Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Study Note
Study Note
Jesus's dismissal of Pharisaic teaching — 'let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit' — applies the proverbial blindness of the spiritually misguided leader to the entire scribal tradition that has replaced God's command with human tradition (15:3-9). The command 'let them alone' (aphete autous) is a pastoral instruction to the disciples not to be troubled by Pharisaic disapproval (verse 12) — their authority is undermined not by confrontation but by the recognition of their spiritual condition. The blind-leading-blind proverb appears across cultures and traditions but here gains theological specificity: the blindness is caused by prioritizing tradition over Torah and human precept over divine command. The verse has been foundational for Protestant critiques of tradition and continues to shape Christian hermeneutics of the relationship between scripture and interpretive tradition.
Other Translations
Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.
let them alone, guides they are--blind of blind; and if blind may guide blind, both into a ditch shall fall.'
Let them be: they are blind guides. And if a blind man is guiding a blind man, the two will go falling into a hole together.
Cross References
For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that …
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving …
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: …
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore …
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore …
And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and …
And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment …
Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, …