And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
The verse portrays those called Jews who rest in the law and boast in God, who know His will and approve excellent things because instructed out of the law, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law, and who are confident they themselves are a guide of the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the foolish and a teacher of babes. That confidence belongs to people who know the law and see themselves as guides for those in spiritual darkness. It is the confidence of religious leaders who regard themselves as guides while failing to respond rightly to entrusted truth.
The confidence was meant to rest on a sacred entrusting, for God committed to His Israel the most sacred truth ever committed to mortals and made His people repositories of His holy law, so that the light of His truth might shine to those living in the darkness of error in an evil time when iniquity abounds. Yet the Jewish teachers had perverted God's law, so that even those most zealous for the law were breaking it themselves. The same condition is having great light and great opportunities, line upon line and precept upon precept, while still cherishing idols in families and churches in small as well as large matters. Such idols include pride in apparel, speech and deportment, which separate from God as the golden calf separated Israel.
The failure appears when priests extol their own piety and condemn Gentiles as sinners, yet the supposedly heathen wise men stand higher in God's sight and the guardians of Scripture show no sympathy for their search for the Messiah. Merely hearing and acknowledging the authority of the law is not enough, for God requires fulfilling its requirements. This includes the commandments touching the tongue that forbid irreverence toward God and uncharitable speech against neighbor, so speech gives evidence whether the law is treasured in the heart, for not the hearers of the law are just before God but the doers shall be justified.
The confidence becomes guilt and condemnation when one teaches another without teaching self, preaching against stealing, adultery and idolatry yet stealing, committing adultery and committing sacrilege. Through breaking the law in this way the teacher dishonors God and causes His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles and others to speak against Him. True standing is not outward in the flesh by letter and circumcision but inward, a Jew inwardly with circumcision of the heart in the spirit whose praise is not of men but of God.
In the perils of the last days no man is given the work of numbering Israel, reading the heart, or measuring ministering brethren, for the one found fault with may be more righteous before God. The lesson therefore is to examine and correct one's own life rather than judge a brother. Each must take heed to self, crucify hasty temper and self-exaltation, put no stumbling block in a brother's way, and work out his own salvation, teaching self first with zeal according to knowledge. Truth received in the heart transforms mind, heart and character and is shown in modest apparel distinct from the world and in good works, while reproof that brings only shame without repentance condemns, and those who claim the sacred trust while working iniquity disgrace the religion of Christ and God will not much longer endure them but will expose them.
The verse portrays those called Jews who rest in the law and boast in God, who know His will and approve excellent things because instructed out of the law, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law, and who are confident they themselves are a guide of the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the foolish and a teacher of babes. That confidence belongs to people who know the law and see themselves as guides for those in spiritual darkness. It is the confidence of religious leaders who regard themselves as guides while failing to respond rightly to entrusted truth.
The confidence was meant to rest on a sacred entrusting, for God committed to His Israel the most sacred truth ever committed to mortals and made His people repositories of His holy law, so that the light of His truth might shine to those living in the darkness of error in an evil time when iniquity abounds. Yet the Jewish teachers had perverted God's law, so that even those most zealous for the law were breaking it themselves. The same condition is having great light and great opportunities, line upon line and precept upon precept, while still cherishing idols in families and churches in small as well as large matters. Such idols include pride in apparel, speech and deportment, which separate from God as the golden calf separated Israel.
The failure appears when priests extol their own piety and condemn Gentiles as sinners, yet the supposedly heathen wise men stand higher in God's sight and the guardians of Scripture show no sympathy for their search for the Messiah. Merely hearing and acknowledging the authority of the law is not enough, for God requires fulfilling its requirements. This includes the commandments touching the tongue that forbid irreverence toward God and uncharitable speech against neighbor, so speech gives evidence whether the law is treasured in the heart, for not the hearers of the law are just before God but the doers shall be justified.
The confidence becomes guilt and condemnation when one teaches another without teaching self, preaching against stealing, adultery and idolatry yet stealing, committing adultery and committing sacrilege. Through breaking the law in this way the teacher dishonors God and causes His name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles and others to speak against Him. True standing is not outward in the flesh by letter and circumcision but inward, a Jew inwardly with circumcision of the heart in the spirit whose praise is not of men but of God.
In the perils of the last days no man is given the work of numbering Israel, reading the heart, or measuring ministering brethren, for the one found fault with may be more righteous before God. The lesson therefore is to examine and correct one's own life rather than judge a brother. Each must take heed to self, crucify hasty temper and self-exaltation, put no stumbling block in a brother's way, and work out his own salvation, teaching self first with zeal according to knowledge. Truth received in the heart transforms mind, heart and character and is shown in modest apparel distinct from the world and in good works, while reproof that brings only shame without repentance condemns, and those who claim the sacred trust while working iniquity disgrace the religion of Christ and God will not much longer endure them but will expose them.