3 scriptures about spiritual blindness

[soldier of light]

Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [g]good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [h]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness

 

[Dan Perez]

Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [g]good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [h]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness

And for

Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [g]good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [h]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness

And the verse is in 1 Cor 2:14 that the soulish man receives NOT // OU , will neverrrrrrr recieve the things OF the SPIRIT of God

dan p

 

[soldier of light]

And for

And the verse is in 1 Cor 2:14 that the soulish man receives NOT // OU , will neverrrrrrr the things f the SPIRIT of God

dan p

Please clarify. Thank you.

 

[Aaron112]

Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;

6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;

7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.

8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

What a summary there in verse 8. Describes most people of the world everywhere.

 

[Aaron112]

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth

"AMPC
Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions]

and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have];

for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.

[I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]""

 

[soldier of light]

What a summary there in verse 8. Describes most people of the world everywhere.

I see the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life are the idols. Things like love for money is idolatry, unless I'm mistaken. I can't say for sure but it's my personal belief.

 

[Aaron112]

Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.

 

[soldier of light]

I believe love for this world blinds us. Love for America, money, possessions, control and power blind us

 

[Aaron112]

I believe love for this world blinds us. Love for America, money, possessions, control and power blind us

.... and yet how 'easy' is it for those without a Torah, without a Bible, without a church, to be justified as YHVH says in Romans 2.

 

[soldier of light]

.... and yet how 'easy' is it for those without a Torah, without a Bible, without a church, to be justified as YHVH says in Romans 2.

What specific verse are you referring to?

 

[soldier of light]

Idols are false God's and they blind us. But so does wealth. Wealth blinds us according to Jesus. He also said that wealth is deceptive. Matthew chapter 6, and Matthew chapter 13 the parable of the sower

 

[soldier of light]

The eye is the lamp of the body and sin blinds us. The lust of the eyes and flesh is sin.

 

[Aaron112]

What specific verse are you referring to?

I thought you posted previously (another thread yesterday) you were going to read it? Did you forget, or could not find it ?

Romans 2 "God justifies those who do what Torah Says" (referring there to goyim who did not have a Bible nor Torah to read) "They show by their life that YHVH has written Torah on their heart" ...... while those who have a Bible/ Torah, but who do not do what Torah Says, they are unjustified.

 

[soldier of light]

I thought you posted previously (another thread yesterday) you were going to read it? Did you forget, or could not find it ?

Romans 2 "God justifies those who do what Torah Says" (referring there to goyim who did not have a Bible nor Torah to read) "They show by their life that YHVH has written Torah on their heart" ...... while those who have a Bible/ Torah, but who do not do what Torah Says, they are unjustified.

I read it but I still didn't understand the point you were making. I dont know who they are but I'm blessed to have Jesus word

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @soldier of light/@Aaron112, perhaps it would help to post the passage in question (a passage taken from the Apostle Paul's great treatise on those who remain outside of Christ, be they Jew or Greek .. Romans 1:18-3:20), so here it is:

Romans 2​

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ​

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ​

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, ​

15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. ​

16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. ​

This is an interesting passage because it tells us the basis for God's judgment and condemnation of those who die outside of Christ, whoever they may be. IOW, the Apostle tells us that the whole of the unsaved (who die in that state, be they Jew or Gentile) will be judged & condemned on the basis of what they both knew and understood (of right & wrong, good & evil) during their lives here, not on the basis of what they did not know and/or understand.

God has written a basic (intrinsic) "law" on the hearts of all so that all are born, therefore, with a sense of right/wrong, good/evil from Him, and if that "law" (the one written on our hearts, that is) is the only law that a person knows, then it is on the basis of that law alone (and what each person chooses to do with it) that they will be judged AND condemned at the Great White Throne (because NONE are innocent/righteous/holy, rather, ALL are lost sinners apart from/outside of Christ .. e.g. Romans 3:23, and all, then, are in need of Him to be their Savior .. e.g. John 3:18; Romans 6:23).

