A.      Among the first things created by God was light (Gen. 1:3).  "And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness” (Gen. 1:4).

B.      Truly, the light is good, and so is the ability to perceive light through the sense of vision.  However, those who are blind cannot share in the goodness of the light, and they dwell in perpetual darkness.

C.      Physical blindness is tragic, but it is nothing compared to the spiritual blindness that can prevent us from seeing God’s blessed truth.

II.      THE SYMBOLISM OF BLINDNESS

A.      Physical blindness is the inability to perceive light.

                                                             1.      Those who are blind lack vision.  They are unable to perceive the light that is reflected by the objects in their surroundings.  Although the light is all around them, they are unaware of it.

                                                             2.      Blindness is a severe disability.  Persons who are blind are prevented from doing many things that those with sight can do.  They are also at greater risk of injuries and accidents because they cannot see to avoid the danger.

                                                             3.      Blindness can be the result of several causes.  Injuries, illnesses, age, and birth defects can cause damage to the eyes and leave them insensitive.  Blindness can also be affected by obstacles that obstruct vision such as a blindfold.

B.      Spiritual blindness is the inability to perceive truth.

                                                             1.      The Scriptures often use both vision and blindness as figures to describe a person’s level of understanding.

a.       We use these concepts regularly in our own language.  When something is explained to a person, he might say, "I see,” meaning, "I understand.”  Conversely, if his understanding is different, then he may say, "I don’t see it that way.”

b.       The Bible commonly uses the figure of blindness to describe the condition of a person who does not see the light of God’s truth.  Although the truth is readily available to him, he does not see it.  Isaiah described such a blind (and deaf) man in Isaiah 42:20 – "You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; your ears are open, but none hears.”

c.        Jesus repeatedly called the Pharisees blind (five times in Matthew 23 alone) because they did not truly understand God’s word.  Sadly, the Pharisees were the teachers of Israel.  For this reason, Jesus said of them, "[T]hey are blind guides of the blind.  And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14).

                                                             2.      Like physical blindness, spiritual blindness is also a severe disability.

a.       Those who are spiritually blind cannot do what God would have them to do because they do not understand His will.  They are spiritually handicapped.

b.       The spiritually blind are also more susceptible to spiritual dangers – deception, temptation, sin, and lawlessness to name a few.  Jesus said, "[H]e who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes” (John 12:35).

c.        Notice Proverbs 29:18 – "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.”

i.         When men have no spiritual vision and understanding, their lawless behavior and lack of restraint lead to their harm.

ii.        On the other hand, when men understand God’s law and live by it, they have blessings from God.

                                                             3.      Also like physical blindness, spiritual blindness is the result of several causes.

a.       Satan is at the root of all spiritual blindness.  Notice 2Corinthians 4:3-4 – "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

b.       Self-inflicted obstacles such as biases and hatred often block man’s spiritual vision.

i.         Many whose eyes saw the miracles of Jesus did not believe in Him because they were blinded by their love for the approval of men.  Regarding them, John quoted Isaiah 6:9-10, and said, "For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, ‘He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them’” (see John 12:39-43 for full context).

ii.        John also wrote of those who are blinded by hate, saying, "But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1John 2:11).

III.   THE CURE FOR BLINDNESS

A.      Just as Jesus healed men who were physically blind, He also heals those who are spiritually blind.

                                                             1.      The ninth chapter of John tells the story of a man born blind whom Jesus healed.  The Lord used this miracle to show that He is the source of truth and that otherwise there is only darkness.

a.       After Jesus healed the man, the Pharisees, who opposed Jesus, questioned the man and even his parents.  Eventually, they put him out of the synagogue.

b.       Notice the exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees in verses 39-41:

And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, "We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

c.        This raises a fearful possibility for those who think they know anything apart from Christ.  They may actually be blind without realizing it, and thus they remain in sin.

                                                             2.      Jesus is the source of spiritual vision as He said in John 12:44-46 – "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.  He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.  I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”

B.      Today, we may gain the healing power of Christ for blindness through God’s grace, His word, and prayer.

                                                             1.      Psalm 146:8 says, "The LORD opens the eyes of the blind…”  Jesus healed those who were physically blind, but He also opens the spiritual eyes of man through the truth of His gospel.

                                                             2.      Even after obeying the gospel initially, blindness can remain on Christians until their minds are fully opened to the whole truth of God’s word.

a.       Notice the words of Jesus written to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:17-18:

"Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”

b.       Paul prayed for Christians in Ephesus, saying, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:18-19).

c.        Peter cites blindness as one reason for putting on what some call the "Christian graces,” saying, "For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins” (2Pet. 1:9).

IV.    CONCLUSION – BLIND SPOTS

A.      Having considered the meaning, causes, and cure for spiritual blindness, let us ask ourselves: Are we blind?

                                                             1.      The Pharisees and many others like them thought that they could see clearly, but they were truly blind.  Are there any ways in which we are like them?

                                                             2.      The only way to assure ourselves of clear vision is to fully apply the light of God’s word to every part of life.  Confess these words to God from Psalm 119:105 – "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  Do you mean it?

B.      Although we who are Christians have the light of the gospel, let us realize that there may yet be blind spots that block our vision.

                                                             1.      A physical blind spot is a place in the visual field that is not detected by the eye because of a lack of light-detecting cells in a certain area of the eye.  Everyone has these blind spots.

                                                             2.      In a spiritual parallel, there are sometimes blind spots in our lives where we are not seeing the light of the gospel.  The goal of this series will be to shed the light on some of these blind spots.