BIBLE READING: EXODUS 39,40; MATTHEW 23:21-39
“Ye blind guides, which strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel” Matthew 23:24 (KJV)
Spiritual blindness is worse than physical blindness. Spiritual blindness is sight without vision. A spiritually blind man cannot relate with the things of the Spirit. He cannot appreciate them because they are spiritually discerned.
It is possible to focus with rapped attention on the wrong thing unwilling to hear the voice of reason and sound judgement. It is possible to focus on the shadow and miss the substance. Many people are blinded by religion and human philosophy that they lose sight of reality.
Here, Jesus was addressing the Scribes and Pharisees who were blinded by religion such that they focused on light matters at the expense of weightier matters. It is a case of one trying to protect a personal doctrine or human tradition and ends up breaking the commandment of God. It is equally, the case of one so mad with preserving the Sabbath day but blinded to the true meaning, essence and person of the Sabbath. It could be likened to one struggling to keep the Passover and not able to recognize the presence of Jesus, the Passover lamb.
This is what religion does to man. Jesus did not come to establish religion but to bring man into relationship with God. The Jews focused so much on the law and missed the law giver.
Prayer: Dear Lord, correct my wrong focus.
Rev. Vincent Diolu