[Greek] τυφλός (typhlos), [Latin] caecus, [German] blind: blind, not able to understand, short-sighted, opaque; 53 scriptural references
The Blind Leading the Blind: painting by Danish Renaissance painter Peter Bruegel (1568).
Background information:
The blind leading the blind:
- This painting reflects Bruegel’s mastery of observation. This painting is based on Mt.15:14: the blind leading the blind.
- Each figure has a different eye affliction. The hold their heads aloft to make better use of their other senses.
- The first blind man falls into a pit. This leader of the group has fallen on his back into a ditch.
- Because they are linked by their staffs, he seems to drag his companions down with him.
- They pass along a path bordered by a river on one side and a village with a church on the other.
- St. Anna’s Church, built around 1250, is depicted in the painting.
Greek Hellenism: This term means blind (unable to see), who walks away, blind to the future, intestines (caecum), blind alley (cul-de-sac), in the dark, inescapable, spiritual blindness, and choked with mud.
- Man, wealth, power, ignorance, and pride all can be potential sources (causes) of blindness.
- The blind man is often associated with comparisons and proverbial expressions.
- Such proverbial expressions include ‘the blind leading the blind’ and ‘ignorance is likened to a blind man walking in the dark’.
- Spiritual blindness is often juxtaposed with physical sight.
- Physical blindness is often juxtaposed with intellectual understanding.
- Gnosticism make references to those unable to receive gnosis as spiritually blind.
Old Testament: This term means blindness and to make blind (literally, figuratively, and metaphorically).
- Blindness was a very severe handicap in Israel. The blind were specially protected by the laws of Israel.
- It was implied that one, who misleads a blind mean, is to be cursed.
- Spiritual blindness is not necessarily tied to physical blindness.
- God sometimes uses blindness as a punishment for sin.
- Old testament prophets make metaphorical and figurative references to blindness regarding judgment and salvation.
- The curing of blindness is an important theme of eschatological hope. Blind watchers are without knowledge.
- God Himself will be a guide on the way for those who seek to see.
New Testament: This term essentially means to be blind and not be able to understand. Examples include literal blindness, inability (or refusal) to believe, blindness by God’s providence, blindness through God’s punishment, Gentiles, and spiritual blindness. The scribes and Pharisees are seen as blind fools refusing (or unwilling) to believe. A blind man was healed so that the works of God might be visible to all. A Jewish false prophet was made blind by God. The Jews viewed the Gentiles as the blind (in the darkness). Those who lack the virtues (and gifts), given by God, are spiritually blind. For purposes of brevity, I will focus on spiritual blindness.
Scriptures on spiritual blindness:
Mt.15:14: “Let them alone; they are blind guides (of the blind). If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit.” (Jesus was seeking to uproot the Pharisees’ tradition of washing one’s hands before eating. Jesus stated that what comes out of the person is what defiles. The Pharisees are breaking God’s commandments for the sake of their traditions. The Pharisees are blind guides.)
Mt.23:16: “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.” (The Pharisees have inverted importance of oaths, revealing themselves to be blind guides. The Pharisees hold less meaningful oaths (gold) to be more important. They hold more meaningful oaths (temple) to be less important).
Mt.23:24: “Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel.” (The Pharisees expend great efforts on minor things. The Pharisees also neglect what is important.)
Mt.23:26: “Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” (The Pharisees are more concerned for outer appearances while inner purity is ignored.)
Jn.9:39: I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” (Christ came into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind. To spiritually see is to discern the truth. The truth may seek to soften the heart of those who believe. The truth may also seek to harden the hearts of those who are spiritually blind, becoming more prideful, conceitful, blind, and ignorant, and obstinate.)
Jn.9:41: Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see’, so your sin remains.” (If the Pharisees were truly blind, they would have GENUINE CONSCIOUSNESS of their blindness. They would not be guilty of sin. Instead, the Pharisees have WILLFUL IGNORANCE AND CONCEIT. Because of their obstinance and hardness of heart, their sin remains.)
Peter’s blindness: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall happen to you.”Mt.16:23 At first glance, Peter’s statement to Jesus sounds like a very reasonable statement. Peter is concerned about Jesus’ welfare. Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Jesus stated that Peter was briefly possessed by Satan, who wanted to obstruct Jesus’ mission [in dying on the cross]. Peter was not aware of (or blind) to what he was actually saying to Jesus!
