So many times I've heard Christians say, "The Jews are blind" and "Those Jewish Disciples made so many mistakes".
Let's examine these anti-Semitic remarks a bit closer.
This phrase about the Jews being blind is taken right out of the New Testament Scriptures believe it or not. Let's look at each one.
(Mat 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.
Here, Yeshua (Jesus) was talking about some Pharisaical Rabbis who were not teaching the truth concerning Judaism. Not all of the Pharisees were false teachers, matter of fact it was only a few. If you'd like the teaching on the Pharisees and who they really were you can write in and I'll send it to you. The point here is that it was only a few. I have to add that many Gentile Christian leaders are also blind, it is not an exclusive thing to the Jews in any way concerning proper doctrine.
(Mat 23:16) Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
This is another example similar to Mat 15:14. Yeshua is again talking to a few leaders who were teaching against known Jewish dogma.
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Here in John we understand again that this was to some Pharisaical leaders. Not to the Jewish people as a whole.
(2Co 3:14) But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
(2Co 3:15) But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
This is a classic verse used to show how the Jews are blind "even unto this day". But what we need to understand is that this was a statement FROM a Jew to OTHER Jews. Tell me what unbeliever in Yeshua isn't blinded until the Holy Spirit opens their eyes? We were all blinded before we were convicted by HaShem (The Name).
(Rom 11:25) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
This is the kicker, not one verse is more quoted about how Jews are blind then this one! This verse even seems to show that the Jews are not only blind but that the Gentiles ARE NOT blinded. But as this verse is so careful to point out, let's not be ignorant of this mystery. First, those who are anti-Semitic (anti-Semitic doesn't just mean you hate Jews, it means anything anti-Jewish) miss where it says "in part". That is important. Not all Jews have been blinded, only some. I also want to add that those who point out this Scripture and talk about the "Blind Jews", they are the most arrogant and conceited people I've ever come across and that is the cause for the second part of the warning in this passage. It's usually at this point that they begin to list various Disciples and point out just how blind they were. They usually start with Peter.
Peter, in Sunday School, is usually made out to be a fool. He's like a baffling idiot with a touch of teddy bear thrown in out of pity. I can't tell you how many Pastors have told me (even Pastors who support our ministry) how ignorant Peter was. "Well that Peter, he just didn't see what was going on. He didn't understand the ways of G-d". Are you kidding me? Peter was a Disciple of the L-rd and our entire Church was built on that rock! I don't know one person on this planet who had a better and closer walk with Yeshua today then He did. "Well ya know he took his eyes off of Jesus and fell into the water". Listen, not one of us would've tried to walk on the water in the first place. It's pure arrogance to think we know more or walk closer to Yeshua then Peter did.
Paul is the next target. Sure they can quote him till they're blue in the face, but out of the other side of their mouths they slam him for his "blindness". Such hypocrites. Gentiles are no less blind and no less foolish. The following thought is this "Since they were blind, Jesus then came to the Gentiles". Really? So the Jews had less then 1 century to convert and the Gentiles get how long? Till the fullness comes in? Apparently that hasn't happened yet and that's 19 centuries later. If that is indeed the case then it's taken the Gentiles a whole lot longer to "see" then the Jews. I don't believe that is the case though. I think the world as a whole is blind, no one above the other as a nation. Some individuals are more blind then others, but as a whole, the un-Saved are blind no matter what race they are.
Shalom in Him,
Rabbi Stanley
