Church history and history, in general, is a very important topic. One reason is that history repeats itself, as we’re seeing that happen in real-time in the decline of politics in the United States. One of the signs that happen near the end of a nation is high taxes. Another sign of troubled times is the prolific spread of false teaching. When things go bad, the people look for answers and that’s when false teachers prey on the weak (Matthew 24:3-4). Unfortunately, false teachers are not easy to spot and intermingle among the faithful. On the outside, they may look faithful, yet behind those false teachers, Satan is there (1 Peter 5:8). We must be careful.
When talking about false teachers, Jesus spoke in a parable. Speaking in parables was prophesied of the Messiah (Psalm 78:2, Matthew 13:3). The target audience of parables is not the unbelievers but the Christian (Mark 4:11). Parables are more than just stories but Jesus placed the power and purpose of God in them. Whenever Jesus tells a parable, He is revealing something new and revelatory. The parable of the blind is specifically about false teachers and He wants us to identify them.
There are 4 characteristics of false teachers. Blind, fatally misleading (worldly), pretenders or hypocrites and lastly they are nice on the outside but wicked on the inside. The first attribute ‘blind’ means they cannot see. Spiritually speaking they cannot see even what a normal Christian can see about God, Jesus, the gospel, and the Bible. They pretend they can but in reality, cannot see anything.
Who are the false teachers? In the immediate context of Jesus’ sermon, it is the Pharisees and Scribes. To the public, the Pharisees appeared to be very righteous and wise with their long prayers and strict customs. But Jesus reveals their true state of blindness. They don’t know the true meaning and purpose of the Law and Prophets. Jesus on the other hand, came to continue and fulfill the Old Testament while the Pharisees replaced and superseded it with their oral law and tradition (Matthew 5:17-20), Mt 15:1-2, 14). If they could see the Law, then they would have embraced Jesus, the author, and fulfiller of it.
An example of their blindness is their reaction to Jesus’ birth. When the Magi came and asked where the new king was born, the Pharisees knew it was in Bethlehem because that’s what the Bible said about the Messiah’s birthplace. Even though the Magi had traveled great distances and were excited to worship the Messiah, they showed no interest. They had the knowledge but could not understand or apply the significance of Jesus’ birth. Even years later, they saw countless miracles done by Jesus and even saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead yet they still denied and rejected Him (John 21:25, John 11:45-46). This is why Jesus calls them the blind. They are sons of Satan and Satan has covered their eyes with lies and the light of the gospel is hidden from them (John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). They cannot see who Jesus is, the Messiah.
What did the Pharisees fail to see?
- Jesus is the messiah based on numerous prophecies.
- Jesus must be resurrected (Psalm 16:8-11)
- Jesus is the Son of God (Psalm 2:7)
- Jesus will be a prophet like Moses, bringing God’s word and performing miracle (Acts 7:38)
- Jesus will die to save sinners. (Isaiah 53:5)
- The Messiah will be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)
- The Messiah will perform many miracles, specifically healing the sick (Isaiah 35:5-6)
To put it plainly, the spiritually blind cannot see or accept Jesus as the Messiah, Lord and Savior. They reject Jesus. This is the problem of every religion and false sect of Christianity. Some religions even think Jesus is a god, a good teacher, enlightened and even sent from God but they do not acknowledge Jesus as the true God, creator of all things, incarnate and only Savior and Lord above all creation (Colossian 3:15-17). Unless your Jesus is first in everything then your Jesus is false and fake. That is not the true Christ! You are blind. Did you receive Christ Jesus the Lord? (Colossians 2:6) You must see Jesus rightly in everything you are being deceived.
Also, the spiritual blind cannot see the kingdom of God meaning the blind do see Jesus as King (Luke 17:20-21). Jesus says, ‘Do not worry but seek first the kingdom of God’ (Matthew 6:31-33). The true Christian realizes the kingdom of God is real. So when you are worried or anxious, seek the kingdom of God. It is real and the true King is there.
The blind cannot obey God’s word. They might know it, and they might even be an expert on the Bible. The difference is that they have no desire or the ability to obey (1 Corinthians 2:14). Their knowledge is shallow. I must tell you, the most dangerous false teacher is yourself. Self-help and self-righteousness will blind you to Jesus. We were also blind because of our sinful self but Jesus saved us with his selfless sacrifice.
In conclusion, Jesus says, the blind leading the blind will fall into the pit. The false teachers and their followers will end up in hell (Rev 20:10 ). Their life on earth may be great but they will have a tragic fate under the final judgment. For those who follow Jesus, though their life on earth may be miserable and full of hardship, their end will be glorious. Like the thief who repented on the cross, the believer will be with Jesus in paradise. So remember the blind beggar Bartimaeus, who saw many rich and powerful men on the side of the road to Jericho. None of them could truly help him. But when he heard Jesus coming, he cried out desperately for mercy and asked Jesus to give him sight. We must also cry out to Jesus to receive mercy and sight.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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