Cecum: The cecum is a pouch at the beginning of the large intestine. This term comes the Latin intestum caecum, meaning blind intestine. The related Greek term is typhlon (enteron). Typhlitis is the inflammation of the large intestine. In a sense, this is the ‘blind gut’ or ‘cul de sac’ (bottom of the bag). The cul de sac, frequently found in subdivisions, is also called a blind alley, dead end, and road with no exit.
Blindness: “Houston, we can’t see the problem!” Gender Ideology and LGBTQ ideology
Many of us often want to be empowered in our choices and decisions: “But this is how I feel!” Yet we cannot change objective truth in how the way God created us!
In puberty, one may naturally feel awkward or uncomfortable in one’s body. These changes typically disappear afterwards.
One may also experience gender dysphoria with one’s body. But gender reassignment surgery seeks to unnaturally alter and manipulate one’s body with surgery and drugs, chemicals, and hormones not intended for your original gender (body).
On a much higher philosophical and moral level, manipulating one’s gender is tantamount to being on God’s realm of creative capabilities and undermining God’s will for you. This is very dangerous!
If this serves Satan’s purposes to undermine God’s design for gender, he will gladly encourage you to change your own gender. Satan can stealthily influence us in vulnerabilities by subtlety, distraction, busyness, and even with ‘reasonableness’.
Many do not realize that they will be held accountable for their actions and choices before God. Many clergy will be held accountable for failing to act like priests.
Many clergy, blinded by their efforts to appeal to the world, are also blinded by the Church’s stance against this homosexual lifestyle. They will be held accountable.
Ultimately, Satan seeks to destroy and upend God’s creation and moral laws.
Satan can easily “push our buttons” by inserting into our minds seemingly reasonable ideas such as: “You can do whatever you want”, “You know better”, “You can refuse”, “You have the right to do that”, “You really don’t believe that”, “It’s OK to do that”, “You can look at that”, “Everybody else is doing that”, [or your own excuse] ,etc. (We do not need to be full blown possessed to be influenced by Satan!)
Conclusion:
Cecum, blind, blindness
In the Old Testament, it is important to note that blind, deaf, crippled, and the widowed were called to be cared for under the Law. Those who take advantage of these groups will be cursed. Spiritual blindness becomes an important theme in Old Testament scripture. Spiritual blindness is often contrasted with physical sight.
In the New Testament, there is a lot of physical healing going on. The scribes and Pharisees were often spiritually blind. God may use blindness to demonstrate His providence or His punishment. Since the Gentiles did not follow the Law, the Jews often viewed the Gentiles as blind or ignorant.
Then I am talking about intestines and cul de sacs. I didn’t see that coming! ☺☺☺
Update: In recent times, our society has been afflicted with a cultural blindness called woke cancel culture.
Many woke people naively look at the past, applying current moral values to the past. They fail to see (understand) that cultural attitudes necessarily change over time.
Many abortion supporters, only seeing that they have the legal right to have an abortion, are often blind to the moral consequences of killing the unborn. One wonders if they are also unaware or blind to the fact that they will have to answer to God.
We have some blind Modernist clergy, adapting to the culture, seeking to change doctrine, introducing heretical ideas, and restricting traditional practices.
The Modernists, fully aware of their ideology, continue to implement Modernist Church practices, contributing to further problems in the Church. It is as if the Modernists are managing the decline of Jesus’ Church. The Modernists have become blind guides to the Church as these problems continue.
The Modernists, in their outreach to the LGBTQ community, have intentionally or unintentionally become blinded to the Church’ teachings against homosexuality. The Vatican has developed the human tradition of seeking to de-stigmatize, ignore, and normalize the sinful nature of homosexuality.
How do Modernist respond to problems caused by Modernists policies (traditions) ever since Vatican II? By implementing more Modernist practices (“renewing” and “reforming” ==> resulting in more problems. [Rinse and repeat] It is the blind (Modernists) further leading the blind (the most poorly catechized laity in generations).
Pope Francis and his inner circle, in their hard-heartedness, are becoming more intractable in actually doubling down on the restrictions to the TLM. These Modernists are continuing to marginalize Catholics. This is not going to end well for the Modernists! Traditional Latin Masses are currently thriving (in places currently allowed). We are already seeing a GROWING number of conservative minded seminarians and younger priests in contrast to a DECLINING number of older Modernist priests who are retiring and dying out. (PERHAPS GOD’S PROVIDENCE IS ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN!)
The Modernists are blindly seeking to further prop up an often lackluster or uninspiring Novus Order Mass by removing the TLM. The Modernists are neglecting a liturgical worship that has existed for most of the Church’s existence.
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” Hellen Keller