Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Parallel translations
- WEB He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?
- KJV And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
- NKJV And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
- NASB Now He also spoke a parable to them: “A person who is blind cannot guide another who is blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?
- NLT Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus warns with a parable that a blind guide leads others into ruin. Those who teach and lead must themselves first see clearly.
Overview
This short parable cautions against following or becoming spiritually blind guides, likely directed at self-righteous leaders. The disciple's understanding must be shaped by Christ before he can help others. True sight comes only from the One who is the light of the world, lest both leader and follower fall together.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 15:14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- 2 Tim 3:13while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- Jer 14:15–16Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!
- Matt 23:16–26Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
- Isa 9:16For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.
- 1 Tim 6:3–5If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
- Zech 11:15–17And the LORD said to me: “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
- Isa 56:10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
- Jer 8:12Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.
- Jer 6:15Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.
- Matt 23:33You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?
- Rom 2:19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,
- Mic 3:6–7Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 6:39 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.