Why we run away from praying?

 Why we run away from praying:

1.The Devil

God’s original intent when creating us in the garden was to make us an extension of His family–for us to be His children. Scripture also makes mentions that we are His bride. In order to have a relationship with a father or even a husband, there has to be a level of communication and intimacy that is shared through those conversations. It is because of this design that we are drawn to pray to God. It is through these moments that we develop an intimate relationship with Him and begin to know Him as the personable God that He is instead of a distant creator. Since our beginning in the garden, Satan always attempted to break our connection to God and lead us away from Him through sin and shame. And today, he continues as best as he can to prevent you and I from spending time with God in prayer.

A praying man stops sinning and a sinning man stops praying. – Leonard Ravenhill

Let’s look at a portion in Scripture where the devil played a role in preventing God’s people from praying. In Daniel 6, the king made a decree that everyone should pray to Him alone, and if they did not, they would be severely punished. The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel 6:7

The devil operates in a similar manner. Behind the scenes, the devil pushes his agenda of prayerlessness among believers in the form of excuses, laziness, busyness, and sin. He will use everything in his arsenal to drive you away from prayer. This is because a Christian with a prayer life is unstoppable in God. Once you have a prayer life, you will be a conqueror and move mountains with God. Every man of God in the Bible had one common denominator—they had a great relationship with God and a prayer life. If the devil can take away your prayer life, then he will be able to take away your destiny and spiritual walk with God.

If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. -Anonymous

2.Our Fallen Nature

It has been in our nature to run away from God since the garden of Eden. If you recall the story of Adam and Eve, you’ll notice that when God began to call them in the garden, they answered from behind the bushes in shame. And they heard the voice of the Lord God, walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Genesis 3:8-10

This is a representation of what happens to us till this day. Even though we are born-again, we have a tendency to run from God when we fall into sin instead of running towards Him in repentance. Many run because they don’t know what to say to God in prayer so they hide behind the bushes of busyness. Some try to pleasing God by hiding behind good works and self-righteousness instead of communing with Him. Whatever the case may be, we must understand that it’s in our nature to not pray, and that is what we must fight.

Prayer is not just saying “I’m sorry,” “thank you,” or “bless me,” but it’s the place where if you open up your heart, God can meet you and His presence can change your life. And it is for that very reason that the devil will use busyness, shame, or other distractions to create excuses as to why you should run from the place you were meant to dwell.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1

3.Previously Unanswered Prayers

When God answers our prayers, joy comes into our lives and a sense of reassurance that God hears us is added. But equal devastation can come when there seems to be no response. There are many people who have prayed to God in moments of desperation with no response. It is not easy to handle life when we experience unanswered prayers. We don’t know for sure why there are some prayers where all we hear is silence but there could be a few reasons. For instance, praying with the wrong motive, not asking for the right thing, having unforgiveness or unconfessed sins, having doubts, or mistreating your spouse.

One thing as a believer we must be on high alert about are the devil’s devices. The devil will often use offense and disappointment to create a blockage between you and God. As hard as it may be, don’t allow that instance to build a belief within you that God is not real or that He does not listen to you. Instead, take time to read His Word. Fill yourself with it because in doing so, you’ll find the truth about His character and His unfailing promises which will shine a light to the lies of the enemy in your mind that might have been caused by past disappointments with prayer. Every person with a great prayer life in this world has some unanswered prayers. Sometimes those prayers get answered later on in life and sometimes they don’t get answered. If this is so, what keeps their prayer lives going? The presence of God!

Prayer warriors don’t go into prayer to use God, but rather to know Him.

I want to encourage you to give prayer another shot. There will always be things that you and I don’t understand because God is bigger than us. He doesn’t owe us an explanation for anything, rather we owe Him our allegiance and our lives. There will be a time when God will explain why certain things happened and why things were unanswered, but while we are on this side of eternity, we need to kick aside every offense and disappointment. Push them aside and don’t let them stop you from intimacy and communication with God.

4.Not Knowing What to Say

Some people find prayer difficult, boring, and uninteresting because they lack the words. A template isn’t needed every time you pray, but if it doesn’t come easily, it might be a good place to start. By saying a “template” I mean praying according to biblical models of prayer like the Lord’s prayer. It can be used if you don’t have any specific promptings or direction while you’re praying. For instance, you can begin by reading the Bible and then going into prayer by using the Lord’s prayer as a template. 

