The Danger of Self-Deception
Robert Wurtz II
Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit. (Matthew 15:14 ESV)
You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:24 KJV)
The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:31)
The late Greek scholar A.T. Robertson once told the story of being in Cincinnati, where a blind man introduced him to his blind friend. He said that “he was showing him the city.” The story is insightful and similar to the “blind” motif that our Lord used numerous times to teach spiritual blindness and a complete lack of self-awareness (conscientiousness). The point is simple: people influence others regarding the faith of Jesus Christ but are blind to their own inconsistent and sinful ways. Nevertheless, these blind types don’t hesitate to “show people the city.”
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The unbelieving Pharisees saw Jesus not just as an ideological threat but as a competitor infringing upon their influence and authority. Instead of examining their own behavior and its impact, they blamed Jesus for their waning popularity. In John 11:47-48, they expressed concern over His influence, fearing it would lead to their downfall. They failed to see that their own actions—marked by hypocrisy and self-righteousness—were the true cause of their diminishing credibility.
Spiritually Blind
The spiritually blind religious leaders of the Second Temple period were persistent at trying to convince the public that they were godly. In modern times, their acting skills would rival anything Hollywood produces. They loved the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues (Matthew 23:6 ESV). They loved titles like “rabbi” or “father,” which are titles of honor (see John 5:44). We can easily contrast their proud looks that God hates (Proverbs 6:17) with Jesus, who, being in the form of God, took on the form of a slave (Philippians 2:5). The religious leaders hated Jesus and envied him. Why? He exposed and challenged them in front of the people. Jesus fearlessly destroyed their “honor” with His denunciations (Matthew 23:1-36) and threatened them with Hell (v. 33).
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Jesus identified these spiritually blind leaders (blind guides) as people who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. He exposed the inconsistencies in their thinking and behavior that they either couldn’t or wouldn’t see. How can a person condemn one behavior and then celebrate (laud) other behaviors that are far more evil? They swallow evil the size of a camel but choke on evil the size of a gnat. This outlook should alarm us because it’s wildly inconsistent and symptomatic of a person abandoned by God and given over to self-deception. This is the pit as the ESV translates it or ditch as the KJV renders it in Matthew 15:14.
Let Them Alone
Teachings such as these are as relevant today as they were in the first century. My goal is to exhort such people by writing, teaching, and preaching about these ungodly attitudes and behaviors. That does not make me spiritual; it could mean my theology is wrong. Why? Because Jesus said, “Let them alone…” This implies that He has already abandoned the spiritually blind and inconsistent leader to their own devices and expects us to do likewise. He told them that they were of their father the devil, though they claimed to be Abraham’s seed. When John the Baptist confronted these types, he called them vipers. You can’t help a viper. Don’t handle them. Stay back before you’re bitten and spend years recovering.
When people are clearly shown the truth and refuse to change their ways, they are willingly blind. The concept is similar to willful ignorance, where a person could know the truth but deliberately ignore it. They don’t want to change. It is safe to say that willful blindness is one “disease” that God cannot or will not cure. It requires action on the part of the person. They must acknowledge the truth and walk in it. If they don’t they will surely walk into the pit.
Blind Seeking the Blind
Our passage in Matthew 15:14 suggests that some people select other blind leaders to lead them around. Birds of a feather flock together, as the old saying goes. Jeremiah dealt with this same problem in his day. People love to be lied to by religious leaders. In other words, both leader and follower are willfully blind and headed towards the pit. They may even believe they are spiritual because they use all the right religious-sounding trigger words that get the people excited. Those who see it shake their head in disgust or disbelief, but the blind say, “amen, amen.”
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It’s dangerous to surround yourself with people who will put the blinders on with you. They willingly participate in the evil because they overlook or fear confronting the sin. During the Second Temple period, religious leaders sought only those who affirmed them, rejecting and persecuting anyone who dared challenge their ways. Paul, once numbered among them, faced attempts on his life when he dared to speak the truth of Christ (Acts 9:23-25). Jesus condemned the Pharisees, calling them “whitewashed tombs,” beautiful outside but full of death within (Matthew 23:27-28). Such duplicity leads to spiritual rottenness. Proverbs reminds us, “Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence” (Proverbs 15:32).
