Blindness, spiritual

An inability or unwillingness to perceive the truth of the gospel.

Unbelievers are spiritually blind

1 Corinthians 2:14 See also Psalm 32:9, Psalm 92:6–7; Proverbs 4:19ISA Proverbs 44:9, Isaiah 44:18–19 Ezekiel 12:2; Micah 4:12MAT Micah 13:13–15; Luke 8:10; Isaiah 6:9–10 Matthew 15:16; Luke 24:25; John 1:5, John 9:40–41 the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees; Romans 3:11; 1 Corinthians 14:23, 1 Corinthians 14:24

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Spiritual blindness is a result of sin

Lamentations 4:14; Zephaniah 1:17; 2 Corinthians 4:4 See also Mark 9:32; Luke 18:34; John 3:19–20, John 12:39–40; Ephesians 4:17–19

They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.

I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The consequences of spiritual blindness

Romans 1:18–23 See also Deuteronomy 28:28–29 lack of success, oppression and robbery; Psalm 82:5; Isaiah 42:25 the violence of war; Isaiah 59:10; Lamentations 4:14; Matthew 6:23; Acts 28:26–27; Isaiah 6:9–10; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 1:61JN 1 John 2:9, 1 John 2:11

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

The removal of spiritual blindness

2 Corinthians 4:6 See also Numbers 24:4; 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha asks the LORD to open his servant's eyes; Psalm 119:18, Psalm 119:130, Psalm 146:8; Isaiah 32:3, Isaiah 35:5, Isaiah 42:16–18; Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 24:31; John 3:3 No-one can see the kingdom of God without being born again; John 8:12 Jesus Christ is the light of the world; John 9:39; Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The spiritual blindness of Israel

Isaiah 1:3 See also Deuteronomy 29:4, Deuteronomy 32:28; Isaiah 29:10; Jeremiah 4:22, Jeremiah 5:21; Micah 4:12; Romans 11:7–8, Romans 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:14–15

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”

The spiritual blindness of leaders

Matthew 15:14 See also Isaiah 29:9–12, Isaiah 56:10; Matthew 23:16–19, Matthew 23:24–26; Luke 6:39; John 3:10, John 8:27, John 9:40–41, John 10:6; Romans 2:19–21; 2 Peter 2:12

Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

The spiritual blindness of believers

John 14:9 See also Job 42:3; Daniel 12:8; Matthew 15:16 parallel Mark 7:18; Matthew 16:9 parallel Mark 8:21; Luke 2:50, Luke 9:45, Luke 24:25; John 12:16; 2 Peter 1:9

Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

The spiritual blindness of a church

Revelation 3:17–18

You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.