answers that would give meaning to his message. The first supposes a negative answer, and the second an affirmative one, and in this way support the point that he wishes to explain.
At that time blindness was a physical condition of vulnerability, which was associated with a punishment for the sin of the parents or the one who suffered it. But Jesus uses an unusual image of them, showing two blind people walking and helping each other, thus illustrating their story.
Jesus wanted to underline the fact that a guide or leader cannot be blind, but rather a person with well-developed vision, with wisdom to make the best decisions and guide the person who follows him. Well, as he says, they can fall into a hole, that is, into an error that would produce adverse consequences.
In this story, Jesus makes a call to all those in charge of leading a group of people, be it political, religious, educational or family. in being aware of their role as guidesand have the best conditions to drive people.
Although Jesus in the silver parable does not speak directly of the Pharisees or scribes, in the passage from Matthew 15: 14if you target them specifically: “Leave them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit”
The point of this is that Jesus warns both leaders and followers to be careful when deciding to be led by someone, as many can destroy their lives and lead their followers down the same path.
A disciple can be equal to his teacher
«The disciple is not superior to his teacher; But everyone who is perfected will be like his teacher.”
In this parable Jesus uses the method of using elements, activities and in this case phrases from the environment of the time denoting the wisdom in his teaching, towards the listening people, reveals how a disciple is the reflection of his leader or teacher.
Jesus managing to refer to the problem of the bad guides who were the leaders of that time, he evokes in following his example and teachings to become a wise guidewhich would result in duplication of your example in others.
Referring to it, clearly, in other passages such as this one:
«Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him: If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8: 31-32)
In addition to alerting them to what they could suffer, by following his teaching.
«When they persecute you in this city, flee to the other; For truly I tell you, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. The disciple is not more than his teacher, nor the servant more than his lord. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If the householder was called Beelzebub, how much more his household? (Matthew 10: 23-25)
Jesus was demonstrating that the essence of the teaching was to be able to be an influential leader, to bear good fruit, and that his followers would be the mirror of each leader, because being good, that would be the representation established by them.
The Straw in the Other’s Eye
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, and don’t you see the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother: Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye, while you are not looking at the beam that is in your eye? You hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”
Jesus, in his vast wisdom in the use of literary figures, uses exaggeration in order to illustrate the power of not judging or condemning someone.
Taking a straw and a beam exemplifies the sins that both the leader and the follower could have, since in both cases they would be walking the wrong way in the eyes of God.
In addition, to reinforce what he said that a blind man cannot guide another blind man, because in no case would there be good results from it. Well, how a person with bad habits, a lack of understanding, and little responsibility is going to help someone who is in the same condition, is absurd.
Those leaders of the parable was the personification of scribes and Phariseeswho had that problem of judging their peers, without seeing themselves, who were in charge of keeping the law and ensuring that others did too.
But, in that review of complying with the law, the problem arose, because it filled them with haughtiness and pride by feeling superior. Condemning all the people who, in their ignorance, did what was wrong before God.
Here Jesus reflects how the human being it is more comfortable for him to see and criticize the defects of others, than looking in a mirror and realizing in the same way and emphasis of their faults. It is easier to hide those defects, highlight the mistakes and failures of the other and look superior.
«Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).
Indulgence is a characteristic employed by people, with respect to their failures and mistakes. And helping another in a wise way will be the line of a leader, but at the same time as correcting our neighbor’s defects, we must get rid of and be aware of the defects that it entails.
Must be humble and acknowledge your faults as a personbecause that will help to act in a more human way towards the other, looking at the failures of the partner not from the outside but from the inside, where that human struggle is found that connects both the leader and the disciple.
Jesus came to give sight to the blind
The purpose of this parable reveals Jesus’ plan: cure the spiritual blindness of the people. That everyone walk freely, with their eyes open, helping each other, without judging each other, but in love, getting up from the falls.
By being cured of that blindness that they were all girded, they could see and recognize each other, and they could safely guide the people. And achieve God’s desire for them to obey his Word and leave the customs that had distanced them from his presence.
To recover sight deserved to have a new birth, of which Jesus taught in the spiritual aspect, and to be able to see with the correct eyes the
God’s promise.
“Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, You cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh, flesh is; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit” (3: 3,5,6)
With that new sight they could see the truth, and with compassion and humility they would see their fellow man. And in this way help them to overcome their failures and weaknesses, instead of oppressing or punishing them and worsening their state.
That is the great mission that all followers of Jesus have, to open their eyes through the Word, share the good news of salvation and produce a change in people who will have a new vision, to be able to see the goodness of God and his plans for them.
The parable of the blind men shows the purpose of Jesus in the fulfillment of the prophetic Word of the book of Isaiah 35:5 “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened…”
The arrival of Jesus with this story came to reveal that all his followers had to walk as he did, and get away from being a false guide that leads people to the hole, that is, to hell.
In order to be that faithful disciple, one must be close to the Master, and not indulge in sin, nor caress it, much less justify it. Only by opening your eyes to the light of the Word, will you be able to be that guide that will bless the people around you.