Blind Guides

In my last post (“Another Cup of Coffee”), I urged Christians to engage opposing views with both resolution and love. Our default posture toward fellow sinners should be humble kindness. Jesus Himself modeled this: He spoke with gentleness and compassion to the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:7–26) and to the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:3–11). When Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came privately, Jesus confronted him with honesty and clarity (Jn 3:1–21). With the rich young ruler, we read: “Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him…” before calling him to a radical new way of life (Mk 10:17–22). After Peter’s denial, Jesus restored him. And when Peter struck a soldier in anger, Jesus rebuked the violence and healed the man.

Yet in public, Jesus could be sharp and unyielding. When faced with manipulation or hypocrisy, He spoke with piercing directness. He repeatedly called the Pharisees “hypocrites” for their outward display of righteousness while they concealed corruption within (Mt 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29). He exposed them as “blind guides” (Mt 15:14; 23:16, 24), “fools” (Mt 23:17, 19), “serpents” (Mt. 23:33), a “brood of vipers” (Mt 12:34; 23:33), “whitewashed tombs” (Mt 23:27), “children of hell” (Mt 23:15), and “unmarked graves” spreading hidden decay (Lk 11:44).

This shows that bold, public rebuke is sometimes necessary—especially when people promote evil, act with malice, or seek to harm the innocent. For this reason, we should thank God for leaders who confront false worldviews and destructive ideologies with courage, refusing to be silenced by threats or accusations. As Paul wrote: “But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict” (1 Thess. 2:2).

Still, discernment is essential. Knowing when to be gentle and when to be firm requires godly wisdom. Scripture exhorts us: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:5–6).