Scripture
Primary passage
Matthew 15:12–14
Primary passage · World English Bible
The command
Hear what Jesus commands.
Do not follow spiritually blind guides; leave teaching God has not planted rather than being ruled by offended authority.
In context
Hear the whole passage.
When the disciples report that Pharisees are offended, Jesus warns that blind guides and their followers share the danger of the pit.
What this reveals
What this reveals about God.
Jesus forms disciples who are not controlled by prestigious opposition and who choose guides capable of seeing truthfully.
Practice this command
Take one concrete step.
Evaluate one guiding voice by Jesus' teaching and fruit. If it repeatedly leads away from truth, take a clear step back and seek trustworthy counsel.
Discuss
Talk about it.
How can we recognize spiritual blindness without assuming that everyone who disagrees with us is a blind guide?
Pray
Pray this.
Jesus, open our eyes and guard us from blind guidance. Give us humility to receive correction and courage to leave harmful teaching.
Teach
Teach it simply.
Clarify that 'leave them' addresses blind religious guidance in this setting; it is not a casual command to abandon every difficult person.
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