ACC ~ Matthew 15 v14

BLIND LEADERS OF THE BLIND

ORIGEN: “They are blind guides of blind people.” Who are these blind guides? The Pharisees, whose minds “the god of this age has blinded” because they are “unbelieving,” since they did not believe in Jesus Christ. The god of this age has blinded them “so that the light of the gospel of the glory of God in the face of Christ would not shine on them.” [1] We ought to avoid being guided by those blind persons. Not only should we do this, but we certainly should also listen with caution in the case of those who claim to lead in the way of healthy teaching and ought to apply healthy judgment to what they say. We should do these things so that we ourselves do not appear to be blind because we do not see the meaning of the Scriptures. We would become blind like this if we were guided by the ignorance of people who are blind and people who do not perceive the issues of healthy teaching. If we were led by such people, both the one who leads and the one who is led would fall into the pit. [2] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.14. [3]

[1] 2 Cor 4:4.

[2] In some translations the Greek word used here is translated “ditch,” but the word is a generic word for any deep pit or hole. The word usually referred to wells or cisterns dug to collect rainwater. Often these pits were cut deep into solid rock. Wells and cisterns were typically at least as deep as 13 feet, and many were two or three times this deep. From the wide bottom the sides often gradually sloped closer together like the sides of a bottle as one moved upward. The opening at the surface of the ground was often only a couple of feet wide. Channels cut in the rock at the surface of the ground directed water into the cistern in the winter, and the small opening prevented evaporation in the summer. If the cistern was not covered or marked properly, the small opening that appeared on the surface of the ground created a hazard that might go unnoticed even by someone who could see (cf. Jer 38:6).

[3] GCS 40:56; ANF 9:442.

LET THEM ALONE

CHROMATIUS: He then goes on to say, “Let them alone; they are blind guides of blind men. But if a blind man guide a blind man, both fall into a pit.” These words were intended to expose the scribes and Pharisees, who were blinded by the error of their unbelief. Not only were they unable to recognize the light of truth—not believing in Christ—but also they were attracting others into the pit of death. Nevertheless the words also apply to heretics. [1] Denying that Christ is the “true light from true light, and God from God,” [2] they too were steeped in blindness. Because of their perverse doctrine, they also proved to be guides and leaders to those adrift. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 53.8. [3]

[1] Chromatius had in mind the Arians, reflecting analogically from his time to the time of Matthew.

[2] Nicean-Constantinopolitan Creed.

[3] CCL 9a:467.

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