Here is an example of what I mean using the Lord’s prayers, you can pray (Mathew 6:9-13). Using the Lord’s prayer, you can pray (Matthew 6:9-13):

• Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name—talk to God about your relationship with Him.

• Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven—talk to God about His agenda on this earth. Pray for your city, your pastors, your nation, and your leaders etc.

• Give us today our daily bread—ask God for your needs.

• Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors–talk to God about your relationships.

• Lead us not into temptation—talk to God about your weaknesses.

• Deliver us from evil— talk to God about things that may have a stronghold on your life, such as sugar, caffeine, or unhealthy habits or obsessions you may have with something or someone. Ask God to deliver you from it.

• For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever— Proclaim His goodness.

This is a template I often recommend to those who struggle to find the right words to pray. There are other helpful biblical prayer patterns, such as the Tabernacle prayer, the prayer of Jabez, the prayer of Solomon, and the prayer of the redemptive names of God.

For those who think this a mechanical way of praying, please remember that God sees your heart. Direct the prayers from your heart to the Lord; don’t make your prayer mechanical and religious, with methods and rules. Pray about your relationship with Him. God can use and bless this approach to prayer if you approach it genuinely. If you feel you have nothing to say to God or feel as if you are repetitive in prayer, I urge you to try a prayer template to help to improve your prayer time.

5.Belief that Prayer is Pointless.

Many Christians also feel like there is no point to prayer. Some wrongfully believe that prayer won’t change their lives, situations, or future because their fate is sealed. However, this is not a biblical mindset. In Scripture, we see many examples of how prayer changes circumstances.  For example, King Ahab was supposed to be punished, but after he fasted and prayed, God extended His mercy to him.

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time. I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s time. 1 Kings 20:27-29

Similarly, Nineveh was supposed to be destroyed due to sin, but after fasting and praying, God again extended His mercy. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10

Hezekiah was supposed to die, but he prayed to God and his life was extended. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 32:26

And the Bible gives many other examples. Although prayer doesn’t change God, it can change your circumstance. And if it does not change your circumstance, it will change you.

Prayer is not pointless!

God’s power will flow in your life through prayer. You need to return to prayer and start talking to God. The idea that there is nothing that you can do to change your future is wrong. Prayer and fasting changes destinies, families, communities, nations, and even continents.

6.God Will Act Regardless of Your Prayer

Many think that God will do whatever He wants to do regardless if we pray or not. Although God’s promises are true and He doesn’t need our help to answer prayers, He still wants to hear our voices. This is why Jesus invites us to pray and tells us to ask so that our joy will be complete. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24

The Bible also tells us to bring our request to God and He will give us His peace. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Even though God had already promised Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, they still cried out for the promised land. God did not just fulfil His promise to Israel, but He answered their cries. Why did they cry out if God was going to what He promised regardless? Because God wants us to partner with Him. Prayer gives earthly license for heaven’s interference.

Prayer Matters

Let Jesus be your role model in prayer. Jesus lived a very prayerful life. As the Son of God on earth He was very busy but He still found time to talk to the Father. He prayed when He was being baptized in the water and when He chose His disciples. He prayed on the Mount of Transfiguration. He prayed before being arrested for His crucifixion in the garden of Gethsemane and while on the cross. And now, Jesus is constantly praying for you. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Romans 8:34

Our Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest; He is our greatest Prayer Warrior and Intercessor. His lifestyle demonstrates the importance of prayer. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Hebrews 4:14

If you might have been tempted to run from prayer, and helped you understand that God wants to hear you and He misses you when He doesn’t. It is time to come back to your prayer room and intercession time. It is time to be renewed and recalibrated to your prayer life.

If you’ve never had a prayer life, I implore you to not waste your life away by running from prayer. Prayer doesn’t waste time, it saves time by allowing God to help you avoid stupid decisions, temptations, and unnecessary damage in life. Spend time with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Read the Scriptures. And remember that you can either live in the secret place or in secret sin, but you can’t do both.

Why did Jesus died ?

Why did Jesus die?

