A Confident Guide of the Blind Romans 2:19

Paul the apostle told the church members in Rome, “behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of God”, and he added, “And know his will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;” In chapter two and verse nineteen of Romans, Paul shared about those who, “are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind” where we read:

And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

The verse begins, “And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, ...” Paul began with the words, “and are confident” which means “and are persuaded, compliant and trusting” “that you yourself” which means “that the Jews of whom Paul wrote” “are a guide” or “are a leader and teacher” “of the blind” which refers to “of those who cannot mentally see or perceive”. Paul referred to how the “Jews” were “compliant and trusting” in themselves that they could “teach and lead” people who were “blind” to spiritual truths.

The verse goes on to say, “... a light of them which are in darkness,” Paul continued with the words, “a light” which means “a brightness, reason and mind” “of them” or “of the people” “which are in darkness” which refers to “who are ignorant respecting diving things and human duties and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality together with their consequent misery in hell”. These people also believed themselves to be the “reason and mind” to others who were “ignorant” of “human duties, ungodliness and immorality”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how having a heritage, the word of God and religion made these Jews believe themselves to be “instructors” of the ignorant and “illuminators” to people who were “ungodly and immoral”. This “false” bravado only kept them from knowing Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. In order for them to have a relationship with God through Jesus, it was necessary to be “humble” and have no “confidence” in themselves. However, with the Jews this was not the case. They relied upon their positions, and anyone who comes to Jesus must lay down all previous reliances and fully “believe and trust” in Jesus.

Next time Paul shares how these people are, “an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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