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - as a quick aside, I believe that Romans 2:12-16 also helps us understand what happens to babies who die, since the passage tells us that the judgment and condemnation of the unsaved, including infants, will be based upon what they knew, understood and then did (with the knowledge and understanding of the law that they possessed). IOW, it tells us that God's judgment is ~not~ based on our fallen nature by itself.

Romans 3​

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; ​

10 as it is written, ​

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; ​

11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, ​

THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ​

12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; ​

THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, ​

THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” ​

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello again @soldier of light, @Dan Perez mentioned an excellent verse concerning, "spiritual blindness", one that is part of a larger passage that also describes, details, and contrasts the "spiritual" life of those who are in Christ (those who can "see") with the "natural" life of those who are not in Christ (and who remain "blind" because they are not).

The following is another excerpt from this same, larger passage, a short passage this time (that includes v14) that shows us this comparison clearly (BTW, the larger passage that I was referring to above runs from 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 2:16).

1 Corinthians 2​

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, ​

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. ​

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. ​

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. ​

16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. ​

​

As a for instance, I know a Conservative Rabbi who received his DDiv from a Reformed Jewish seminary here in town, a seminary that allowed him to do his doctoral dissertation on the Gospel of John. I was able to spend some time talking with him about John's Gospel once, and I must say that his knowledge and depth of understanding about it is impressive indeed (he knows and understands what the Gospel of John says as well as/and in the same way as any of the conservative Christian theologians and pastors I've ever known do, including: who the Lord Jesus Christ really is, why He came here, what He did when He lived among us and why what He did was so absolutely necessary for our salvation, and much more).

After listening to him talk about all of this for a while (I was in his office in the synagogue where he is Rabbi), I looked up and said, "so, does this mean that you are, in fact, a Christian then"? Sadly, he said, "no, of course not. While I've told you what the Gospel of John clearly says/teaches, that doesn't mean that I believe or accept any of it as the truth. I don't!"

We are all born dead (and blind), "spiritually", that is, such that our choosing to come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ cannot happen until the Father does a mighty work in us to quicken/regenerate/make us alive (spiritually) in Christ. Only then can we can accept "spiritual" truth for what it really is and finally respond to it by believing (as we exercise the "gift" of saving faith that God gives to all of us who have or will become His sons/daughters by adoption .. e.g. Ephesians 1:4-6, Ephesians 2:8).

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - here are more of the Scriptures that speak to the above (specifically) and to this topic (generally), the first of which (Ezekiel 36:25-27) I believe to be the passage that the Lord Jesus had in mind when He gently chided (v10) Nicodemus (as the teacher of Israel .. John 3:3-10) for not already knowing about/understanding what the "new birth" is and why it is such a vital part of our salvation.

Ezekiel 36​

26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ​

27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances." ​

​

John 3​

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ​

​

John 6​

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.​

​

Ephesians 2​

1 You were ~dead~ in your trespasses and sins, ​

2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ​

3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were ~by nature children of wrath~, even as the rest. ​

4 ~But God~, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ​

5 ~even when we were dead~ in our transgressions, ~made us alive~ together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) ​

​

 

[Jo555]

Here is my favorite.

Sometimes we spot something wrong with another and have an unloving, "looking down on" response to them.

A beam is so much bigger than a mote and I do believe that beam represents the attitude of our hearts to their mote.

The condition of our heart can blind us from seeing our brethren properly.

Matthew 7:
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

 

[Dan Perez]

Please clarify. Thank you.

And what is it that you NEED clarification on ??

dan p

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [g]good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [h]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness

Here’s another one

Mat 15:3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father [a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the [b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

 

[soldier of light]

And what is it that you NEED clarification on ??

dan p

I understand the scripture speaks of blindness. Thank you. I guess it's how you word things that seem confusing.