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Historically, from a human perspective, the answer is straightforward enough. The Jewish leaders plotted against him, Judas betrayed him, Herod and Pilate tried him, and the Roman soldiers executed him.

A number of individuals and groups were responsible for his death. As Luke puts it, “Wicked men put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2:23).

But there’s another angle to consider. 

As Acts 2:23 also says, Jesus was “handed over by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.” To get to the heart of the question of why Jesus died, we have to think from God’s point of view. 

Theologically, from God’s perspective, we may mention two main reasons.

1. Jesus Died to Bring Us Near to God

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Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Pet. 3:18)

The purpose of bringing us to God implies that, prior to Jesus dying, we were far away. On this score, the apostles Paul and Peter agree: “You who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13).

Our sin needed to be dealt with to bring us near: “Christ died for sins” (1 Pet. 3:18). The Bible does not mince words when it comes to human disobedience and its consequences. Jesus can describe his disciples as evil (Matt. 7:11), and Paul says in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.” All humans stand condemned before God; our sins separate us from him whose character is pristine holiness and perfect justice.

The substitutionary nature of Jesus’s death is the key idea for understanding how God deals with sin and offers us forgiveness. To bring us near, “Christ died for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Pet. 3:18). If “the unrighteous” is all of us, “the righteous” is Jesus himself. The one who “knew no sin, became sin” (2 Cor. 5:21)—our sin—so that we might receive mercy.

The New Testament uses several vivid images to expound the truth that Jesus died in our place. For example, Jesus paid the price for our redemption when he “gave his life as a ransom in the place of many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus reconciled us to God by bearing our sins himself (1 Pet. 2:24). “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood” (Rom. 3:25), exhausting God’s wrath against our unrighteousness.

The Father is the architect, the Son the accomplisher, and the Spirit the applier of the atonement.

Paul reminds us that Jesus’s death in our place is of first importance and was in accordance with the [Old Testament] Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3). His death fulfills the old covenant sacrifices, such as the sin offering, the Passover lamb, and the scapegoat of the Day of Atonement. He’s the Suffering Servant who was “pierced for our transgressions” (Isa. 53:5).

Sometimes well-intentioned preachers give the false impression that in dying for us Jesus persuaded a reluctant and vengeful Father to show mercy. Truth is, it was out of love that God sent his Son, and the Son laid down his life of his own accord: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2 Cor. 5:19).All three persons of the Trinity, then, are fully involved in our redemption: “Christ offered himself through the eternal Spirit to God” (Heb. 9:14). As Graham Cole puts it, the Father is the architect, the Son the accomplisher, and the Spirit the applier of the atonement.

2. Jesus Died to Reveal God’s Character

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It isn’t that we knew nothing of God before Christ’s death. His providential care for creation reveals his love. And his promises to Abraham show his concern for the whole world. But at the cross, we see the climax of his covenants with Israel, and we witness the final and dramatic proof of his love and justice.

Two texts from Romans make this clear: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Christ’s death puts beyond all doubt the fact that God loves us. It assures us that no matter what life throws at us, we can trust that “he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all . . . will also graciously give us all things” (Rom. 8:32).

Jesus also died to prove the justice of God: “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement . . . to demonstrate his justice” (Rom. 3:25–26).

At the cross we see not only God’s love, but the seriousness with which he takes our sin.

God doesn’t forgive us by turning a blind eye to our sin or by overlooking it. Forgiveness is costly to the one against whom the wrong has been done. And at the cross we see not only God’s love, but also the seriousness with which he takes our sin.

Elsewhere in the New Testament, we also learn that Jesus died to demonstrate the wisdom, power, and glory of God.

Boasting in the Cross

There are many other reasons Jesus died. These include to conquer evil, to inaugurate the new covenant, and to set us an example of sacrificial love. But two vital reasons are to bring us to God and to reveal God’s character.

Where would we be if God had not sent his Son to die for us? Without the cross, we’d be “darkened in our understanding of God and alienated from the life of God” (Eph. 4:18).

I pray each of us will join Paul in saying, “I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).

How to be saved and know it !

 How to be Saved and Know it!

1) Recognize your Guilt before God: “For ALL HAVE SINNED and come short of the Glory of God!” Rom 3:23. We ALL need SalvationThe-Good-Work-of-God from Sin.