He Had Their Number
Have you ever met someone who realized you “had their number,” and suddenly, they had no use for you? That’s a way of saying that the person knew that you could see their bad behavior. You are no follower of the blind and are not fooled nor complicit. When Jesus saw into the hearts of the religious leaders of His day and denounced their hypocrisy, they plotted to destroy Him. What happens to us? The same thing. Not only do they have no use for you but will work to destroy your good name and influence because the truth you preach exposes them. It’s the oldest trick in the book. Jesus experienced this often with the religious leaders. He exposed them because He wasn’t afraid of them like the common people were.
Once they knew His blinders were off, they hated Him. He saw their hypocrisy and self-promotion and called it out (Matthew 21:45). Understand that spiritually compromised leaders avoid anyone who “sees” their spiritual blindness, anyone who could lead them to a change of mind (repentance). They love their spiritual blindness, as it agrees with their own evil ways. To shine a light upon this group is to incur their wrath, even as Jesus all too often experienced. It intensifies their fears into full blown paranoia and an “us against them” outlook. If they had loved the people and not their positions things would have been different.
Shifting the Blame
The prophet Jeremiah frequently warned the leaders of Judah about their impending doom due to their disobedience and idolatry. However, instead of heeding his warnings, they accused him of demoralizing the people and spreading falsehoods. In reality, it was their own idolatry and injustice that were causing their decline (Jeremiah 18:18). They plotted against Jeremiah, blaming him for their unpopularity (Jeremiah 20:10).
During Isaiah’s ministry, the people of Judah blamed the prophetic warnings for causing fear and unrest. They ignored the fact that their own corruption and abandonment of God’s commandments were the real issues. Isaiah highlighted their hypocrisy and false worship, which were the true causes of their troubles (Isaiah 29:13).
Ezekiel faced resistance from the leaders who were in denial about their sinful ways. They preferred to believe that external forces or rumors were to blame for their societal problems. Ezekiel exposed their idolatry and moral failures as the root causes of their suffering (Ezekiel 22:25-28).
Insulting the People
The leaders in ancient Israel underestimated the people’s discernment, forgetting that individuals are perceptive and not naive. It’s insulting to assume you can control their understanding. Even without knowing the full details, people sense when something is off. While they may lack the means to confront it, their conscience reveals the truth. Attempting to manipulate the narrative won’t alter their perception if your actions are genuinely harmful or unjust. True Christlike character shines through, and no amount of spin can hide the truth. Authentic change and integrity are what ultimately earn respect and trust.
Paranoia is one trait that plagued the Old Testament leaders and the Pharisees. It led them to act irrationally, often resorting to violence or manipulation to maintain control. It blinded them to the truth and prevented genuine change. The problem just had to be someone else, it couldn’t be them. Instead of embracing change and introspection, they clung to power, ultimately leading to their downfall. This highlights the destructive nature of paranoia when leaders prioritize authority over integrity and truth.
Doers of the Word
Again, Jesus said, “Let them alone…” Romans 2:19 tells us that certain Jews believed they were a guide to the blind but refused to teach themselves. Their messages would be biblically sound. The problem is that their words and actions needed to match. Their life militated against their message and left people sorely disillusioned. Moreover, people actually blasphemed God on account of such hypocrites (Romans 2:23-24).
James 1:22 tells us to “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” This means that the trap the religious leaders of the Second Century fell into is also a danger to us. It isn’t sufficient to merely appear holy, spiritual, and religious. We need to be the real thing. Moreover, we need to examine ourselves for errors and inconsistencies in our thinking and beliefs. We do what we believe and that has real life consequences. If you reject God’s word, He will reject you. As Jesus put it, “Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit.” (Matthew 15:14 ESV)
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