[39] Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” [40] Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” [41] Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
(John 9:39-41 ESV)
After Jesus heals the blind man, Jesus declares that he had come to this world to judge between the blind and those who see. Hearing these words, the Pharisees, high priests at this time, question themselves whether they were blind.
Obviously, Pharisees were not physically blind. And if they were, they wouldn’t be asking the question “Are we also blind?” to themselves. Through Scripture, we realize these people were the spiritual blind who hardened their hearts from the word of God that Jesus had testified.
[16] “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
(Matthew 23:16 ESV)
Jesus testifies against the Pharisees calling them blind guides.
Weren’t these scribes and Pharisees believers of God? They even read and memorized the Old Testament but why does Jesus call them spiritually blind? What does it mean for them to be spiritually blind?
Just like we saw in our previous post, Isaiah 6 prophesied about those who were blind, had dull ears, and calloused hearts. In the New Testament, we see that this prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 13. When Jesus speaks about the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, these people like the Pharisees and Sadducee did not turn their hearts to the words that Jesus was testifying therefore these people remained spiritually blind – not able to receive truth. Not only that those who followed these high priests were spiritual blind believers, for Jesus states…
[14] Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
(Matthew 15:14 ESV)
Therefore, Jesus again states about these Pharisees…
[13] “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
(Matthew 23:13 ESV)
However, during this time, those who sought, humbled, and turned their hearts to Jesus’ words of truth, they were healed of their sight. Jesus says to his disciples…
[16] But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
(Matthew 13:16 ESV)
Unlike the Pharisees and Sadducee full of pride, I pray that we may turn to God’s word with an opened heart so that we may be healed of our spiritual blindness like Jesus’ disciples!
CloudIn 
Swearing by the gold… It gives a pretty clear picture of why the Pharisees were spiritually blind. What held importance for them? Where was their focus? It was not on the temple, the house of God but rather on the wealth of this world, material and finite things. One cannot see if one is not looking, and not looking with a proper focus. They lost and they were teachers so their followers lost also. Brings us to a place of warning; keep our focus on the One who teaches us life. Keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. Good post! Thank you.