2) Repent of your Sin: “Except ye Repent, ye shall ALL likewise perish!” Luke 13:3. We ALL need to turn from sin to God.

3) Receive Jesus Christ: “But as many as RECEIVED HIM, to them Gave He Power to BECOME the sons of God, even to them that Believe on HIS NAME!” John 1:12. We Receive the Person of the Son of God personally.

4) Rejoice in Assurance: “For Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the LORD Shall be SAVED!” Rom 10:13. Simply take God at His Word and Know that you are Saved, based upon what GOD SAYS.

Simple Prayer of Salvation: 

Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner, but I am sorry for my sins. I truly believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, and that He rose again from the dead. So with all my heart I now turn from my sin and Receive Him as my personal Saviour. I thank you Lord for saving me from my sin, in Jesus’ Name!

Bind and Loose

What did Jesus mean when He talked about binding and loosing?

Binding and loosing is a Jewish legal phrase giving authority to someone to determine whether something is allowed or forbidden.

Jesus uses the phrase in Matthew 16:19 when talking to Peter, but within hearing of the other apostles. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Jesus was telling Peter that he would have the right to enter the kingdom of heaven himself. The keys symbolized general authority. Preaching the gospel would be the way to open the kingdom of heaven to all believers and shut it against unbelievers. Peter, preaching at Pentecost in Acts 2:14–40, opened those doors. Jesus intended Peter and the other apostles to continue His ministry of bringing the kingdom of God to earth by preaching the gospel. All Christians have a part in this effort, as we are taught to pray in Matthew 6:9–10. We are also included in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18–20.

Diving deeper into the Greek words and verb tenses in Jesus' words to Peter, we find that what Peter is given authority to do does not originate with him. The verbs used clearly communicate that whatever Peter binds or loosens on earth has already been bound or loosened in heaven (see Matthew 16:19 as above, and 18:18 where Jesus teaches about church discipline).

Peter was not given authority to admit people into God's kingdom or to choose what he wanted to allow and disallow. Rather, Jesus gave authority to Peter and the other apostles to correctly interpret God's message and to share it with others.

Copyright 2011-2022 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.

So called Prophets and Apostles

 So called Prophets and Apostles.

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Before you call yourself a prophets/ Apostles do you know that the prophet Isaiah was cut in half for the GOSPEL we are enjoying today...

Before you call yourself a Apostle, do you know that Apostles John was thrown into a pot of boiling oil, for the same GOSPEL Apostle Peter was crucified upside down and that is how the early Christian had died...

They died without building a big church but they won souls for JESUS..

Today there are many who make themselves apostles, prophet, bishop, pastor but do not know the value of that name.

Nobody wants to die for the GOSPEL today. I keep asking, are these people really servants of God or of themselves?

So never think your calling is a way to make money. Remember your calling is for GOD is winning souls, not just making money or to get wealth that many people do nowadays!!!

Win souls!!!

HOW TO SPOT A DEMON IN YOUR LIFE

HOW TO SPOT A DEMON – FEW SIGNS

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Deliverance is a controversial topic in our culture today. However, it shouldn’t be. There are many clear examples in the Bible where Jesus practiced deliverance – the boy that was seizing (Mark 9:17-29), the man in the tombs (Mark 5), and even the man who was sitting in the synagogue (Luke 4:33). And if that weren’t enough, Jesus said deliverance would be a sign that followed everyone who believes (Mark 16:17-18).

The Bible talks about the gift of discerning of spirits. The enemy has many people held in bondage today; knowing how to spot a demon will help you break free and in return set other captives free.

Let’s dive right in.S

Signs Demons are Intruding:

1. Attacks in your dreams.

The enemy is after your peace. One of the ways he attacks Christians is through sleep. Sexual dreams, eating in the dream, seeing death, or having a dead relative visit – all of these are examples of demonic activity infiltrating your sleep.

Matthew 13:25 demonstrates a clear example by saying, “But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds…”. The enemy is after your peace because when you can’t sleep you’re restless, and it affects your productivity in the Kingdom of God. 

2. Mental oppression.

You must understand that Satan intrudes the mind. The mind is the battlefield. The biggest challenge for Christians is understanding that those thoughts are NOT your own. 

