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They are blind guides of the blind.
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MajorBilly

1 Posts
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December 23, 2016 - 10:17 am

I am interested to know if this is an accurate translation of what the original Greek text actually said and meant. It is an idiom that is known to exist at that time outside of the New Testament.

Matthew 15:14 (NRSV)

[Jesus, referring to the Pharisees] “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”

Luke 6:39 (NRSV)

[I can’t tell what Jesus refers to here] “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?”

(Full disclosure, I work with blind kids. I have seen blind people leading other blind people. They do it all the time, often an older experienced person instructing a younger person in the skills leading to greater independence. And no, they don’t fall into pits.)

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Barnsweb

12 Posts
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July 10, 2017 - 5:27 am

Just as Jesus didn’t teach his disciples that sin comes from the body part – hands, feet or eyes – but was expressing how much damage sin can do and that profound repentance is needed, the saying about the blind was more an object lesson that was based from things like the Psalms were David said the instruction of God was a light to his feet and pathway in life.  You made a keen observation that shows his comments should be taken at a different level than just accusing physically blind persons.

 

At least this is how I’ve come to understand it.

 

You might also look at who Jesus said could be his disciples in the accounts of Matthew and Luke and see if Luke really has much to offer, other than confusion.  In Matthew the condition is loving him more than –  in Luke it is to hate them –

Luke only claims to be handed down info from memory and testifies against the account of Matthew.

The conclusion of Mark shows it to be a fraud in comparison to Matthew – if one takes the accounts seriously.

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