When you notice thoughts/emotions that are controlling, negative, and very persistent, you must declare war against them. Any thought of unforgiveness, loneliness, self-destruction, or sense of “I can’t control it” are all clear indications, you might have company. The Bible is clear that we were given a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). If you don’t remove the root cause, your mind will be infected. Remove the demon.

3. Controlling negative emotions.

Depression, anxiety, heaviness, rejection, resentment, unforgiveness, disappointment, loneliness, misery, depression, self-destruction, suicide are all potential signs of demonic activity and presence. The Bible says that these feelings are not from God:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified (Isaiah 61:3).

4. An intense desires for defiled things.

Demons eat a defiled diet. It’s natural for them to crave what is unholy and impure. If you struggle with things like weed, alcohol, drugs, or strong lustful thoughts, it might be an indicator something inside is causing you to crave that.

These demons mainly manifest in addictions or sins that people can’t stop falling into. This is usually followed by shame, feelings of hate, and an inability to forgive oneself.

5. You can’t tame your tongue.  

One of the signs you are filled with the Holy Spirit is that you speak in tongues; one of the ways you can tell you’re filled with demons – an impure mouth.

Oftentimes, a clear indicator is when someone has uncontrollable bursts of rage, they can’t stop cursing, gossiping, or blaspheming.

6. Sexual perversion.

Any desire for illicit sex, masturbation, a desire to commit adultery, or any form of sexual perversion can be an indicator of demonic influence.

7. Your current involvement in the occult.

Any spirituality that is not rooted in the Holy Spirit is demonic.CLICK TO TWEET

Any spirituality that is not rooted in the Holy Spirit is demonic. Dabbling in any sort of divination, tarot cards, astrology, meditation, yoga, and things of that sort, are all clear open doors for demonic presence.

8. False religions.

The Bible shows us in John 14:6 the words of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” False religions open you up to the demonic.

Religion is anything that says there are many ways to heaven. Jesus is the ONLY way.CLICK TO TWEET

9. Chronical sickness.

The Bible shows us clear examples where sickness was the result of a demonic presence. For example, Peter’s mom; Jesus rebuked the fever and it left her. Another example is the boy that had epilepsy. After rebuking it, the spirit left him and the boy was made well. Constant, repeated sickness can be a sign of a demon.

10. Compulsive behavior. 

When you have constant and sudden urges of rage or hostility, this can also be a sign of demons. Saul, in the Bible, experienced these torments and would later be repentant of his rage (1 Samuel 18).

11. Extreme restlessness in a spiritual enviorment.

Many times people can spend hours at a time scrolling through Instagram or binge-watching on Netflix, but when it comes to spiritual matters things change. If you notice extreme tiredness when reading the Bible, praying, fasting, or during worship, this could be evidence of demons.

When a Christian gets strengthened, demons get expelled, so the demons will do anything they can to prevent that.

12. A compulsive desire to hurt the body. 

Mark chapter 5 talks about a man who was possessed by an evil spirit; he would cut himself with stones. Although the Bible states he had demons, it’s also clear that they were unable to stop him from running to the feet of Jesus. His thoughts were influenced, but He made a willful choice to run to Jesus (Mark 5:2). It is important to note that any thought of self-harm or suicide is influenced by demons.

13. Hearing voices.

Another clear indicator is if you are hearing voices – especially if they refer to themselves as “us” and not singular, or if speak in the third person.

14. Paranormal experiences.

Lastly, any supernatural activity like the disappearance of objects, strange things moving in your home, or other strange manifestations can be clear evidence that demons are influencing your surroundings.

What Now?

Romans 8:14 says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Take time to notice the things you constantly led to. Whatever you are filled with will lead you.

If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your life, you need to sever any tie the enemy has and pray against every demon influencing your life. Command the evil spirit to lose its grip over your life. Be desperate for deliverance and believe in the delivering power of Jesus Christ.

If you’re interested in knowing how to do self-deliverance, read my blog called: 8 Ways To Be Self Deliver

TEST YOUR LIFE BASED ON THE ABOVE AND THEN CHECK ANY SINS  IF YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE।

SUBMIT TO LORD RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FEOM YOU...GBU

Blind leading to blind !

Many of the familiar expressions we use today originated in the Bible. One such idiom, “the blind leading the blind,” comes from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 15:14: “Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (see also Luke 6:39).

As Jesus traveled around ministering in Galilee, He attracted crowds from places near and far, including Jerusalem—the authoritative center of Judaism at the time. The Gospel of Matthew records a scene in which a group of Pharisees and scribes travel from Jerusalem to confront Jesus. These religious leaders were the representatives of Judaism in that day. They were entrusted with studying the Scriptures and guiding God’s people in the ways of the Lord.

Without a doubt, these Jewish leaders were receiving reports of miracles and unconventional activities surrounding Jesus’ ministry. They became alarmed that their many regulations, laws, and age-old “traditions of the elders” (Matthew 15:2, ESV) were not being kept. Specifically, they had come to question why Jesus’ disciples were breaking the tradition of ceremonial handwashing before meals. According to their procedures—which, in reality, were human-made regulations and not part of God’s Word—Jesus and His disciples were behaving in a way that made them ritually unclean. These so-called spiritual leaders had elevated their legalistic traditions to the point of equality with the commands of God in Scripture, a transgression Jesus was now compelled to confront.

Leading up to His description of the religious leaders as blind leaders of the blind, Jesus pointed out how the Pharisees had broken God’s commandments (Matthew 15:3–9). First, He established their hypocrisy—they regularly broke the laws of God while demanding that others follow their human-made traditions. They displayed outward piety but lacked true devotion to God and His Word in their hearts. They were rebellious toward God and blind to their spiritual emptiness.

In Matthew 15:10–14, Jesus returns to their question about handwashing. Instead of addressing the Pharisees and scribes directly, He shared a parable with the crowd. The teaching upended the Pharisee’s tradition, revealing that it’s not what is outside of a person that causes defilement. What makes a person unclean, Jesus taught, originates from inside the individual: “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them” (verse 11). Christ wasn’t refuting the idea that people can become unacceptable before God, only how it happens. Handwashing can’t make a person clean if his or her heart is tarnished. And the human heart can be deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

Employing a second parable, Jesus calls the Pharisees “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14). He repeats this characterization in Matthew 23:16: “Woe to you, blind guides!” And again in verse 24: “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”

When Jesus said of the Pharisees, “The blind lead the blind,” He was emphasizing the foolishness of the situation. Only a person who can see ought to lead a blind person. To be a successful guide to others, one must be able to see where he or she is going. If the blind lead the blind, those leaders are arrogant, overconfident, and in serious denial about their own sightless condition. Jesus knew this was true of the scribes and Pharisees who had come to confront Him. “Guide for the blind” was a common title for Jewish teachers of that day (Romans 2:19). Jesus wasn’t about to let His detractors continue claiming this title when, in truth, they needed someone to lead them.

After Christ called the Pharisees “blind leaders of the blind,” He said to “leave them” in Matthew 15:14. By this, He meant for His disciples to ignore the Pharisees, to let them alone and not to try to please them. These religious leaders thought they were experts in God’s law, but they were blind and ignorant of the law’s true meaning. Christ revealed that they were contradicting the very laws they claimed to understand. Instead of leading their students along the right path that leads to life, they were guiding themselves and their followers straight to disaster: “Both will fall into a pit.”

Christ’s parable of the blind leading the blind is just as relevant today as in Jesus’ day. The tendency to elevate human interpretation of Scripture and tradition to a place of equal authority with God’s Word is a blindness that has afflicted people of every generation. The inclination Jesus confronted in the Pharisees is no different from the legalistic traditions and unwritten rules that many churches, denominations, spiritual leaders, and individual believers try to enforce today.

When we allow human rules and regulations to take priority over God’s laws, we lead people astray from “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3, NKJV). If we become blind leaders of the blind, we heap God’s judgment on ourselves: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to” (Matthew 23:13; see also Matthew 18:6).

We must be careful not to let arrogance and denial blind us to our spiritual condition. We must make sure that our vision is clear enough to guide others in their spiritual walk. Likewise, we do well to choose our leaders wisely, being careful not to follow blind guides who will lead us away from the straight and narrow path of God’s Word.